UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2021
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recognized some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards and promotions luncheon on the UTIA campus in Knoxville July 30, 2021. The event was conducted in person, a welcome return to normalcy after having an online ceremony because of the pandemic last year. The awards honor the extraordinary performance of UTIA employees during a difficult year of online education and changes to procedures because of the pandemic. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute.
UTIA Senior Vice President Tim Cross hosted the award winners and praised them for their work. “After a challenging and stressful year, it’s a pleasure to recognize excellence as exemplified by these award-winning members of the UTIA faculty and staff,” Cross says. “Their continuing dedication to our land-grant mission of serving Tennessee ensures that we develop and deliver real life solutions to improve health, grow the economy and enhance our environment.”
Blake Ramsey with UT Extension in Hawkins County is one of the statewide winners of the Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Specialists Award. The award is further named for Billy G. Hicks, dean emeritus of UT Extension. Dallas Manning with UT Extension in Coffee County was also named a winner of this honor.
“It’s a true honor to receive the 2021 TAAA&S Hicks Award,” Ramsey says. “I have been blessed to work for UT Extension for 13 years and have enjoyed being able to make a positive impact on the lives of Tennesseans. I am grateful to the Hicks family for their support and making this recognition a reality for those who have given their all for this organization.”
Raised on a beef cattle and tobacco farm in Hancock County, Ramsey uses his role with UT Extension to lead programming in beef and forage production and in pest identification and control.
Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu.