MONROE – Overton County’s second Everywhere You Look, UT mural has found a proud home at Rocky Ridge Farm, where a third-generation farming family has sponsored the mural to honor the University of Tennessee’s deep roots in their family and community.
Kendra Smith Livingston, her brother, Torrey Smith (Knoxville ’12, UT Health Science Center ’16), and their family have long held a passion for UT Knoxville. From childhood memories of attending 4-H events hosted by the local UT Extension office to cheering on the Vols as season tickets holders, the family’s passion for the University is undeniable.
“I mean, you live in Tennessee, you need to be a UT Vol fan. There just isn’t another choice,” Livingston said.
When Livingston saw the first Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Overton, she thought her family’s barn would be a great addition to the campaign. As the third generation to live and work on Rocky Ridge Farm, Livingston and her husband, Gerald, run their 80-acre property as well as raise cattle on an adjacent family farm. Just down the road, her parents, Ronald and Patricia Smith, grow wheat and hay to support this livestock. The family connection to the land is strong, as most people along the road are relatives.
Livingston hopes that the 40-foot-wide mural on Rocky Ridge Farm inspires others to participate in the campaign. To her family, Everywhere You Look, UT signifies that there are Tennessee fans everywhere.
“I’m just excited to see it done and hear what everybody in the community has to say about it,” Livingston said. The mural was made possible through a donation from Livingston and her family. The University provides funding only for the first mural in each county.
The newest mural in Overton County, painted by FreeSky Studios, marks the 61st in the Everywhere You Look, UT campaign. The campaign aims to paint a mural in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties by 2030. Since its launch in 2018, the campaign has created murals in 56 counties. To learn more about the Everywhere You Look, UT mural in Overton County or to submit a location for consideration, visit the campaign website.
About the University of Tennessee System
The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 62,000 students statewide; produces about 14,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 454,000 alumni around the world.