Annual ‘Dairy Hill Stampede’ runners start at MTSU Dairy Sept. 12

For those wanting to combine enjoying MTSU’s chocolate milk, observing MTSU women’s basketball coach Rick Insell and some of his Lady Raiders, and running in either a 5K or 10K race, the MTSU Dairy will be the place to be Saturday, Sept. 12.

The dairy, located at 3211 Guy James Road in Lascassas, Tennessee, will be the site for the start and finish of the third annual Dairy Hill Stampede beginning at 8 a.m.

Dr. Rhonda Hoffman

The event, which expects to draw several hundred runners, benefits the Farm Animal Coalition of Tennessee and the Veteran’s Recovery Center Council. Late and race-day entries are welcome; register online at http://tinyurl.com/pssxlrg.

Interim horse science director Rhonda Hoffman, an avid runner nearing competing in her ninth half-marathon, said she plans to run in the Dairy Hill Stampede if time allows. She has volunteered at the previous two events.

“People who come can enjoy the chocolate milk and fresh baked breads,” Hoffman said, adding that race organizers “are applying to have the course officially certified — and that’s exciting if you are a runner.”

Coach Rick Insell

Insell and his Blue Raiders will be handing out post-race awards, which consist of both speed awards and cowbells on lanyards, Hoffman said.

The dairy and MTSU Farm are part of the university’s Experiential Learning and Research Center. The School of Agribusiness and Agriscience, one of nine event sponsors, is one of 11 departments in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.

For more information about ag programs, visit:

To learn more about the college, visit www.mtsu.edu/abas.

Other sponsors include Rutherford County Farm Bureau, H30 Aquatics, TriGreen Equipment, Nave Truck Sales, Redstone Credit Union, Rutherford Farmers Co-Op and the Tennessee Cattlemen’s and Tennessee Pork Producers associations.

For more information about the race, call Lou Nave at 615-970-8065 or visit www.tnfacct.com/dairy-hill-stampede.html.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

2015 Dairy Hill Stampede poster