Ford Announces $16.5 million Partnership With University of Tennessee

For the 2022 Memphis International Auto Show, Ford and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture revealed their historic partnership to increase economic development, education, and conservation efforts across the southern United States.

Both companies signed a stream mitigation and restoration agreement created to restore the stream waters flowing through the University’s Lone Oaks Farm. The UT Extension is specifically transitioning Lone Oaks, a 1,200-acre facility, into a world-class 4-H and STEM (science, technology, education, and math) Education Center in Middleton. Lone Oaks is based just 45 minutes east of Memphis and isn’t far from Ford’s BlueOval City. Both properties are currently being developed, and earlier in April the UT Extension celebrated laying the top beam of the first of many overnight camping facilities at the 4-H Center. Education programs in the Lone Oaks area are already helping about 5,000 K-12 students annually earn their education, but the new facility will allow the program to keep growing and offer overnight STEM programs and camps.

“Every year, UTIA provides valuable life skills as well as STEM education opportunities to nearly 112,000 students across Tennessee,” said UT President Randy Boyd. “Ford’s investment in Lone Oaks will ensure our 4-H programs will be able to expand STEM education to Tennessee students for years to come.”

Linda C. Martin, the UTIA interim senior vice chancellor and senior vice president, stated that Tennessee has 7,216 4-H clubs, more than any other state in the nation. “The ability to offer overnight educational programs and daily STEM activities at Lone Oaks in West Tennessee is a tremendous enhancement to the region’s educational opportunities,” she said.

To get a better understanding of why all this is important for the region, the official Clean Water Act of 1972 requires that any impact on streams and wetlands from development projects, such as buildings and roads, be mitigated by restoring and permanently protecting an equivalent amount of habitat somewhere else. The size of the BlueOval City project made it necessary for Ford to invest in a significant stream restoration project, and the UT Institute of Agriculture was there to meet this requirement with a restoration project at Lone Oaks Farm. This unique agreement allows Ford to meet its regulatory requirements while also benefiting the entire region through funding STEM education and 4-H Youth Development at Lone Oaks.

“At Ford, our goal is to create a positive impact on people and the planet. We’re proud to enter into this innovative partnership with the University of Tennessee that will help restore and protect the streams and wetlands at the Lone Oaks Farm and create educational opportunities that will inspire and benefit future generations,” said Bob Holycross, vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering at Ford. “This is just one way we can fulfill our purpose to help build a better world.”

The project also includes working with many other institutions and organizations, including The Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the West Tennessee River Basin Authority (WTRBA). The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is a nonprofit that helps ensure conservation in Tennessee through advocacy, education, and in-person conservation projects, including for stream and wetland restoration. WTRBA, an independent department of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, is dedicated to managing rivers, streams, lakes, and other water issues in West Tennessee. WTRBA is also credited for the design, engineering, construction, and monitoring for the stream restoration.

“The vision for Lone Oaks Farm includes introducing young people to agriculture and conservation through STEM education programs. We are extremely excited to partner with Ford and support both their sustainability goals and the University’s and community’s education goals,” says Ben West, director of strategic partnerships with UTIA. “This investment will provide quality, hands-on education programs for students throughout the region for decades to come.”