UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2024
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 and promotions luncheon. This year’s ceremony was held in the newly-opened Agriculture and Natural Resources Building on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 14, 2024. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute.
UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver hosted the award winners and praised them for their work. “I continue to be amazed by the dedication, enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated by the impressive work of our UTIA faculty and staff,” says Carver. “The awards are well deserved, and the impacts of these accomplishments are seen across the state and will benefit Tennesseans for generations.”
Lucas Holman, Extension Agent II and director for UT Extension Wilson County, is the recipient of the Vernon and Ida Darter Award. Named for the late Extension Dean Emeritus Vernon W. Darter and his wife, the late Ida Darter, this award recognizes excellence among the many associate Extension agents across Tennessee.
For the last 6 years, Holman has served Wilson County in different capacities and has also been named the recipient of many other Extension-related awards. Regarding this achievement, Holman humbly states, “I’m excited to be given this award, but couldn’t have done it without my wonderful co-workers, volunteers and members of my community, as Extension is not just one person, but a community fostered in values of education and leadership.”
Holman will continue to serve his community, care for his three children Addie, Ellie, Millie and wife Bonnie. Holman also finds joy in keeping a vast collection of the “greatest perennial in the entire world” daylilies, over 200 of them in fact.
Holman received his B.S. in agriculture as well as an M.A. in curriculum and instruction from Tennessee Tech University.
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.