Founding Committee and Inaugural Keynote Speaker : Jenni Goodrich, Morgan County; Sarah Orr, Cocke County; Courtenay DeHoff (keynote speaker for inaugural Confeernce; Alyssa Large, Hancock County; Jessica Wilkinson Smith, Roane County
Jessica Wilkinson Smith
County Director & Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, UT Extension – Roane County
Co-Visionary, Ladies Raising Livestock
Jessica Wilkinson Smith has dedicated her career to empowering farmers and communities through education, outreach, and hands-on experience. Since 2015, she has served with UT Extension in Roane County, stepping into the role of County Director in 2019. In this position, she leads a wide range of programs from livestock and forage systems to Master Gardeners, backyard poultry, and youth agricultural initiatives.
Raised in 4-H in Franklin County, Mississippi, Jessica’s love for agriculture runs deep. She earned her B.S. in Agribusiness Management & Economics from Mississippi State University and her M.S. in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications from the University of Tennessee. At home, she and her husband Christopher operate The Volunteer Magnolia, a small farm in Kingston, Tennessee, where they raise Nubian goats and backyard poultry.
Jessica is also the co-visionary behind Ladies Raising Livestock (LRL), a movement and annual conference created to connect, equip, and celebrate women in agriculture. With her leadership, LRL has grown into more than just an event—it is a community where women gain practical knowledge, find encouragement, and step confidently into every space agriculture touches.
Passionate about inclusion and outreach, Jessica ensures Extension programming reaches underrepresented groups, working closely with local partners, producers, and organizations to bring resources and opportunities to every corner of the community. Her approach blends professionalism with authenticity—never afraid to get her boots dirty while championing the voices of women in agriculture.
When she’s not leading programs or planning events, you can find Jessica teaching hands-on workshops, supporting 4-H youth, mentoring new Extension agents, or dreaming up the next way to grow LRL’s impact. Her belief is simple but powerful: agriculture gives us all something to do, something to love, and something to believe in.
Sarah Orr
Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent and County Director, UT Extension – Cocke County
Visionary, Ladies Raising Livestock
Sarah Orr is a dedicated educator and leader in Tennessee agriculture, with a professional focus on beef cattle production and reproductive technologies. As the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and County Director in Cocke County, she supports producers and homeowners with a wide range of agricultural and horticultural needs. From livestock systems to forage testing, plant and insect identification, soil fertility, pond health, forestry, and pesticide certification, Sarah is known as a go-to resource for practical solutions that help her community thrive.
Her work spans across multiple livestock species—including beef cattle, small ruminants, poultry, and swine—as well as forage and pasture management, home gardening, farm planning, and agricultural grants such as the Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program. Whether she’s answering a producer’s late-night question, diagnosing a plant disease, or teaching a pesticide safety class, Sarah meets people where they are and provides knowledge that is both accessible and impactful.
In addition to her ANR responsibilities, Sarah invests deeply in the next generation through 4-H Youth Development. She conducts in-school and after-school programming for students in grades 4–12, with a highlight being her leadership of the Cocke County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. Under her guidance, youth gain confidence, agricultural knowledge, and lifelong skills that extend far beyond the show ring.
Sarah is also the visionary behind Ladies Raising Livestock (LRL). Her passion for creating spaces where women in agriculture can connect, learn, and lead helped spark the idea that has grown into a movement and annual conference. With her experience in livestock production and her commitment to supporting both farmers and families, Sarah ensures that LRL reflects the diversity, strength, and resilience of women across agriculture.
Her philosophy is simple: agriculture is for everyone, and no question is too small. Through her leadership, Sarah continues to build bridges between people, knowledge, and opportunity—ensuring that her community and the women of LRL feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Alyssa Large
Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent, UT Extension – Hancock County
Co-Visionary, Ladies Raising Livestock
Alyssa Large serves as the Adult Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent for the University of Tennessee in Hancock County. Her professional interests focus primarily on beef cattle and forage production and management, with additional passion for small-scale agriculture that supports home food security. In her role, Alyssa works closely with producers, homeowners, and other clientele on a wide range of agricultural topics—both within and beyond her areas of specialization. Whether leading educational programming or contributing to community events, she is dedicated to delivering exemplary service to all residents of Hancock County. Her work reflects a deep commitment to strengthening individual operations, enriching the local community, and advancing the broader agricultural industry.
Alyssa’s passion for agriculture began early through active involvement in FFA, where she competed in livestock judging, parliamentary procedure, and agricultural mechanics. She earned her B.S. in Agricultural Leadership from the University of Tennessee and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Agribusiness and Risk Management at UT Martin. In addition to her Extension career, Alyssa is also an agricultural producer, living and working on her family’s Black Angus beef cattle farm.
Her personal and professional life reflect a deep-rooted commitment to agriculture and rural community development. Outside of work and continuing education, Alyssa enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and pets, playing the piano, and supporting youth education through Sunday School and 4-H programs.
Alyssa is also a co-visionary of Ladies Raising Livestock (LRL). Her leadership, coupled with her expertise in beef and forage production, has helped shape LRL into a movement that equips, connects, and uplifts women in agriculture—ensuring they feel both capable and confident in every role they take on.
We remember and celebrate the life of Jenni Goodrich—a founding member of Ladies Raising Livestock and a true force in Tennessee agriculture.
Jenni was more than an educator. She was a mentor, motivator, FFA advisor, livestock lover, proud Extension professional, and a friend to every woman brave enough to put on her boots and get to work.
She believed in women—deeply and fiercely. She believed in their voices, their grit, and their right to take up space in barns, boardrooms, and back pastures. Her vision helped shape what Ladies Raising Livestock would become: a place where women feel seen, supported, and strong.
Jenni also gave us the words that define who we are.
Our tagline—“Something to do. Something to love. Something to believe in.”—was born from Jenni’s heart. It reflects what we all need, and what agriculture gives in abundance. It is more than a motto; it is her legacy.
Though Jenni never sought the spotlight, her light was impossible to miss. Whether she was helping a student find her place in FFA, guiding a new agent through her first Farm Day, or listening over a plate of Mexican food, Jenni made people feel like they mattered—because to her, they did.
As we continue to grow this movement of women in agriculture, we carry Jenni’s legacy with us: her laughter, her smile, her wisdom, her positive spirit, and her unwavering love for this life and the people in it.
She may no longer stand in the field beside us, but her boots left deep prints. We will follow them with honor.
We love you, Jenni. We miss you. And we promise to keep raising livestock, raising each other, and raising a little ruckus—just like you taught us.
