UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2025
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The accomplishments of the faculty and staff of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture were celebrated at an annual awards luncheon held on the UT Knoxville campus in the new Agriculture and Natural Resources Building on July 30. 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 luncheon and praised the honorees for their work. “The enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated by our UTIA faculty and staff is unparalleled,” he said. “I am always in awe of their dedication to providing real life solutions to the people of Tennessee. These well-deserved awards represent impacts and accomplishments that benefit Tennesseans and society now and for years to come.”
Amanda Mathenia, UT Extension Perry County director, is a recipient of the Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Specialists – Hicks Award of Excellence. Established by the Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Specialists (TAAA&S) and other endowed funds, this award is presented annually to up to three agricultural Extension faculty who are also members of TAAA&S. Tim Woods, UT Extension McMinn County director, and Rachel Painter, UT Extension farm management specialist, also received the award.
Mathenia, who serves as the agricultural and natural resources agent in her county, has worked for UTIA for 17 years. She specializes in beef cattle and small ruminant production, small business development and rural entrepreneurship. Mathenia was originally hired in Humphreys County and has served in Perry County since 2011.
She has won several Extension awards, including the Western Region TAAA&S Outstanding Young Agent, Western Region Outstanding Agent, TAAA&S Early Career Award and TAAA&S Achievement Award, TAAA&S Distinguished Service Award, National Association County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Achievement Award, NACAA Distinguished Service Award, Jim Neel Outstanding Work in Beef Extension Programs Award, Tennessee Forestry Association Extension Agent of the Year, Tennessee Sheep Producers Extension Educator Award and the Tennessee RiverLine Extra Mile Award twice. Mathenia also is a graduate of the AgStar Leadership Program.
“It is an honor to have been selected as a TAAA&S-Hicks Award of Excellence recipient. Receiving this award reflects my commitment to excellence in outreach, the ability to transform research findings into teachable moments, and collaborative efforts that seek meaningful impact,” she said.
Mathenia earned her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Murray State University and her master’s degree in agricultural and Extension education services at UT Knoxville.
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.