Meeting Tennessee’s Lawmakers and Youth Where They Are

A grand champion ham, Trace Adkins and the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association all played a role in supporting the future of agriculture at the Tennessee State Fair this year. More than 1,200 people were in attendance and helped raise $221,100 for the youth organization at the 9^th Annual Tennessee State Fair FFA Ham Breakfast. TECA was a proud blue-ribbon sponsor of the event and was able to meet both lawmakers and youth where they were.

“The Tennessee FFA Ham Breakfast has been a transformational event since it began,” said Ryan King, TECA’s vice president of government affairs. “TECA on behalf of its members is a proud supporter of the event, but more than that, we believe it is important to demonstrate our support for Tennessee FFA, Tennessee 4-H and Tennessee lawmakers through year-round engagement. We believe there is no better way to invest in Tennessee’s rural communities.”

The Tennessee Grand Champion Country Ham was sold during a live auction and went for $25,000. Farm equipment dealer, H&R Agri-Power, seed company, Beck’s and Catesa Farms in Riddleton, served by Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, teamed up to make the winning bid. A Packer Style Ham was also auctioned off and sold for $18,500. The Tennessee Farm Bureau, the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, CPC Commodities and ProTrition made that purchase together. Both hams have been donated back to the FFA to be sold during a private event at a later time.

An exciting twist this year was keynote speaker and country music artist, Trace Adkins. Adkins was the president of his FFA chapter in Sarepta, La. and lost his blue corduroy jacket in a house fire years ago. With the help of the National FFA organization and his wife though, he received a replacement jacket, which he wore during the FFA Ham Breakfast.