Planning & Development

Year in Review: A Look at 2017

February 1, 2018

2017 at Lone Oaks Farm was a year for planning and development for the future and a brand new start for a unique, hands-on learning program designed to educate K-12 youth about science, technology, engineering, and math.

We are looking forward to a great 2018 with even more events and activities. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with the changes and new additions as they happen at the Farm. We hope to see you here in 2018!

Crafting a Master Plan for the Future of Lone Oaks Farm

Lone Oaks Farm is a complex and ambitious project that stands to impact Tennesseans for a century or more. To ensure we develop the facility to maximize its potential, much effort was dedicated in 2017 to the development of a comprehensive master plan.

Under the leadership of the internationally-known firms of Nelson, Byrd, and Woltz, el dorado Inc., and W.M. Whitaker and Associates, a master plan has been developed that outlines the development of Lone Oaks Farm for the next several decades.

Over 200 people, representing many areas of expertise and interest, contributed to the master planning process through a variety of meetings, open houses, and charrettes. Read more >>

BioBlitz

An interesting facet of the master planning process was the Bioblitz event, which convened biologists and scientists from across the region to help us better understand the plants and animals that live at Lone Oaks Farm. Lone Oaks Farm is about reconnecting people to the land and our goal is to create a landscape that is rich with biological diversity, where people can experience a whole variety of plants and animals in nature. The data from the bioblitz has helped us understand the current biodiversity at the Farm and how to enhance and improve it over time. Watch videos of the BioBlitz and the flora and fauna recorded.

STEM Education Kicks off with Hundreds of K-12 Students

Through our partnership with Hardeman County schools, we kicked off our STEM Education program in 2017 with the hire of Ron Blair as our Director of STEM Education. Ron has been an UT Extension employee for 38 years and has deep experience in science, agriculture, and youth education.

Just in the first few months of operation, we have hosted several hundred K-12 students at the Farm from five different counties.

STEM Education programs at the Farm offer students the opportunity learn about core STEM topics through hands-on experiences in the outdoors. STEM programs at Lone Oaks Farm are fun, engaging, authentic, and academically rigorous – all while getting kids outside and active. Come see us! Learn more >>

Our First Heifer Sale

Lone Oaks Farm is about connecting people to agriculture and the land, and that Lone Oaks is a working Farm is central to that mission. A core part of the agricultural operation at Lone Oaks Farm is the heifer production program and sale that we initiated in 2017.

Through partnership with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation and Tennessee Livestock Producers, our livestock operation endeavors to provide top-quality replacement heifers to farmers throughout the region.

Our first auction, on September 23, was a huge success that attracted buyers from across the region and sale prices that set the market for the region.

Creating an Advisory Council to Guide Lone Oaks Farm

Rob Carter, Chair of the Advisory Committee

We know that the success of Lone Oaks Farm depends on the input from many sectors and communities. To help us make good decisions about the Farm’s continued development and operation, we have assembled an advisory council consisting of many key leaders in business and government. Together, this group will help us develop and implement strategies to make Lone Oaks Farm a world-class center for education, agriculture, and hospitality.

We are incredibly fortunate and grateful that Rob Carter has agreed to be the founding chair of the Advisory Council.

Special Events in 2017

Lone Oaks Farm hosted 125 events in 2017, which brought nearly 3,000 people to the Farm. Events ranged from weddings to business retreats, family reunions to training sessions, fundraising banquets to antique tractor parades.

First Annual Mayor’s Trail Ride

On February 2017, Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Said hosted the first annual “Mayor’s Ride at Lone Oaks Farm”. This trail ride corresponded with the bird dog field trials at Ames Plantation and drew over 125 riders from across the mid-south. Riders enjoyed the woods, fields, and trails of Lone Oaks Farm, and capped the day off with a steak dinner. The event was such a success that Mayor Sain is holding another ride this year on February 18th at 1:30 pm. For more information on how to register, email us at loneoaks@utk.edu

Ladies Day at the Farm

June 23rd saw female leaders from across Tennessee convene at the Farm for Ladies Day, an event hosted by Betty Ann Tanner (former University of Tennessee trustee, volunteer, and community leader) to bring influential women to Lone Oaks to learn more about our mission and vision. Ladies attending enjoyed a gourmet lunch, speakers about gardening and architecture, and a day full of friends and laughter. Read more >>

A Look Backwards

April 24, 2017

Since acquisition by the University of Tennessee in December 2015, Lone Oaks Farm has made tremendous strides toward becoming the national model for connecting youth and adults to the land. One of the Farm’s objectives is to use the outdoors to encourage a deep appreciation for the land, conservation, and agriculture. The transformation from private ownership to what we will come to know in the coming years is still ongoing. That said, the process has been remarkable and brought about even more opportunity than anyone expected.

The last 16 months have been a remarkable journey for the farm where it has hosted over 2,400 people at 120 different events. Events included both youth and adult gatherings, comprised of 4-H camps, church retreats, weddings, reunions, and retreats.

Upon acquisition, the Farm met the needs of and objectives of those it serves as well as any. With that in mind, any transition would require some infrastructural fitting. Limited camping facilities have meant 4-H events have been limited to single day and overnight experiences, that is expected to change soon.

Perhaps one of the Farm’s most notable commitments was the tentative approval from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) for a $2.7 million project grant. The grant will fund the construction of a shotgun facility, including trap, skeet, and sporting clays. Plans also include a classroom for hunter education and firearms safety instruction.

Follow on Facebook to keep posted about ongoing progress a Lone Oaks Farm.

Looking Forward – Master Plan to Set Pace

April 24, 2017

Lone Oaks Farm has been a wonderful educational facility for youth and adults since it was acquired just over a year ago. Facilities, educational resources, and other design aspects remain one of the Farm’s top development priorities. Married to accomplishing these objectives is establishing the exact configurations, growth expectations and other realities that may confront the Farm as it sees this growth.

Unveiling of the Lone Oaks Farm Master Plan

On May 22 at 2pm, a draft of the Lone Oaks Master Plan will be unveiled at the farm in Hardeman County.

You’re Invited – Join architects and Lone Oaks Farm administration for the unveiling of the Farm’s master plan via live webinar on May 22 at 2pm. Pre-registration is required to attend the online event.

Developing a Master Plan

After a competitive national search, landscape architecture firm Nelson, Byrd, Woltz (NBW) was selected to develop a master plan for the Farm, which will guide development and construction for the next 100 years. NBW has an international reputation for landscape design that incorporates agricultural and ecological values. The group started their work in January 2017 and will submit a full and completed master plan by the end of July, 2017.

Public Input

Since January, dozens of stakeholders have been involved in helping to chart the future of the Farm. In January, NBW held a series of workshops at the Farm with over forty individuals from around Tennessee to get input about agriculture, natural resources, youth education, 4-H, hospitality, conferencing, and special events.

BioBlitz – Inventory of Biological Diversity on the Farm

And just recently in mid-April, NBW convened over 30 students and scientists from across Tennessee representing the University of Tennessee, Austin Peay, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the private sector to conduct a 3-day bioblitz – a rapid assessment of the Farm’s biological resources. Understanding what plants, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mammals currently occur on the Farm will help us to develop Lone Oaks Farm into an educational center, event venue, and working farm, while also enhancing the biological diversity of the property. Watch video to learn more.

To date, just under $10 million has been raised for the project through gifts, pledges, bequests, and in-kind support. Contributions have come from private donors, the Anderson Grain Foundation, the Tennessee 4-H Foundation, Hardeman County Schools, the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, local Farm Bureau organizations, and several other sources. Click here or contact Lone Oaks Farm administration if you are interested in contributing.

Year in Review: A Look at 2017