🎓 Van Buren Digital Frontier Symposium in Spencer, TN: Free Talk on AI, Robotics and Rural Jobs, Thursday, Nov. 19, 5-8 p.m.

🌄 Questions about how artificial intelligence, broadband and new technology will shape work in rural Tennessee are on the minds of many families across the Dunlap area, and this community event puts those questions on the table for neighbors in Van Buren County and beyond.

📣 The Van Buren Digital Frontier Symposium will take place Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Central at the UT Extension Van Buren County Agricultural Building in Spencer. The featured presentation, “The Future Is Local: AI, Robotics & Workforce Opportunities for Rural Tennessee,” will be given by Dr. Michael Torrence, President of Motlow State Community College.

🗓️ When and 📍 Where

🗓️ The symposium is scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Central. The event will be held at the UT Extension Van Buren County Agricultural Building in Spencer, Tennessee, which the event poster refers to as the Van Buren County Ag Building.

📍 The gathering is designed for the Spencer community and nearby residents who want to learn about technology trends without leaving the region.

🤖 What You’ll Hear

🤖 According to the event announcement, Dr. Torrence will share his perspective on what artificial intelligence and robotics could mean for rural Tennessee. The post describes him as a recognized leader in artificial intelligence and educational innovation who has championed training in robotics, automation, mechatronics and advanced manufacturing, including through Motlow’s Automation & Robotics Training Center.

🌐 Beyond the featured presentation, the event poster lists topics including Edge Computing, Broadband Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, AI & Emerging Technologies, Energy & Future Infrastructure, Workforce Development & STEM Education, and Community Opportunities.

🎟️ How to Go

🎟️ Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. No registration is mentioned in the event materials. Attendees are invited to bring their questions for the symposium Q&A session.

👥 The event is hosted by S&S Community Consulting, according to the event poster, which describes the symposium as a free community educational event.

✨ Why You’ll Want to Be There

✨ This is a chance to hear a statewide education leader talk about technology in terms of jobs close to home. Students, working adults, parents and anyone curious about what the next decade may bring to rural communities will find something to take away. The poster’s tagline, “Empowering rural Tennessee communities through education, collaboration, and technology,” captures the event’s focus on local opportunity.

❤️ Because admission is free and the event is open to everyone, it is an easy evening to bring a friend or neighbor and start a conversation about the future of work in Van Buren County.

📅 Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 19, 2026, and plan to join us in Spencer. Bring your questions, bring a friend, and be part of the conversation about building our future together.