Director of Education and University of Tennessee Extension agent Tim Roberts is the recipient of the 2018 “Youth in Agriculture” award for establishing the Youth Education in Agriculture, Forestry, and other Natural Resources program at Agricenter International.

Roberts was presented the award by representatives from Tennessee State University and Farm Credit at their Small Urban Agriculture Conference held in Nashville, Tenn.

“Tim has done an amazing job to establish an award-winning educational program in a short time which has educated — and will continue to educate — future generations of young students about the vital role agriculture plays in our world,” says John Charles Wilson, president emeritus, Agricenter International. “Tim’s energy and passion for agriculture are transferred to the children he influences when they visit Agricenter.”

The education has been built around the National Science Curriculum which was designed to assist schools and teachers in providing education in an outdoor setting. “I believe the program is successful because students are using their senses of sight, touch, and smell to enhance their educational experience,” explains Roberts. “It’s much better than just learning concepts.”

Through the multi-disciplined educational program, Roberts interacts with thousands of students each year at the 1,000-acre urban farm located on the northeastern edge of Memphis, Tenn. In addition to the eight daily classes from which teachers may chose, Roberts also organizes annual education events that include: Energy Day; Ag Tech Career Forum; Farm Education Day; and an Ag Day Student Art Contest.

He began his career at Agricenter in 2003. He holds a B.S. degree from Tennessee Technology University in Cookeville, and a master’s of science degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia.