Spring City

In 2019, UT Extension helped farmer Jason Lancaster build the L&C Cattle Co. barn in Rhea County through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program. Today, the barn hosts the 56^th mural in the campaign. Rhea is the 52^nd county in Tennessee to join the mural campaign.

The 47-foot-wide L&C Cattle Co. barn is located off Tennessee State Route 68 near the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant and sees an estimated 2,713 passersby every day.

“Even in a little community like this, the University of Tennessee still has a hand,” Lancaster said.

As a lifelong fan of the Tennessee Volunteers, Lancaster was interested in joining the campaign upon learning about it through a mural story broadcast on WVLT-TV. He hopes the mural helps the Rhea County community understand that UT’s mission goes beyond what many expect of a higher education institution.

“The roots of UT are helping farmers, which are helping to feed America,” he said. “Feeding Volunteers, feeding people of Tennessee.”

Lancaster’s wife, Brandalyn Lancaster, detailed the significant role UT played in helping her family farm and other farmers in the community.

“In this day and time, farming is a not-so-popular way of life, but the UT Extension office is doing great things to help promote how rewarding farming can be and how necessary it is,” she said. “We are so thankful that the University of Tennessee really cares about the agriculture industry. To be able to display the mural on our barn is a tremendous honor not only for ourselves but for the generations that come after us.”

The Spring City mural was painted by muralist Michael Cooper in May 2024.