Explore Tennessee's Agricultural Heritage at the 2026 Milan No-Till Field Day
The community is invited to this free, fun and educational event
image: Visitors will journey back in time as they explore traditional heritage skills and an antique tractor show. Photo courtesy UTIA.
Credit: Photo courtesy UTIA.
Experience Tennessee’s rich agricultural heritage firsthand at the 34th Milan No-Till Field Day, featuring all-new traditional skills demonstrations, an antique tractor show and parade and more. This family-friendly community event is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at the AgResearch and Education Center at Milan. There is no cost to attend.
Throughout the day, local heritage experts will showcase eight skills once common in rural communities, including beekeeping, blacksmithing, spinning, cotton ginning, grist milling, sorghum making, wood turning and a 1900s hay trolley. Demonstrators will guide visitors through each process from start to finish and provide hands-on learning opportunities for these time-honored traditions.
Dozens of antique tractors will also be on display, courtesy of the Shade Tree Antique Tractor Club and the West Tennessee Antique Engine and Tractor Association. Visitors can tour the equipment, speak with collectors and gain a unique perspective on how farm machinery has evolved over the last century.
“Milan No-Till Field Day has been bringing together farmers, families and agricultural leaders for more than 40 years,” says Jason Williams, interim director of the AgResearch and Education Center at Milan. “This year’s event offers a rare opportunity to see where agriculture has been, where it is today and where it is headed in the future. Whether you are involved in farming or just want to learn more, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”
In recognition of America’s 250th birthday, the first 250 on-site registrants will receive a complimentary barbecue lunch. Additional commercial and educational vendors, including food trucks, will be available.
Traditional skills demonstrations will run from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., while the antique tractor show is scheduled for 8 a.m. until noon. Beginning at noon, an antique tractor parade will travel from the main lawn to the back of the presentation area, offering a chance to see the machines in motion.
The Milan No-Till Field Day began in 1981 to demonstrate the benefits of no-till farming over traditional tillage. Held every other year, the event continues to attract thousands of attendees from across the nation interested in improving soil conservation and agricultural production. Educational sessions covering current row crop topics will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon in the sheds by the lake, with pesticide recertification points available.
The AgResearch and Education Center at Milan is located at 3 Ledbetter Gate Road in Milan, Tennessee. Event sponsorships and exhibitor spots are still available. Contact LesLee Smelser at 731-686-7362 for more information.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.