MURFREESBORO — MTSU
did not have to look far to find the new farm laboratory director in the School
of Agribusiness and Agriscience.
Alumnus Matthew Wade, manager of the Tennessee Livestock
Center on campus, will oversee all the farm lab units, agriculture department
director Warren Gill said.
Wade, 44, replaces Tim Redd, who retired in the spring, but
will remain part of the faculty. Wade’s first day on the job will be Monday,
July 29, but already he has been involved in many meetings related to the
position.
The farm lab units include the dairy, crops, dairy
processing and beef and swine. MTSU’s Experiential Learning and Research Center
on Guy James Road in Lascassas, Tenn., consists of 438 acres. Including
property just off Manson Pike near Interstate 24 and the beef and swine units,
MTSU students and staff farm approximately 900 agricultural acres.
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the agriculture
program,” Wade said. “It’s a forward-thinking department. Dr. (Cliff) Ricketts
has his experimental (alternative) fuels and there are a lot of things going on
in the classroom. I’ve always worked closely with the ag department. Now I am
able to be a part of it.”
Wade said the university has “some very capable and
knowledgeable people running these farm laboratories.” They include Jason
Tanner and Ralph Smith at the dairy; Liz Troup with the on-campus dairy
processing facility; Danny Troup with crops; and Daniel Boyer with beef and
swine.
“I plan on spending a lot of time with each unit to see all
they do and get reacquainted with the day-to-day operation,” he said. “My job
is to support their efforts.”
“We are very pleased to welcome Matthew,” Gill said. “A
number of the ag faculty and I have worked with Matthew in his current
position. We’re excited about the skill level he brings to the job and his
ability to work with people. But it’s also his fresh ideas and his clear
devotion to students that led us to select him to lead the farm laboratory
program. ”
While saying this, Gill acknowledged that replacing Tim
Redd, Wade’s predecessor who spent more than 30 years on the job, will not be
easy.
“We’ve been very lucky to have had a long-time manager of
Tim Redd’s caliber,” Gill said. “The transition to Matthew Wade will allow us
to continue our success without missing a beat.”
College of Basic and Applied Sciences Dean Bud Fischer said
Wade “brings a wealth of
experience from his 18 years of working and managing the Tennessee Livestock
Center to the farm laboratories director position. His unique background
in agriculture, business administration and farm management will allow him
to make an immediate positive impact on farm operations and develop long-term
plans for farm sustainability.”
The School of Agribusiness and Agriscience is one of 10
departments in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
Wade has served as Tennessee Livestock Center manager since
2002. His MTSU employment began in September 1995 as livestock center assistant
manager.
He earned an agribusiness degree from MTSU with a minor in
marketing in 1993. In 2007, he earned his master’s in business administration
from the university.
“I wouldn’t mind getting my doctorate, but I think I’ll have
my hands full for awhile,” Wade said with a laugh.
A Dickson County native originally from Tennessee City, Wade
and his family live near Bell Buckle. Wade and his wife, Krista, have two sons,
Jacob, 13, and Joshua, 11.
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