By Blake Jackson
Gregg Rentfrow, Ph.D., Extension professor of meat science at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, has been honored with the 2026 American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Extension Award.
The national recognition highlights his outstanding Extension programs and long-standing contributions to strengthening the animal agriculture and meat industries.
Throughout his career, Rentfrow has delivered educational programs to livestock and meat professionals across 42 states and Canada. His instructional carcass fabrication videos have also become a widely used learning resource, attracting more than two million views on YouTube.
"We are incredibly proud of Dr. Rentfrow and this well-deserved recognition,” said Jennifer Hunter, associate dean for Extension and director of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
“For more than 35 years, he has dedicated his career to advancing meat science while making complex research accessible and relevant for producers, processors, youth and consumers. His commitment to education and service has had a lasting impact on Kentucky agriculture and beyond."
A major contributor to his success is the University of Kentucky Meat Cutting School, which has trained thousands of meat cutters from the United States and Canada.
Rentfrow also leads the Kentucky 4-H Country Ham Project, which has expanded from only a few hundred participants to nearly 1,100 youth over the past 20 years.
Rentfrow has also supported educational initiatives through the Food Systems Innovation Center, including the popular BBQ Basics program, which introduces participants to regional barbecue traditions through hands-on learning.
Rentfrow latest focus is the Meat and Food Industry Advancement Center at the Oran C. Little Research Center in Versailles. Once completed, the facility will serve as a hub for workforce training, research, and innovation to support Kentucky’s multibillion-dollar animal agriculture sector.
“It’s always an honor, especially for a national award like this,” Rentfrow said. “I’m humbled, and it’s always good to be recognized by these organizations and by your peers. I’m very appreciative, and to be recognized nationally is really special.”
“The colleagues you work with day in and day out are the ones who nominate you,” Rentfrow said. “That makes it meaningful.”
Photo Credit: matt-barton
Categories: Kentucky, Business, Education