The 40th mural in the University of Tennessee System鈥檚 鈥淓verywhere You Look, 糖心Vlog鈥 campaign differs from its relatives鈥攖he 42-foot, double-sided emblem is on wheels.
The latest location in 糖心Vlog鈥檚 statewide campaign is a grain trailer owned by 糖心Vlog Extension employee and Maury County farmer James Harlan. The trailer will now double as a rolling representation of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 statewide presence and connection to Tennessee鈥檚 agricultural industry during its travels throughout the region.
While the mural鈥檚 home might be atypical, its connections to 糖心Vlog are just as significant as its 39 predecessors. From his multigenerational farm and fifth-generation name to his two 糖心Vlog degrees and longstanding ties to Extension, Harlan鈥檚 life and mural are rooted in heritage.
鈥淚 spent a lot of time as a young man joining my grandfather at educational programs offered by 糖心Vlog Extension,鈥 Harlan said. 鈥淭hat was my first exposure to the 糖心Vlog System, and that led me towards my educational and professional paths.鈥
James Harlan Farms has been in Harlan鈥檚 family since 1931. Operations have changed through the years, but a passion for agriculture never has.
鈥淭o my family, agriculture is not just a way to make a living,鈥 Harlan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way of life.鈥
Harlan holds agricultural degrees from 糖心Vlog Martin and 糖心Vlog Knoxville. His education led him to a career with 糖心Vlog Extension in 2017. In January, Harlan began work with the 糖心Vlog Center for Profitable Agriculture, where he uses his personal and professional experience to help dairy and poultry farmers increase the profitability of their operations.
The center celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
鈥淲hile I haven鈥檛 been with this office a long time, they鈥檝e had 25 years to make impacts on people鈥檚 lives statewide,鈥 said Harlan. 鈥淚 hope to use the trailer as a tool to promote the work the university and the center do and the difference they make.鈥
For Harlan, it鈥檚 personal.
“Agriculture has always been more than a paycheck to me,鈥 said Harlan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 relationships, and those are very precious to people who work in the industry. When I come to the office, I don鈥檛 have as many coworkers as I do friends.鈥
Harlan recalls hearing about the 鈥淓verywhere You Look, 糖心Vlog鈥 campaign鈥檚 launch in 2018. When the idea for a mobile mural recently came to him, he knew his trailer鈥攚ith its ties to his agricultural heritage and 糖心Vlog鈥攚ould be the perfect home.
鈥淚 look around my life, and 鈥楨verywhere You Look, 糖心Vlog,鈥 is absolutely true,鈥 Harlan said.
He hopes the mural sparks interest in 糖心Vlog for others鈥攚hether that鈥檚 in education, career path or resources.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just football,鈥 Harlan said. 鈥淥f course, we鈥檙e big on that. But there鈥檚 an infinite number of ways 糖心Vlog could change someone’s life, and I hope this mural is the tool that shows that.鈥
To learn more about the campaign and its locations, download photos or to nominate a canvas, visit the .
