After moving to its new location, the UT Extension Office of Van Buren County is officially open for business.
The office moved from the Burritt College building to the basement of the Van Buren Fair Barn. Director Chris Binkley said they hope that with a new building, the Extension Office will be able to provide a better educational experience with programs for both adults and youths.
“We’re hoping with this new space it allows us more opportunities to provide some educational programming with the meeting space we have upstairs and of course the technology that comes with a new building,” Binkley said. “We’ve kind of upgraded some technology and stuff to go along with it.”
Binkley said the move is a partnership between the county, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, UT Extension, and the Van Buren County Soil Conservation. The total cost for moving and renovations ended up around $200,000, with each department contributing some funding. Binkley said a majority of the funds came from a $150,000 grant.
“It will be a dual purpose use building–it’s going to house the UT Extension offices, the Soil Conservation offices,” Binkley said. “Plus also for one week out of the year, it will also be our fair building and fair activities will also take place.”
Binkley said the moving process has been some three years in the making.
