Thursday, October 20th, 2023 was an historic day for Decatur County Schools and Riverside High School. The livestock facility, dedicated and named in honor of late Ag teacher Tommy Pettigrew, was officially opened in a public ceremony. This project was presented and approved by the Decatur County school board in early spring of 2021 and was a project that was completely community fundraised and sponsored and built and finished by Decatur County students, teachers, and parents.
"This was a project that we wanted the community to be involved in. Since we are such an Agriculture community, it only made sense to create something that the community could be involved in and could support for our students," said Mr. Dakota Brasher, Agriculture Teacher at Riverside. After board approval last year, the Ag teachers, students, and CTE department began raising funds to pay for the barn and the outdoor complex surrounding it.
According to Dr. Lyndi King, CTE Supervisor, "The community really got behind the project. Overall, we raised over $55,000 in cash donations and over $25,000 in material and labor donations." The final donation that fully funded the project came in late April as a grant from the State of TN Department of Agriculture.
"This has been a project we have wanted since I began teaching with Mr. Pettigrew in 2003 and I know he would be proud of what we have built here," said Mr. Richie Ruehl who did his student teaching and began his career with the late teacher in the early 2000's.
Present for the dedication was the family of Mr. Pettigrew including his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Pictured: (Left to Right) Sarah Pettigrew, Caroline Pettigrew, Kyle Pettigrew, Sandy Carver, Steve Pettigrew, and Janet Pettigrew.
Last night's barn dedication did not only honor the late Ag teacher for which it is named, but it also recognized and thanked all of the sponsors that donated money, materials, or time to the construction of the barn with a specialty plaque and a catered dinner.
Decatur County Schools and the Agriculture department of Riverside High School would like to thank the following Sponsors:
Bronze Level Donors
TN River Golf Club, Connor Warbritton, Ely Holt, Hugh Smith, James Vise, John Webb, Larry White, Marty Brasher, Quinn Construction, Richie Bartholomew, and Tanner Webb
Silver Level Donors
Barney Balsingim, Chad Pratt Trucking, Waylon Inman, Mark Teague, Hendrix Farms, Freed and Bobbie Bartholomew, Ace Hardware, and Stay-Tuff
Gold Level Donors
Decatur County Bank, Cox Farms, In Memory of JW Cordle, Huckleberry Hill Farms, In Memory of Junior and Wanda Bawcum, TM Farms, Hunt Fence Company, and Ronaldy Wyatt
Platinum Level Donors
Decatur County Board of Education, Pevahouse Gravel, Land Maintenance, LLC, Brasher Accounting, Decatur County Farm Bureau, TN Department of Agriculture, TN Building Components, First Farmers Co-Op, Vulcan Materials, TCAT Crump, Tri-County Concrete, Jackson Landscaping, and Buck Building Supply
Decatur County Schools and the Agriculture department at Riverside High School would like to thank all of the donors that made this possible! We would also like to give a special thank you to the DC Board of Education and Director of School Chris Villaflor for allowing us to have vision and pursue this worthwhile avenue for our students and the students in years to come.