Special Program in Rural Development

A two-week tailored program for six women

Sponsored by the Cochran Fellowship Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Ms. Joyann Binsley, Program Officer

From April 7 through April 19, 2002, IPANR conducted a tailored study tour on rural development, with an emphasis on women's issues, for six participants representing both private and public institutions.  The women came from Latvia, Estonia, Morocco, and Yemen.  The program was primarily based in Knoxville with extensive field trips in the East Tennessee region including visits to Jellico and Washington County, TN.

(click on picture for enlarged view and description)

Sunday, April 7 Group arrives in Knoxville Driving tour of University of Tennessee (UT) campus. Evening reception at home of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Orr, International Coordinator				For a list of program participants, please click here
Monday, April 8 Morning:  Official welcome to UT and orientation.  Picnic at Trial Gardens.
Afternoon:  Visit Norris, Tennessee (TN) and Norris Dam, the first dam constructed in the Tennessee Valley Authority system, and the nearby Appalachian Folk Museum.
Tuesday, April 9 Morning:  Participants share work experiences/challenges with each other and UT faculty.
Afternoon:  Visit the Agricultural Development Center, a unit of the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service.  The Center provides advice to entrepreneurs for small-scale agricultural development and income generation.
Research the World Wide Web at the UT Agriculture/Veterinary Medicine Library.
Wednesday, April 10 Visit Tennessee Mountain Women's Exchange, located in Jellico, TN and providing services such as adult education for literacy and job advancement and counseling services to help residents gain government assistance.
Thursday, April 11 Morning:  Visit Planted Earth (organic) Farm. Afternoon:  Visit Sweetwater Valley Farm dairy and cheese-making operation, an example of adding value to an agricultural product.
Friday, April 12 Morning:  Travel to Gatlinburg, TN, a gateway community to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Visit the Craft Trail.
Afternoon:  Lunch and tour of the Apple Barn, a tourism-based enterprise based upon the marketing of apple products in Sevierville, TN.
Saturday, April 13 Free day
Sunday, April 14 Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Richmont Inn, a bed and breakfast, on the return to Knoxville.
Monday, April 15 Morning:  Visit Honeyberry Farms, an enterprise assisted by the Agricultural Development Center, producer of honey jelly products.
Afternoon:  Visit Maple Lane Farm, site of the Corn Maze, a tourist attraction carved out of a corn field.
Tuesday, April 16 Morning:  Visit Clinch-Powell Community Kitchens, located in Hancock County, TN, a USDA-approved kitchen shared by the community for food processing and packaging of local produce for sales.
Afternoon:  Marketing vegetables as a specialty, "name brand"item--Grainger County Tomatoes.  Visit Jack Ritter's farmstand and hothouses.
Wednesday, April 17 Morning:  Attend seminar, "Small Business Start-up," conducted by the Small Business Development Center through Pellissippi State Community College.
Afternoon:  Travel to Jonesborough, TN.  Meet with Katherine Long, Washington County Extension Leader.
Overnight at a local bed and breakfast.
Thursday, April 18 Morning:  Visit Keystone Community Center to observe adult literacy activities and job skills development programs.
Afternoon:  Return to Knoxville. Dinner at home of Richard Davis, Program Director.
Friday, April 19 Morning:  Summing up discussion and program evaluation.  Certificate luncheon.  Program conclusion.

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