Tennessee Ag Tag Celebrates 25 Years
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
For more than 25 years, the specialty Tennessee Ag Tag featuring a red barn has supported agricultural education across the state. The program supports by contributing millions of dollars to ag-based youth organizations, including the Tennessee FFA and Tennessee 4-H.
Known as the Ag Tag, each plate purchase represents a commitment to bolstering the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry. Thanks to the many Volunteer State residents who sport the specialty license plate on their vehicles, the future of Tennessee ag has never looked brighter.
See more: Ag Tag Boosts Ag Education in Tennessee
Ag Tag Gives Back
The tag is iconic and attention-grabbing with its red barn, green tree and rolling pasture. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) debuted the Tennessee Ag Tag in 1996. TDA Deputy Commissioner Tom Womack remembers when department staff came up with the idea.
“The marketing team developed something that would be universally recognized as representative of our state’s agriculture industry. While also raising funds for agricultural education. And that’s exactly what we have today,” Womack says.
An extra $35 is added to county tag purchases or renewals for those who choose the Ag Tag. TDA administers the proceeds through the Tennessee Agricultural Development Fund to directly benefit agricultural youth organizations. Others benefit including agricultural and forestry awareness, education and marketing efforts, and support for farmers markets.
See more: Tennessee 4-H Gives Youth Life Skills Beyond the Barn
Since its inception, the Ag Tag has helped raise more than $7.3 million. Annual contributions to FFA, 4-H, Ag in the Classroom and the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Agricultural Sciences.
“Along with showing our pride and appreciation for Tennessee agriculture, the purpose of the Ag Tag has always been to give back to our state,” Womack says. “I can’t think of a better way to accomplish that goal than to financially support agricultural education.”
Youth Benefit From Ag Tag Revenue
As an educator and FFA advisor, Chris Cherry has an acute understanding of the importance of the Ag Tag. After all, he sees how the funds benefit his members on a daily basis.
“Funds donated through Ag Tag sales have helped our agriculture program become affiliated with FFA. So all our ag students are enrolled in FFA at no additional cost to them,” says Cherry, FFA advisor for Scotts Hill FFA in Reagan. “Plus, many of the awards and scholarships our members win at the Tennessee FFA State Convention are made possible by Ag Tag funds.”
Cherry has invested in the Ag Tag for several years. He encourages Tennesseans to consider the impact their annual purchase of the specialty plate could make in the lives of students across the state. Without ag education, he says, many young people would likely never realize the countless opportunities the ag industry offers.
“Agriculture encompasses so much. And we need young people who are ready to take on the jobs of tomorrow,” Cherry says. “When you buy an Ag Tag, you’re doing your part to ensure our state’s agriculture industry can continue to thrive in the future.”
See more: Kids Learn About Forest Resources at Tennessee Forestry Camp
Another proud Ag Tag supporter is Cassie Lewis. She was the 2020-21 Tennessee FFA state reporter. She also formerly served as both a junior and senior representative on the Tennessee State 4-H Council.
Now Lewis is a sophomore majoring in agricultural education at the University of Tennessee at Martin. She aspires to work as a Tennessee 4-H Extension agent. She says this dream might not have been realized without having joined youth agriculture organizations.
“I want every student across the state to have the opportunities I did, and we need funding to make that happen,” Lewis says. “Purchasing an Ag Tag is an easy way to help ensure young people have the tools, resources and support they need to take part in organizations like FFA and 4-H. And there’s no doubt about it: Their involvement could change their lives.”
Tennessee FFA
Established in 1927 as the Future Farmers of Tennessee, Tennessee FFA currently comprises more than 28,000 members from upwards of 220 chapters across the state.
An intra-curricular student organization, FFA focuses on both agriculture and leadership with an emphasis on hands-on learning experiences.
Tennessee FFA became an affiliated state association within the National FFA Organization in 2020. This means all students in grades seven through 12 who enroll in agricultural education programs become members of Tennessee and National FFA at no additional cost.
Tennessee 4-H
A youth development program operated by the University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University, Tennessee 4-H is an extracurricular program that began in the Volunteer State in the early 1900s.
Tennessee 4-H was initially a corn club for boys and a canning club for girls, but it’s grown into a multifaceted organization with the highest 4-H enrollment of any state in the nation, serving more than 180,000 young people from fourth through 12th grade.
The organization is rooted in agriculture. Tennessee 4-H also helps participants develop life skills such as public speaking and leadership.