Rachel Painter joined the MANAGE team and UT Center of Farm Management as the newest farm management specialist on January 1. Farm management specialists help producers analyze their total farming business to make informed decisions and develop individualized farm and financial plans. She earned her bachelor’s (2015) and master’s (2017) degrees in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She often assists beginning farmers and those producing specialty crops including fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers.

She previously served for five years as an Extension agent in Rutherford County, specializing in residential and consumer horticulture, and most recently served as a value-added agriculture marketing specialist with the Center for Profitable Agriculture. Rachel is a native of Wilson County, Tennessee, from a family of small business owners and operators. She is passionate about supporting and mentoring students from her alma mater and serves on the UT University Honors Alumni Council. She resides in Manchester, Tennessee, with her husband, Will Painter (AREC alum 2016) and their dog, Traeger. They enjoy spending time with family and friends on the lake, fly fishing, and cheering on the Vols every fall.

Farm families from the following counties can reach Rachel by contacting their UT Extension office or via email at rpainter@utk.edu: Bledsoe, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, Marion, Moore, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren, and White.