Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
Alan Bruhin, UT Extension director for Sevier County, is one of three statewide winners of the Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Specialists Award. The award is also named for Dr. Billy G. Hicks, Dean Emeritus of UT Extension.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recently presented several awards to top faculty, staff, researchers and extension experts. Thirty-two people were recognized at UTIA’s annual Awards and Promotions Luncheon held on the UTIA campus in Knoxville in early August. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by past faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute.
Bruhin has served almost his entire 38-year Extension career in Sevier County, and has been the director there for more than two decades. He’s active with 4-H youth in livestock projects, and he’s coached a national award-winning 4-H Wildlife Judging Team. Bruhin also works closely with beef cattle producers and has received awards from the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association.
He established an Extension Master Gardener program in Sevier County, where volunteers have done a number of beautification projects and grown produce for local food banks. Under Bruhin’s leadership, the Master Gardeners started a tomato seed project in 13 schools with kindergarten students. More than 5,000 children received tomato seeds to plant at home – along with instructions about gardening and nutrition. The project is now in its fourth year, and several of these children have donated their tomatoes to local food banks.
Bruhin also has been named the Sevierville Sunrise Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year in recent times.
“To be named as a winner of the Hicks Award is a great honor,” Bruhin says. “Any time you are recognized for outstanding programming by your peers means a little extra. I’d like to thank Dr. Hicks for making this award possible.”
“We are so proud of the many talented and dedicated people working for the UT Institute of Agriculture across the state,” says UTIA Chancellor Larry Arrington. “It was an honor to recognize all these award winners for their hard work.”
Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu
