Ten Mile teen advocating for East Tennessee in nation’s capital

TEN MILE, Tenn. (WVLT) – In the midst of National Agriculture Week, the group 4-H has brought three students from across the country to Washington D.C. to learn more about agriculture and speak to lawmakers.

Of the three students taken on the trip, 18-year-old Mattie Smith from Ten Mile is the only one from Tennessee.

Smith, a third-generation beef cattle farmer, is advocating for her family’s 400-acre farm back home as she’s seen it struggle over the last few years with costs to run the land increasing.

“There’s got to be a change, and sadly for us, it meant cutting down our herd to half its size,” said Smith.

On the trip, Smith will get the chance to meet with other members of the 4-H council, agriculture leaders, and members of Congress.

While speaking with lawmakers in the nation’s capital, Smith hopes to convey the importance of family farms like hers in East Tennessee.

“What they’re doing is not just for the face of a farm. It’s for the heart of the family that’s running that farm,” said Smith.

Smith said she hopes the nation’s leaders in agriculture and policies will think about how important agriculture and farming is when it comes to everyday life, including things as simple as eating.

Smith will get the chance to meet with Congress and others on Tuesday, which is National Agriculture Day.

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