Tennessee’s Discovery Park of America Unveils New Myth-Busting AgriCulture Exhibit
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Think you know a lot about agriculture? Union City’s Discovery Park of America is asking you to think again. In December 2020, Discovery Park opened a new “mind-blowing, myth-busting” exhibit called “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival” that helps visitors see America’s agriculture industry in a whole new light.
“We want our guests who tour the exhibit to walk away with a better understanding of how food, fuel and fiber get from the farm to their family,” says Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park of America. “In a world where fiction and propaganda can be spread with the click of a mouse or the touch of a finger on a mobile device, bad information is plentiful out there. Our goal was to provide a source for accurate information relating to agriculture and to do it in a fun and entertaining way.”
Building an Ag Exhibit
Showcased in the park’s bright red Simmons Bank Ag Center, the AgriCulture exhibit tells the story of farming innovation – in the past, present and, especially, future – in an engaging, interactive way to pique the interest of visitors of all ages. The idea for the exhibit came about when the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board noticed that although Discovery Park of America covers many topics, it previously hadn’t included much about agriculture.
“That was ironic considering the 50 acres we sit on was previously a cornfield, and we’re literally surrounded by agriculture,” Williams says.
Discovery Park enlisted the help of the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board, focus groups of farmers and others who work in agriculture, and an exhibit design firm called Solid Light in Louisville, Kentucky, to turn their ideas for the exhibit into reality.
“Many exhibits tell the story of how things grow, but we saw a real absence of anyone in the museum world focused exclusively on innovation,” Williams explains. “By 2050, the global population is expected to reach close to 10 billion, so our food supplies will be under far greater stress than today. We absolutely have to figure out how to create more with less – and the only way to do that is through innovation.”
See more: How the Tennessee Agricultural Museum Is Preserving the State’s History
Busting Myths
One highlight of the exhibit that’s sure to catch the eye is a Case IH Magnum Tractor on loan from Case IH and H&R Agri-Power. It’s a modern-day tractor, and visitors can climb into its cab for a closer look.
“It shows what the tractor innovations that began in the early 1900s and developed over the years have led up to for today’s world,” says Jennifer Wildes, director of exhibits and collections for Discovery Park of America. “I think our guests are going to be very surprised at how high tech – and comfortable – the tractor has become.”
One myth dispelled by the exhibit is that American farmers are all middle-aged Caucasian men. In the revealing “Faces of Farming” display, Discovery Park captured photos of more than 250 farmers and others who work in agriculture to expose guests to some of the real faces in the very diverse industry.
“Our research showed us that because so few people have ever met a farmer in person, the stereotype of an older Caucasian male in overalls was all they knew,” Williams says. “Old MacDonald was literally the only farmer they could identify. Of course, that isn’t the case, so the exhibit spotlights men and women working in the field today. We want those who experience this exhibit – especially those who are exploring future careers – to understand all the facets jobs in agriculture can cover.”
See more: Tennessee Ag Museums are Harvesting History
The $1 million “AgriCulture” exhibit was funded by corporate and individual donors who are passionate about telling agriculture’s story, including the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which contributed $50,000. Wildes hopes guests will leave with the same experience she encountered while working on the exhibit.
“I was ignorant of just how diverse agriculture is today – the workers, jobs, technology and practices – and how vital it is for our future,” she says. “My original assumptions were completely turned inside out, and I developed a great appreciation for those working in agriculture. I especially hope our young visitors are able to see the overwhelming career possibilities that exist in agriculture, whether that is a farmer, veterinarian, scientist or technology developer and everything in between.”
