Loudon County Native Officially Assumes Role June 1
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A leader who is no stranger to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will officially assume the role of Dean of UT Extension beginning June 1. Justin Rhinehart, who has served UTIA as a professor in the Department of Animal Science and as Extension beef cattle specialist; assistant dean of agriculture and natural resources and community economic development; and interim dean of UT Extension, will now serve as the statewide leader of UT Extension.
Keith Carver, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of UTIA, made the official announcement Friday, May 30. “UT Extension serves rural and urban clientele in all 95 Tennessee counties providing education and programming to benefit the state’s agricultural producers and families and youth from all backgrounds,” says Carver. “From farmers and ranchers, to families, foresters, Master Gardeners, backyard producers, 4-H members and other youth – all across the state UT Extension is the embodiment of the Institute of Agriculture’s promise to provide Real. Life. Solutions. I am thrilled that Justin will lead the talented and dedicated UT Extension faculty and staff.”
A native of Loudon County, Rhinehart’s family managed a diversified farming operation growing livestock, tobacco and nursery crops along with family in Jefferson County. Rhinehart earned his bachelor of science from what is now the Herbert College of Agriculture in 1999 in agriculture and Extension education, and went on to earn both an M.S. and Ph.D. in reproductive physiology from the University of Kentucky and West Virginia University, respectively. He served as assistant Extension professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University before joining the UT Department of Animal Science in 2010 as an assistant professor and Extension beef cattle specialist.
Rhinehart moved up through the professorial ranks, winning many awards and recognitions and co-authoring numerous academic papers and Extension publications. Among his many awards, Rhinehart is the recipient of the UT Institute of Agriculture’s Charles and Patricia Goan Excellence in Customer Service Award in 2021. The honor is named for former Extension dean emeritus Charles Goan and his wife Pat and recognizes exemplary service to Extension clientele and excellence in the delivery of Extension materials.
As an Extension beef cattle specialist, Rhinehart worked to translate research findings into management practices that improve the profitability of beef cattle production and the quality of life for beef cattle farmers. His focus has been on training Extension agents and farmers on applying reproductive management technologies such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer, pregnancy diagnosis, in vitro embryo production and early pregnancy diagnosis. Rhinehart coordinated the Tennessee Master Beef Producer program that annually trains more than 2,000 beef cattle farmers on improving the health and wellbeing of their livestock, economic and environmental sustainability of their farming operation, and quality and safety of the food they produce. He also provided leadership for the Tennessee Beef Heifer Development Program, the Tennessee Bull Development and Evaluation Program, and the Bovine Reproductive Management Training Program. Each provides education and service to beef cattle farmers and ranchers across Tennessee, as well as others across the U.S. and in other countries.
Rhinehart says, “I have been fortunate to work closely with Tennessee’s farmers, families, businesses and communities, first as part of the animal science faculty and more recently providing statewide leadership for Extension programs in agriculture and natural resources. I look forward to continuing those relationships and building new partnerships as we work together to deliver on the promise of UT Extension to benefit the lives of the people in Tennessee.”
The newly appointed dean adds, “I am excited to champion the programs of UT Extension and to see how they will continue to evolve to enhance education and services that improve the lives and livelihoods of farmers, families and communities across the state.”
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.