[084] MTSU Alternative-Fuel Vehicles, Livestock Will Be Part of Tennessee State Fair

Release date: Sept. 11, 2009


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
Ag contacts: Dr. Cliff Ricketts, 615-308-7605 (cell) or srickett@mtsu.edu
Tim Redd (farm lab director), 615-898-2431 or tredd@mtsu.edu


MTSU Alternative-Fuel Vehicles, Livestock Will Be Part of Tennessee State Fair


(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU’s School of Agribusiness and Agriscience once again will be part of the annual Tennessee State Fair, which will run Sept. 11-20 in Nashville.
Renowned alternative fuels expert and longtime professor Dr. Cliff Ricketts and his students will have vehicles participating in the Tennessee Valley Authority-sponsored Green Expo, which will be located next to the Banquet Hall.
Tim Redd, who is the farm lab director and a 29-year veteran in the department, will lead a team of faculty and students providing 18 to 22 animals for the state livestock judging contest, he said.
Ricketts said the following vehicles will be on display:
• an ethanol Corvette;
• a biodiesel Corvete;
• the solar electric Toyota Prius;
• the 2009 MTSU Vazer, a solar hydrogen electric hybrid; and
• a natural gas Corvette.
Ricketts said he will be attending the Green Expo opening ceremonies this afternoon and appear at other times during the fair when his classes are not in session on campus, and he and some of his students, who have agreed to man shifts with the vehicles, can explain their features and the program.
Redd said MTSU is “providing livestock (beef cattle and hogs) for them (Future Farmers of America students) to see who goes to the nationals.” He added that FFA participants from across the state have earned the right to reach the state competition by winning local and district events.
Dr. Jessica Carter, an associate professor whose emphasis is in livestock, will serve as an official and help with grading in some of the cattle classes, Redd said, adding that he will assist with grading in one of the hog classes.
Daniel Boyer, who works at the cattle and swine farm, will lead the efforts in the transporting of the animals to the state fair livestock area, Redd said.
To learn more about the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, call 615-898-2523. The department is one of 10 within the College of Basic and Applied Science.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

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Note: Dr. Cliff Rickettes has photos available of MTSU’s alternative fuel vehicles. To obtain any of the photos, please call him at 615-308-7605.