MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - A familiar face—and voice—is back at the Lane Agri‑Park. Mitchell Mote, the longtime source of lawn and garden wisdom for WGNS listeners and Rutherford County residents, has returned to the UT‑TSU Agricultural Extension Service after a year‑long absence. For many in this community, Mote has been the go‑to guide for everything from stubborn clay soil to choosing the right grass seed, and his return feels a bit like welcoming home an old friend.
Rutherford County Agricultural Extension Service Director Anthony Tuggle said the entire team is thrilled. “We are fortunate to have Mitchell back in the Lane Agri‑Park family. He retired here, and now after an absence of a year, we are proud to have him back home,” Tuggle shared.
Mote’s fingerprints are all over the Extension Service’s most practical and popular resources. One of his standout contributions is the series of lawn‑grass demonstration plots that line the front of the Agri‑Park. Each patch showcases a different grass variety that performs well—or not so well—in Rutherford County’s famously rocky, clay‑heavy soil. Visitors can pick up a guide sheet inside the office, walk the plots, compare how each grass looks across the seasons, and learn what level of maintenance each one requires. It’s hands‑on, real‑world information that has helped countless homeowners make smarter choices for their yards.
Tuggle noted, "This time around, Mote returns in a part-time postretirement role as Program Assistant, a position that supports Extension agents by helping deliver educational programs, answering public questions, preparing materials, and assisting with research and demonstrations. In many counties, Program Assistants are the bridge between residents and the extension agents—they help staff the office, guide visitors, support workshops, and keep community outreach running smoothly. For someone with Mote’s deep local knowledge and easygoing teaching style, it’s a natural fit."
His return strengthens a team already known for its accessibility and community focus, and it brings back a voice that many Rutherford County residents trust.
Welcome back, Mitchell. The community missed you—and your lawn advice.
