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.”
Keith E. Allen, director of UT Extension Macon 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. Sarah Orr, director of UT-TSU Extension Cocke County, and Brian White, director of UT Extension Henderson County, also received this award. Allen is being recognized for more than 35 years of dedication to his community.
Since 1990, Allen has worked at UT Extension Macon County, first as a 4-H youth development Extension agent before transitioning to an agriculture and natural resources Extension agent position in 2014. Throughout his career, he has not only advocated for the next generation of leaders, but also provided research-based assistance to farmers in one of the world’s top-producing regions for burley tobacco. As farmland loss continues to increase, Allen says one of the most important aspects of his job is ensuring that acreage remains available for agricultural production.
“The work we do at UT Extension makes a difference locally and beyond,” says Allen. “I appreciate being recognized for this honor, but there are so many other Extension agents who are even more deserving. There is no greater privilege than being a part of this great team.”
In his free time, Allen enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as raising purebred fox red Labrador retrievers and collecting Native American artifacts.
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.