The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency named UT Extension outdoor recreation specialist Ronnie Cowan the Volunteer TWRA Region IV Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. Cowan develops and delivers statewide programs focused on hunting, fishing, shooting sports, outdoor recreation, and conservation.

Cowan says serving as a volunteer TWRA hunting education instructor strengthens his work at UT. The training and field experience gained through hunter education are incorporated into Extension programs, university courses, 4-H activities, and mentored hunting opportunities. He says his involvement also strengthens the partnership between UT Extension and TWRA while supporting their shared goals of promoting safe and ethical hunting, conservation, and the recruitment and development of the next generation of Tennessee hunters.