In his eighth and final State of the State address, Gov. Bill Haslam delivered an at-times emotional early farewell by reflecting on his years in office while calling for lawmakers to take further action to help lead the nation on job growth and education gains. 

"Whether, like me, you have one more year, or you intend to be here for years to come, let's use this time while we have the privilege of answering the call to lead, to be the force for good for the state of Tennessee," Haslam said.

The call to arms of sorts came as Haslam touted his own and the legislature's accomplishments in recent years, while also encouraging lawmakers to continue making investments in education and battling the state's opioid crisis.

With a mix of reminiscing about the past while keeping an eye on the future, Haslam issued a new challenge to lawmakers: to have Tennessee lead the nation in jobs, education and government efficiency.

"I don't just want us to compete," the governor said during a speech that lasted roughly 30 minutes. "I want us to be the best."