UT TSU Extension - Polk County

06/10/2026

Water Bath Canning June 16 is full. There is a waiting list if you've missed this one.

Pressure Canning July 23 has 2 slots available. If interested call the office at 423-338-4503.

06/09/2026

Master Farm Manager program starting soon!

Registration for the summer Master Farm Manager Webinar is now open! The webinars will start on July 7th, 2026 and to receive certification, you must watch a combination of 8 webinar sessions and pre-recorded sessions.

To register today visit: https://tiny.utk.edu/MFM2026

06/03/2026

Canning College 2026

Thanks to Delano Baptist Church for hosting the first canning college of the year!

Nineteen individuals learned and practiced safe food preservation while water bath canning strawberry jam and jalapeno jelly then pressure canning green beans.

The photos below are proof the products are worthy of a Blue Ribbon.

Thanks to Darla Jenkins for helping with organization.

05/25/2026

05/19/2026

The Next UT TSU Garden Club meeting will be next Tuesday May 26th at 5 PM. It will be held at Oak Grove Baptist Church located at 642 Oak Grove Rd, Benton, TN 37307. Our guest speaker this month will be Brooke Edman with the Bradley County Master Gardeners. The topic will be companion planting. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend!

05/15/2026

Teachers Homeownership for Heroes!

Teachers are the Rock Stars in our community.

Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) announces that effective immediately, in collaboration with the Governor’s office, the agency is adding Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers to the Homeownership for Heroes program. Eligible teachers must be employed in a full-time teaching position in a Tennessee public or private school. To verify license status, the following TN Department of Education website may be utilized.

The Homeownership for Heroes program is:

A Great Choice Home Loan that offers
financial assistance along with these
added benefits:
• Reduced interest rate
• 5% up to $15,000 of purchase price to use
as down payment assistance
• Borrow up to 100% of home’s purchase
price with a VA or USDA-RD loan or 96.5%
with FHA loan and acquisition limits up to $500,000

More information about the Homeownership for Heroes: https://thda.org/homebuyers/first-time-homebuyers/

05/14/2026

Canning College 2026

It's that time of the year when fresh produce is in season and abundant! Take advantage of the bounty. Learn safe food preservation to enjoy all year long.

05/13/2026

Be on the look out!

05/11/2026

This is the week for Camp Sign up! Price goes up for Camp after May 15th! Any questions? Call us at 423-338-4503

05/07/2026

Yesterday Polk County 4H hosted our county Cloverbowl contest.
We wanted to congratulate our winners. The Winners go on to compete at the Regional Contest on UT Campus!
Congratulations goes to:
4th grade Benton Elementary School
5th grade South Polk Elementary School
6th grade Chilhowee Middle School

Big thank you for Copper Basin High School for hosting us and to Camryn Dockery, student helper!