The fourth annual Dairy Hill Stampede 5K and 10K race will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the MTSU Experiential Learning and Research Center atop the hill adjacent to the MTSU Dairy, 3211 Guy James Road in Lascassas, Tennessee.

The event 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/hwl8gjq. To view a course map, visit www.tnfacct.com/dairy-hill-stampede-map.

Runners will receive a gender-specific tech T-shirt, cowbell finisher medal, fresh-baked breads and MTSU chocolate milk at the finish line, said Dr. Rhonda Hoffman, MTSU professor, interim horse science director and Dairy Hill Stampede volunteer.

There are also age group trophies and a perpetual trophy for the largest team. Both the 5K and 10K races are USA Track & Field-certified courses.

Rick Insell

Dr. Rhonda Hoffman

There are also “virtual” options for both races, allowing the distance to be run off-site, Hoffman said. Virtual runners can pick up their tech T-shirts and report their times to get finisher medals at the Farm Animal Coalition’s office in Murfreesboro.

In previous years, some virtual participants were veterans or others who needed to complete their race distance at H3O Aquatics on an underwater treadmill.

Coach Rick Insell and members of the Lady Raiders basketball team will be at the finish line to present medals and awards, just as they have for the last three years.

MTSU’s involvement includes representation on the race committee, site-hosting and personnel support for the race, 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 seven event sponsors, is one of 11 departments in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.

For more information about the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience and its various programs, visit www.mtsu.edu/abas. To learn more about the college, visit www.mtsu.edu/programs/plant-science.

Other sponsors include Rutherford County Farm Bureau, H30 Aquatics, TriGreen Equipment, Nave Truck Sales, Redstone Credit Union and Rutherford Farmers Co-Op.

For more information about the race, call Lou Nave, executive director at Farm Animal Care Coalition of Tennessee, at 615-970-8065 or visit www.tnfacct.com/dairy-hill-stampede.html.

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