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.”
Tom Rison, director of UT-TSU Extension Claiborne County, is one recipient of the Charles and Julie Wharton Award for Outstanding Extension Achievements. Established by long-time 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 often run 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. Matthew Deist, with UT-TSU Extension Franklin County, and Chris Cooper, director of UT-TSU Extension Shelby County, also received this award. Rison is being recognized for his commitment to the programming he runs for his community.
Rison has worked for UTIA for 28 years, all of them served in Claiborne County. He has won several statewide recognitions from UTIA and UT Extension for his work in both agricultural and natural resources education, including food security programs for small farmers as well as 4-H youth development. In 2023 he was named the 2023 Tennessee Forestry Association Extension Agent of the Year Award. Among his talents: logging, beekeeping and cheese making. He also serves on the planning committee for the Northeast Tennessee Beef Expo and the Cumberland Gap Cattle Conference.
Rison and his wife use real-life experiences from their own farm to teach others about food security. He also says working with the county’s youth is among his greatest joys. “Being told by a past 4-H member that you made a positive difference in their life is priceless,” 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.