John Gunter receives the Charles and Julie Wharton Award for Outstanding Extension Achievements
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrated the accomplishments of some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards luncheon. The 2026 ceremony was held on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 4. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the institute.
UTIA Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver hosted the celebration and praised the honorees for their devotion to the land-grant mission. “Our UTIA staff and faculty continue to overwhelm me with their enthusiasm and unparalleled expertise,” he said. “I am always in awe of their dedication to providing Real. Life. Solutions. to the people of Tennessee. These award winners represent the efforts and accomplishments this past year that will most benefit all Tennesseans and society – impacts that will have lasting benefits through teaching, research and Extension for years to come.”
John Gunter, county director of UT Extension Fentress County, is one recipient of the Charles and Julie Wharton Award for Outstanding Extension Achievements. Established by longtime supporters of the Institute of Agriculture Charles Wharton and his late wife Julie, and now supported by Charles and Lori Wharton, this award is presented to three UT Extension agents annually. These agents may conduct programs in any area, including agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and resource development. Special consideration is given to those individuals who have demonstrated excellence in serving local needs for five years or more.
Gunter has served as an agriculture and natural resources agent for UT Extension Fentress County for 14 years. Among his many accomplishments, he played a major role in the opening of a new agriculture center and pavilion for the county and in helping Fentress County producers receive nearly $4 million in cost share funding through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program.
Gunter is intensely interested in horticulture and livestock management and is currently recruiting new members for the county’s master gardener program while leading programs for beef producers, farm manager classes and instruction in fruit and vegetable production. He has also coached state livestock judging teams.
You can hear John talking about Extension and the various ways UTIA serves communities on the airways in Jamestown. He participates on the “Ag in the Upper Cumberlands” radio show that reaches about 6,000 people a day. Gunter is honored to receive the Charles and Julie Wharton Award for Outstanding Extension Achievements. “I’m very grateful to be recognized for this award. It means a great deal to be recognized by peers and our Extension family,” he says.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.