The Randall and Marjorie Warden Ag Innovation Center is already proving to be a success just months after opening at Tennessee Tech.
Dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology Darron Smith said the facility serves as both a laboratory and classroom space where students can conduct research and gain hands-on experience with advanced agricultural technology. Smith said the center has been well-received since classes began there this semester.
“It opened, actually, the start of this semester, so we have started holding classes there in January and it’s going great,” Smith said. “We have started holding classes there in January, and the kids love it. They are being very innovative and deliberate in their research and in their classwork.”
Smith said the center features technology used in modern farming, including drones that can identify crop diseases and weeds, GPS-guided equipment, and automated irrigation systems that respond to real-time soil moisture and weather conditions. He said learning to use these tools will help future farmers produce more food efficiently as the population continues to grow across the Upper Cumberland region.
“Smart farming allows us to manage large swaths of land with technology and not labor,” Smith said. “That really leads to being more efficient in our crop production.”
Smith said 20 years ago he thought technology where tractors can be programmed using GPS software to drive themselves was not possible.
The center was made possible through the support of alumni Randall and Marjorie Warden, who donated the facility to help expand educational opportunities for students studying agriculture and related technologies. Smith said the excitement among students has been one of the most rewarding parts of seeing the facility open.
“They are absolutely beside themselves happy that they have a place where they can develop ideas, push research forward, and be better educated in their classes,” Smith said. “That enthusiasm for the facility is what excites me the most.”
Smith also noted that local high school students and 4H programs have access to the center.