NEW FARMER, From page 14
for niche crop opportunities and ideas that would allow them to products and sell at a premium despite a smaller land base,” said East Nashville coordinator and Extension Agent Jenni Goodrich. “Most participants also have had a goal of including the wildlife/pollinator component in their farms plans so that one has also become a standard topic as well,” Goodrich said. Those interested in signing up for the program may want to do so early. The Nashville Academy already has a waiting list of 15 participants.
The New Farmer Academy is a 7-month certification program that begins in March and ends in September of 2021. Participants meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. once a month. Registration is $175 and covers materials, lunches and snacks for all 7 workshop dates. To register, contact: Finish Stribling, III Middle Tennessee/Nashville fstribling@tnstate.edu (931) 375-5301 Jenni Goodrich East Tennessee/Wartburg (423) 346-3000 jgoodri2@tnstate.edu Jo Anne Waterman West Tennessee/Memphis (901) 752-1207 jwaterm1@tnstate.edu
Dr. Chandra Reddy elected as Chair of the Association of 1890 Research Directors By JOAN KITE Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of College of Agriculture and Director of Research/ Administrator of Extension at Tennessee State University, has been elected as the Chair of the Association of 1890 Research Directors, a respected organization of nineteen 1890 land-grant universities that provides coordination of research initiatives among member 1890 institutions in cooperation with federal, state, and private partners. All of his immediate ARD colleagues described him as an excellent collaborator who could reach across tables and encourage people to work together. Dr. Alton Thompson, the non-elected Executive Director of the Association of 1890 Research Directors, said Reddy is an excellent choice for leading ARD. “He’s thoughtful. He’s done a great job at leading the program at TSU. I’ve seen a marked improvement over there in the collaborative research,” said Dr. Thompson, who was also former dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. “He’s brought that same collaborative spurt to the 19 universities in the ARD.” “Dr. Chandra Reddy will assume the role of ARD Chair,” wrote the previous chair Dr. Vernon Jones, associate dean of the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Langston University, in the October 2020 ARD newsletter. Dr. Reddy “is well experienced, knowledgeable, and a proven leader. ARD will be in very capable hands.” Dr. Reddy said he is already looking toward his new responsibilities, preparing for the next Farm Bill in 2023, promoting the accomplishments of the 1890s through symposiums, and seeing that 1890s’ interests and gains remain protected through legislation while seeking new opportunities in Congress and leading collectively. Dr. Thompson noted that he met Dr.
Reddy while Dr. Reddy was the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Alabama A&M. “I’ve known him for 20 years,” Dr. Thompson said. Hence, his assuredness that he has a winner at the ARD helm. This year, Dr. Reddy was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Agriculture Future of America, a national program since 2000 that provides premiere professional and personal development programs for college and young professionals in agriculture. Dr. Reddy is recognized both internationally and nationally for his work in agriculture. In 2018, Dr. Reddy was inducted to the TSU Agriculture and Human Sciences Hall of Fame. In 2013, he received the USDA/NIFA Partnership Award for Effective and Efficient Use of Resources, and in 2012, he was recognized by a House Joint Resolution from the Tennessee State Legislature for his outstanding contributions to Tennessee State University. In 2008, he earned the George Washington Carver Agricultural Excellence Award sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development for his impact on research and institution-building efforts in Africa.
Winter 2020 | AgLINK 15
