Jasper

The University of Tennessee System has plenty of resources to offer the state’s counties—luckily, in Marion County, UT also has strong arms.

“One of the biggest things for our office is helping the community understand not only what the UT Extension office can do for them, but what the UT Extension office is,” said Marion County Extension Agent Wesley Brewer. “That it really is the arms and hands of UT.”

While much of the community has at least generally heard of UT Extension, Brewer and his team feel that there’s a lack of knowledge about how its programming—which includes everything from master gardening courses and canning classes to 4-H development—can apply to and benefit them personally. He added that many residents don’t even know where their agents are located.

Brewer hopes that the new 50-foot-wide “Everywhere You Look, UT” mural on the side of the Extension office in downtown Jasper will help change that.

When Brewer and his fellow agents heard that the campaign was looking to expand to the area, they immediately knew their office would be perfect for the painting due to both its high-traffic location and the need to increase Extension awareness in the county.

They presented their idea to the mayor for approval, and in early August the 29^th mural in the statewide campaign was completed. Now, the UT emblem is visible to the almost 5,000 pedestrian and highway travelers passing by each day.

“There are so many connections with the university that can really solve these issues and answer all these questions that people may have had for years,” said Brewer. “They just didn’t know the answers were in their backyard.”

And with what Brewer sees as a recent influx of people moving to Marion County from outside areas, it seems even more people will be turning towards their backyard for help. He’s confident that the growing community will not only be able to find what UT and its Extension office have to offer—especially with the help of the new mural—but that they will then also be equipped to give back to the community.

The more muscle, the better.