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.
Bedford County Featured Events
Agriculture
- 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
- Matter of Balance Mondays and Fridays, September 5 – 29 at the Shelbyville/Bedford County Senior Citizens Center at 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. See the flyer for more information. Call the office at 931-684-5971 for questions or to sign up. Free of charge.
- 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. The next meeting is August 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Legends Steakhouse.
- 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 a.m. at the Extension Office.
- Four Corners FCE – Regular meeting day is Fourth Monday at 6:00 p.m. at the Extension Office.
- Butler’s Creek FCE – Regular meeting day is the Second Monday . Next meeting is September 8 at 4:00 p.m. at Farm Bureau.
- Town and Country – Regular meeting day is the Second Monday. The next meeting will be September 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Cannon Methodist Church.
- Fairview FCE – Regular meeting day is Third Wednesday. The next meeting is July 16 at 10:30 a.m. for July picnic. Place TBA.
- Liberty FCE -Regular meeting day is the Third Monday. The next meeting is August 18 at 5:00 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.
4-H
- Poultry Judging- Practices will begin July 29th from 3:45- 5:00 pm at our office. Contact Mrs. Emily Wooten for more information at emote@utk.edu or 931-684-5971
- GrillMaster’s Interest Meeting: July 30th @ 5:15 p.m. at our office. Contact Mrs. Emily Wooten for more information
