Rooted in Collaboration: Advancing Horticulture Across Tennessee
Extension Education
Celeste Scott
Regional Extension Specialist
University of Tennessee
Jackson
Abstract
The UTHORT team, composed of Agents and Specialists in residential and consumer horticulture, collaborates statewide to assess needs, develop educational content, and equip agents with the resources to effectively engage local horticulture audiences. In 2024, the team launched three key programs to support agents and expand outreach: Edible Crop Lunch and Learn, Office Hours, and Welcome Home. Office Hours is a live, interactive question-and-answer session conducted via Zoom during the active growing season. Held monthly, this program encourages participants to submit questions and photos in advance for the opportunity to have their inquiries addressed live. A panel of UTHORT experts provides insights across four specialized areas, with all responses documented in an interactive ArcGIS map for easy public access. In post-production, the one-hour program is divided into four 15-minute mini sessions, posted on the UTHORT YouTube channel, and shared with UTHORT social media accounts for additional outreach. In 2024, the program engaged 400 participants in the live ZOOM and addressed over 260 submitted questions. Edible Crop Lunch and Learn was a four-week Zoom series held in May, featuring hour-long sessions that paired a management strategy with a highlighted crop. Two expert speakers led each session, drawing 628 participants who highly praised the content and requested additional education in this area through post-survey responses. While agents promoted the series locally, participation was independent and entirely online. Welcome Home followed a similar format but utilized a hybrid delivery approach with extended class instruction. Agents hosted in-person meetings while the UTHORT team delivered lecture content synchronously via Zoom to all participating counties. Agents then instructed hands-on learning activities, outlined in a facilitation guide, to reinforce the material. This program specifically targeted new gardeners, particularly those relocating from other states. It was fee-based, with proceeds benefiting the county programs, and included a printed magazine-style publication titled Welcome Home. In 2024, 175 participants from 17 counties took part, with 90% reporting that they had already implemented or planned to implement learned practices. The success of these programs exemplifies the effectiveness of a collaborative approach in identifying, developing, and delivering impactful horticulture education across diverse audiences.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.
A poster file has not been provided
Authors: Celeste Scott, Taylor Reeder
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Scott, C. Horticulture Extension Specialist, UT Extension, Western Region, Tennessee, 38301
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Reeder, T. Residential/Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent, UT Extension Williamson County, Tennessee, 37064