MURFREESBORO — Rising
with the roosters, members of the Murfreesboro business community spent part of
their workday at MTSU Farm.
As invited guests Thursday, July 17, of the MTSU School of
Agribusiness and Agriscience Experiential Learning and Research Laboratory,
about 30 members of the Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club and others
experienced the agricultural side of the Middle Tennessee State University
campus.
Not only did they have sausage biscuits compliments of Batey
Farms, orange juice and chocolate mile from the nearby MTSU Dairy, they
received a tour of the facility and learned what the future holds for the
property located about 6 miles east of campus in Lascassas, Tennessee.
To view video of the civic organization’s visit, go to http://youtu.be/K9O68FKQCCU.
“This was fun, educational and uplifting,” said club member
Barb Ford, a local food columnist and businesswoman.
“This was an extremely informative meeting, to learn about
the amazing programs that MTSU offers,” said club member Lori Williams, who
serves as comptroller for the Murfreesboro Electric Department.
Rotary Club member Faye Johnson, assistant to the MTSU provost
for special initiatives, said “everybody loved it” and many members were not
aware MTSU had a farm.
School of Agribusiness and Agriscience Director Warren Gill
and farm lab Director Matthew Wade shared the virtues of the farm and the MTSU
students who are learning quality work ethic that should bode well for their
careers after graduation.
“We are very pleased the Murfreesboro morning Rotary Club
came and visited the farm,” said Gill. “They seemed to be very interested in
trying some of the products that either our students or alumni produce. They
had a good time learning all they could about the MTSU Farms.”
Alumnus John L. Batey of Murfreesboro and owner of Batey
Farms, an eight-generation family farm in the Blackman Community, provided the
sausage. MTSU students grew the tomatoes, which also were available for
consumption.
MTSU sophomore Brandon Taylor attended the event. He serves
as president of the MTSU Rotaract Club and was invited by professor Lara
Daniel, Rotaract adviser and Rotary Club member. Taylor is majoring in finance
with an emphasis in insurance. Rotaract, or Rotary in Action, is the
Rotary-sponsored service, leadership and community service organization for
members between the ages of 18 to 30.
The Rotary Club’s motto is “Service Above Self.” The
Murfreesboro Breakfast club normally meets at 6:45 a.m. on Thursdays at Stones
River Country Club. To learn more about the club, visit http://portal.clubrunner.ca/5997.
To learn more about the School of Agribusiness and
Agriscience, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/abas/.
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