2018 News ArchivesA selection of events held at the Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center during the year. |
UT FRREC Employees Receive Recognition Awards
|
UT Arboretum Dedicates New Trail
The UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center (FRREC)/Arboretum officially dedicated the Evans' Way Trail on Monday April 16, 2018. The new trail was dedicated and named in honor of Richard and Carol Evans who spent over 35 years living on the UT Arboretum property. The Evans' Way Trail follows the path of the UT Arboretum Auditorium water line/fiber optic cable route that starts out on Old Kerr Hollow Road (see the Heritage Trace History web page) and terminates at the top of the hill on Shade Tree Lane. The new 500'+ connector trail takes the hiker through a mature oak-pine forest and provides the shortest trail access to the auditorium grounds from the UT Arboretum main parking lot. Mr. Evans retired as the Director of the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center after 39+ years in June of 2011 and remained in a post-retirement position until December of 2011. Our clientele has greatly benefited from the work, special projects, and trail system that Mr. Evans planned, coordinated, and completed during his life-long career serving the UT Institute of Agriculture. |
UT Arboretum Receives TUFC Level-4 Arboreta Re-certification
The UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center (FRREC)/Arboretum officially received the level-4 arboreta re-certification status by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) on Monday March 16, 2018. This accomplishment was a year-long team effort by the FRREC staff, center volunteers, and UTIA/UTK personnel. https://www.tufc.com/programs/tree/arboreta/ In order to receive a Level 4 certification, an arboretum must contain at least 120 different species of trees that are labeled. In addition, it must have the availability of self-guided tours and staff or volunteers on hand to provide special tours. The re-certification process from TUFC is rigorous and requires a five-year period of cataloging tree species on site, establishment of urban forestry best management practices and a detailed tree map of the site. In order to maintain certification standards, an arboretum must apply for re-certification every five years. The UT Arboretum is only a hand-full of level-4 certified arboreta in Tennessee. In addition, the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center is pursuing an Urban Forestry Center of Excellence designation from TUFC. If successful, the UT Arboretum will be the only Center of Excellence in East Tennessee. https://www.tufc.com/programs/educational/centers-of-excellence/ |
Bo Duncan (left) and Yvonne Hitchcock were recently recognized for their long tenure and meritorious service at the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center (UT FRREC). Both staff members received the completive Branch Station Service Director Award earlier this summer. The award recipient requirements are for non-exempt support staff of a branch agricultural experiment station who in the opinion of the selection committee have contributed most to the attainment of the mission of the branch stations. The selection criteria is based on the reliability, initiative, cooperativeness, implementation, personality, communication, and competence of the nominees and is open to all AgResearch field personnel. The recognition includes a plaque, cash award, and mention in a future UT Institute of Agriculture publication. Both Yvonne and Bo were well deserving of this recognition based on their 30 year-plus service at the UT FRREC, while also meeting the rigorous criteria of the award program and the competition from other worthy UT AgResearch employee nominations.
