Brent Reaves, lifelong outdoorsman and host of “This Country Life” podcast from MeatEater, visited UT in February to guest lecture for a wildlife and fisheries science course. He also participated in Extension specialist Ronnie Cowan’s “Hunt ‘Em Up” program.

Reaves went with Cowan and others to hunt quail in Seymour, Tenn. The program teaches about hunting safety and how to hunt with dogs. “We experienced the landscape. We experienced the heritage of bird hunting that was traditionally done here in Tennessee and all over the South,” Reaves says.

Reaves also guest lectured for the North American Hunting and Conservation course. He spoke about the importance of sharing hunting and fishing sports with newcomers and the role it plays in conservation. “The students who sat in this classroom will be the ones making the decisions 20 years from now about how we’re able to utilize the woods and set the game seasons and what’s allowed and what isn’t allowed,” Reaves says. “If we can show how positive it is and how endearing it is to us, it’s only going to help future generations.”

He met with Extension Dean Justin Rhinehart and UTIA Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver. The visit highlighted UTIA’s commitment to connect Tennesseans to the great outdoors through education and outreach.