UT/TSU Cheatham County Extension Team: (L to R) Ronnie Barron, Sierra Knaus, Aneta Eichler, Kathryn Forewright, and Tammi Fralick. (Photo: Cheatham County Extension)
-Ronnie Barron-Director/UT TSU Cheatham County Extension
March is Extension Month in Tennessee.
Extension is a national educational program supported by USDA through the nation’s land-grant universities and administered with funding from state and local governments.
In Cheatham County, both University of Tennessee Extension and Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension provide programming to citizens. There are programs for youth and adults in the areas of Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences, and 4-H Youth Development.
Extension agents provide educational programming throughout the year.
Members of the Cheatham County Extension Team include: Ronnie Barron (Agent and Director/Agriculture/Horticulture), Sierra Knaus (Agent-4-H Youth Development/Horticulture), Aneta Eichler (Agent-Family Consumer Sciences), Tammi Fralick (Agent-4-H Youth Development), and Kathryn Forewright, who serves as our Administrative Support Assistant.
Extension Educational programs in Cheatham County cover many different areas and are facilitated and taught by our professional staff. Some of the Agricultural and Horticultural programs provided by our staff include: programs for famers (crops and livestock), soil and forage testing, plant insect and disease diagnosis, research/demonstration plots, and assistance for homeowners with lawn and garden concerns. Our Master Gardener program trains volunteers each year, who in turn, provide hundreds of hours in volunteer work for our community.
Our 4-H Youth Development staff provide educational programming in the areas of leadership, workforce preparation, communications, public speaking, STEM, team work, decision making skills, citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. These programs are carried out through 4-H clubs (in school and out of school), various camps, judging teams and other competitive events, as well as tours and other special programs. Our Youth Leadership Cheatham County program helps prepare high school juniors and seniors as future leaders in our community.
Extension also provides education in the area of Family and Consumer Sciences. Those areas include family, food, home, health, and financial management. Participants can find ways to choose healthier foods, learn cooking skills, gain knowledge about moving more and stretching your food dollars through programming, as well as programs for strengthening the family. Want information on food preservation like canning and freezing? Extension has classes and publications available.
"Extension brings research-based information of both UT and TSU to the local community," said Ronnie Barron, Extension agent and county director. "We have an awesome team of Agents and Support Staff in Cheatham County. Get to know what your Extension office can do for you. We are excited about Extension Month. Extension programs are open to all residents of Cheatham County." For more information about UT/TSU Cheatham County Extension educational programs and opportunities, check our website at cheatham.tennessee.edu, follow us on Facebook at “Cheatham County – UT & TSU Extension”, or just give us a call at 615-792-4420.
The University of Tennessee/TSU Extension offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
