Tennessee Wildcast

In this engaging episode of Tennessee WildCast, we dive into the National Wildlife Habitat Education Program at the Clyde M. York 4-H Center in Crossville, Tennessee. Joined by Dr. Jim Byford, the program’s founder and former University of Tennessee Martin Agriculture Professor, and Dr. Craig Harper, a University of Tennessee Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, the show explores the origins and impact of this transformative youth initiative. Starting in 1972 to boost quail and rabbit populations on private lands, Dr. Byford leveraged 4-H to teach kids wildlife management, cleverly engaging parents who own land. By 1977, inspired by judging contests, he developed a wildlife habitat evaluation contest, which grew from a Tennessee program to a national phenomenon by 1989, involving multiple states and FFA teams. Dr. Harper, who took the reins in 1998, modernized the manual and strengthened partnerships with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, ensuring the program’s success. The episode highlights t