South Dakota Motto
Agriculture and Commerce
The state motto of Tennessee is “Agriculture and Commerce.” It is taken from words on the Tennessee state seal and was formally adopted in 1987.
The significance of the motto can be understood while looking at Tennessee’s economic growth. The state is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the country due to its rich soil, good climate, and rainfall. Not only does the terrain range from mountains to hills to flatlands so does the kind of agriculture made possible there. East Tennessee is populated with livestock and dairies while middle Tennessee is greener with its orchards, nurseries, and vegetable production, and western Tennessee tends to various crops.