John Campbell might be humble about his career, but the National Association of County Agricultural Agents disagrees.

The association inducted Campbell into the NACAA National Hall of Fame at their annual conference in Fort Wayne, Ind., in September.

“I focused on helping the people I tried to help,” said Campbell, “and that’s what I tried to do.”

Campbell started his 35-year career with the University of Tennessee Extension Service in Marion County before moving to Marshall County, where for five years he served as the UT Extension agent.

He then took a position as an area farm management specialist, serving farmers, ranchers, and dairy producers in a nine county region for the next 27 years.

According to the UT institute of Agriculture, during that time, Campbell helped producers create 1,200 agricultural financial management plans, taught more than 300 educational sessions, and produced newsletters, a web site, and monthly milk forecasts for the benefit and continuing education of agricultural producers in the region.

He helped create an educational workshop curriculum for small farmers which is used statewide, and lead the development of the curriculum for the state’s Master Goat Program.

After retirement, Campbell has continued his service to the community as an active member in the Lewisburg Lions Club, as a volunteer with 4-H programs, his church, and many other groups.

The NACAA Hall of Fame Award “recognizes members for demonstrated commitment, dedication and effective leadership in their job performance as an outstanding educator and as an outstanding humanitarian.”

The NACAA only inducts four members to the hall each year, one from each region of the country.

“I was really honored to receive it,” said Campbell.

Image courtesy NACAA.

John Campbell, right, receives the Hall of Fame Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents president, Richard Fechter, at the association’s September convention in Indiana.