I am going to admit something that happened very early in my career.  When I was hired over 28 years ago, I thought I knew a few things about forage production. But two weeks into this job, I realized I was totally unprepared for the variety and difficulty of the questions I was getting from Extension agents across the state. This was in the days before the internet, so I would have to take their name and number and go look the needed information up in the library, or talk to someone that might could help me.  After those two weeks, I went into another specialist’s office, shut the door, and proceeded to tell him I think I have made a mistake accepting this job.  There hadn’t been a single question that I could answer, and I wondered if I would be better off admitting this job was too hard for me. This co-worker, who had a lot of years under his belt, told me not to worry.  The agents could handle the easy questions.  They only called with the hard questions.  He continued to encourage me, saying that, over time, I would learn the answers to most all of the questions.  Eventually I would be able to answer the questions without hesitation.  Until then, just keep saying you don’t know the answer, take a number, and get back to them with the answer.

As I look back all these years later, I realize my friend was right.  With all these years of experience, I have been able to learn a lot more about forage production, and am able to answer most all of the questions that come my way because of the experiences. There are even times that I have learned that there is no correct answer. Sometimes there are scenarios where no good answer exists. Maybe someone wants to plant at the wrong time, or there is a disease we can’t control, or any number of situations for which there is no good recommendation to solve the problem.  I would say these are the hardest and most difficult lessons to learn.

I have always taken my role as forage extension specialist for Tennessee very seriously.  My job is to help producers across the state in their forage production programs.  Any time I have been asked a question, I tried to let that be the most important thing I had to do. If someone sought out my advice on an issue, they deserved my full attention and concentration on the solution. They even deserved to hear “I don’t know, I’ll get back to you.”

I don’t claim to be the smartest forage specialist in the nation, Nor the most creative, energetic, or effective. I have counterparts in other states who are much better than I am. But I can tell you this – there is none that care more about the producers in their state, or any that take their clients’ concerns more seriously than I do. I love the people of Tennessee, and have always worked to serve them the best that I can. One of the reasons I sleep good at night is because I know I have given my best each day.

Thanks to each of you for giving me the opportunity to serve you in this role.  I literally have the best job at the University of Tennessee.  Don’t ever stop calling.

It is ironic that, while I was writing this article about how much I have learned, I was interrupted by a phone call from an Extension agent. Guess what – I didn’t know the answer.