Tennessee Lawmakers To Celebrate "Ag Day on the Hill"

NASHVILLE - Tennessee lawmakers will celebrate Ag Day on the Hill on March 20 at Legislative Plaza. The day will highlight the importance of farming and forestry to the state of Tennessee. Agriculture is one of the top industries in Tennessee that contributes more than $71 billion a year to the state’s economy and employs nearly 364,000 residents.

Ag Day on the Hill will feature a variety of exhibits and activities including:
- A goat milking contest between Senate and House members
- A cattle weighing contest
- Live animals – cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, mules
- Farm equipment
- Special presentations to the House Agriculture Committee 

Ag Day on the Hill will begin at 8 a.m. with displays from all agricultural organizations lining the halls while the cattle weighing contest, live animals and farm equipment will be located outside. The goat milking contest will take place outside at 11 a.m. between state lawmakers. Special presentations to the House Agriculture Committee at 1:30 p.m. will wrap up the event.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee will have collection bins available at Legislative Plaza throughout the day. Participants, exhibitors and visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable items for donation. The Farm and Forest Families of Tennessee organization will also present a check to Second Harvest in honor of the winning milker.

Tennessee has more than 78,000 farms representing 10.9 million acres. Tennessee’s top agricultural commodities include cattle, soybeans, poultry, greenhouse and nursery products, corn, cotton, dairy products and tobacco.