Welcome to Our New Agriculture Agent and County Director
My name is Matthew Deist and starting July 1st, I’ll have the privilege of serving as your agriculture Extension Agent and the responsibility of leading the experienced and talented professionals of your local UT-TSU Extension office here in Bedford County.
For those of you unfamiliar with the University of TN Extension Service, our mission is to solve problems and improve lives through the application of research and evidence-based knowledge in agriculture and natural resources, family & consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and community development. Every county in the state of Tennessee has a local Extension office and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead yours. I hope to also have the opportunity to meet and work with many of you reading this brief article, but until then, a short introduction here will have to suffice.
Professionally, I have over a decade of experience with UT Extension, starting my career in Marion County where I worked with a wide array of agricultural clientele, some 1,500 4-H youth, and several Master Gardener volunteers. My work largely revolved around education in the areas of livestock and forage production, but I also addressed educational needs in the areas of consumer horticulture and youth workforce preparation. For the past three years I’ve served as one of the two Agriculture Extension Agents in Franklin County working primarily with row crop producers, nurserymen, Master Gardeners, and residential clientele.
A little about me personally, I grew up on a farm near Fayetteville, TN where we raised registered Red Angus cattle and exhibited them across the southeast from county fairs to even national competitions. I graduated from Lincoln County High School in 2007, received my bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from MTSU in 2012, and later received a master’s degree in Agriculture, Leadership, Education, and Communication from UT Knoxville in 2021. I’m blessed to be married to my best friend Catherine and to be the father of our wonderful daughter Waverly and son Henry whom we’re expecting soon. I believe in hard work, doing the right thing, and serving others with the talents we’ve been blessed with.
At end, I’m grateful and excited for this opportunity to serve as your agriculture Extension agent and to lead Extension efforts at your local UT-TSU Extension office. If I can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 931-684-5971 or email me at mdeist@utk.edu.
The UT/TSU Extension Office will hold a Meet and Greet on Tuesday, July 8 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Extension Office at 2105 Midland Road, Shelbyville. Please stop by to grab a bag of chips and a drink and meet Matthew Deist, our new Bedford County Agriculture Agent and County Director.
Bedford County Fair Entries – Changes for 2025
We are excited to hold the Bedford County Fair on July 14-19, 2025 at the Ag Center in Shelbyville, TN (2119 Midland Road). Entries will be taken on Sunday, July 13 at 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. for Bedford County Residents, Bedford County FCE members and Bedford County 4-Hers. In the Creative Arts Department A, members of the Happy Hands Quilt Guild, Fleece on the Duck Fiber Arts Guild, Bedford County Arts Council and Cheekwood Embroiderers’ Guild are eligible to enter, regardless of residency.
In an effort to align more closely with the Tennessee State Fair, there are some major changes. One of the changes is that Youth Entries are divided into two age groups (in place of the pre-4-H and 4-H categories) – Youth 5 years old to 8 years old and Youth 9 years old to 18 years old. Adults are 19 years old and over.
Eliminated lots include scrapbooking, upcycled craft, photograph series, gluten free baked items, no candies (hard candy, peanut brittle, divinity, caramel corn, other candy) and youth only (exhibit, 4-H scrapbook, 4-H poster, collection).
New lots include sewn household item, lap quilt, other quilt, machine embroidery, digital art, wreath, color photograph and agriculture/farm life photograph. In fine arts, pen and ink is its own lot with pencil (colored or graphite) as a separate lot and crayon as a separate lot.
There is also a major change in the way photographs are prepared for entry. All photographs must be 5” x 7” and mounted on or under an 8” x 10” mat board (no cardboard, foam core, construction paper, etc.). No framed items. No professionals.
Be sure to check the lots and the rules for your entries here. Entry tags are available here or you can use the labels at the entry tables on July 13th. For more information about the Bedford County Fair, visit their website here.
Bedford County Featured Events
Agriculture
- Meet and Greet for New Agriculture Agent and County Director – Join us at the Extension Office to grab a bag of chips and a drink and meet our new Agriculture Agent and County Director, Matthew Deist. July 8 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- The Bedford County Farmers Market is open for the 2025 Season – Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. at the Celebration Pavilion. There are no early sales. It is held at the Celebration Pavilion in front of Cooper Steel Arena under the blue water tower in Shelbyville and will run each Thursday through the season. Come see us!
- Beef Quality Assurance training is by appointment at the Extension office. Contact the office at 931-684-5971.
- Private Applicator Training for Restricted Use Pesticides is available by appointment at the Extension office. Contact the office at 931-684-5971.
- Farming Fundamentals – On-line program completed on your time. See the Agriculture Programs Page on the tab above for details.
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Healthy Heart Ambassador Program – Are you on high blood pressure medication and/or diagnosed with high blood pressure? This 4 month free monitoring program (June – Sept.) can help you better communicate with your health care team and help reduce and control blood pressure. You will check in twice a month during office hours with the facilitator, monitor your bp at home (we’ll provide the equipment), receive weekly emails or calls and attend 4 nutrition presentations. All meetings will be at the Bedford County Senior Citizens Center. See the flyer for dates and more details. Take control of your health and blood pressure – sign up today!
- Mediterranean Class – Looking to eat more healthy? The Mediterranean Diet is both a healthy and delicious eating pattern. UT/TSU Extension is offering a four week class exploring the foods and principles of the Mediterranean Diet through lecture, cooking demonstrations, tastings and more. It will be held on Fridays, July 18—August 8 at 10:00 –11:30 a.m. at the Extension Office. Cost is $25 for the series and you must pre-register by going to bedford.tennessee.edu or stopping by the Extension Office at 2105 Midland Road for a registration form. Call 931-684-5971 for more information.
- Come join an FCE Club (Family and Community Education) for 2025! Enjoy informative and fun programs throughout the year at monthly club meetings and special events and engage in community service and fellowship. Call the office at 931-684-5971 for more information or see the FCE webpage.
FCE
- Heart of the Home FCE – Regular meeting day is First Monday at 10:30 am at the Extension Office.
- Wheel FCE – Regular meeting day is Second Thursday at 12:00 noon at Shiloh Outreach Church.
- Shelbyville FCE – Regular meeting day is First Tuesday at 9:30 am at the Extension Office.
- Four Corners FCE – Regular meeting day is Fourth Monday at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office.
- Butler’s Creek FCE – Regular meeting day is the Second Monday . Next meeting is July 7at 6:00 p.m. at Extension Office.
- Town and Country – Regular meeting day is the Second Monday at 11:00 am at Cannon United Methodist Church.
- Fairview FCE – Regular meeting day is Third Wednesday. The next meeting is July 16 at 10:30 am for July picnic. Place TBA.
- Liberty FCE -Regular meeting day is the Third Monday. The next meeting is July 21 at 6:00 pm at Dorris Turrentine.
4-H
- Junior Camp sign-ups will start March 3rd and end June 3rd. Camp is $350. Papers are at our office!
- Bedford County Fair- July 14th-20th
- Poultry Judging- Practices will begin July 22nd from 3:45- 5:00 pm at our office. Contact Ms. Emily Mote for more information at emote@utk.edu or 931-684-5971
- Beef Expo: July 9th-12th, Lebanon, TN
- Chick Chain Sale: July 14th 6pm @ Bedford County Fair
