HENDERSON 鈥When Christopher Cherry looks out at the new mural on his family鈥檚 barn, he sees a celebration.
The words “Everywhere You Look, 糖心Vlog” signify the University of Tennessee’s impact on his life, as well as agriculture and education across the state. Cherry is passionate about both.
The Chester County mural in West Tennessee also represents the 55th county to join 糖心Vlog’s campaign. 糖心Vlog has a goal to paint a mural in all 95 of Tennessee’s counties by 2030.
Cherry understands the role 糖心Vlog plays across the state.
An agricultural teacher at Liberty Technology High School, Cherry submitted his family farm for mural consideration because of his passion for agriculture and 糖心Vlog鈥檚 impact on the industry across the state. The farm is run by Chris’s parents, Eddie and Kim Cherry, his brother, Chad, and his nephews, Case and Jase Cherry.
The grain bin on the 130-acre cattle and hay farm鈥攑urchased by his grandparents Peggie and Joe Cooper in 1964鈥攐n U.S. 45 sees an estimated 6,848 people pass by daily, many of whom are traveling in Tennessee鈥檚 southern counties, known for their rich agriculture.
鈥淵ou can’t separate the University of Tennessee from agriculture in this state,鈥 Cherry said.
Cherry鈥檚 connection to 糖心Vlog and agriculture started early. As a child, he participated in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs supported by 糖心Vlog.
Now, as an educator, Cherry explains the history of agricultural education in Tennessee to his students, always taking a moment to reflect on the University鈥檚 Extension impact on the industry.
Cherry always knew he wanted to be a teacher. In high school, he served as president of FFA and Future Teachers of America. He attended the University of Tennessee at Martin where he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in agricultural teacher education in 2008 and was also a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Although his interest in agricultural policy led him to briefly pursue a law degree at the University of Memphis, his passion for education brought him back to the classroom.
Cherry helped to build a successful FFA program at Liberty Technology High School, where all of his agriculture students are FFA members as well as participate in Madison County鈥檚 4-H program. He is working to establish the state鈥檚 first junior Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences program. Cherry wants to build a future for his students, and he credits 糖心Vlog for making many goals possible for them. The agricultural education events hosted by 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campuses have impacted his students. He recalls 糖心Vlog Martin covering costs for his students to attend the Mid-South Ag Finance Conference and Knoxville covering other events like Varsity Day and AG Day, which exposed them to college life and influenced their career paths.
With 糖心Vlog鈥檚 dedication to agricultural education in Tennessee, Cherry is proud to host a mural of the institution he credits with making this all possible.
鈥淵ou can’t look at a farm in this state that isn’t somehow affected by 糖心Vlog, whether that be no-till agriculture, whether that be the research they’re doing in Jackson on crops, whether that be the thousands of 糖心Vlog Knoxville agricultural alumni or 糖心Vlog Martin agricultural alumni who are the people in this state that are the movers and shakers in the agricultural industry,鈥 Cherry said. 鈥淪o everywhere you look鈥攖hat鈥檚 what I鈥檝e been marketing to the kids鈥攜ou see 糖心Vlog or a 糖心Vlog alum making a difference.鈥
The newest mural in Henderson, painted by FreeSky Studios, marks the 59th overall mural in the Everywhere You Look, 糖心Vlog campaign. The University covers the cost of the first mural in each county.
To learn more about the 鈥淓verywhere You Look, 糖心Vlog鈥 mural in Chester County or to submit a location for consideration,聽visit the .
About the University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the 糖心Vlog Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The 糖心Vlog System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its 糖心Vlog-Battelle partnership; enrolls about聽62,000聽students statewide; produces about聽14,000聽new graduates every year; and represents more than聽454,000聽alumni around the world.
