CORVALLIS, Ore. – Faculty in Oregon State University Extension Service’s Agricultural and Natural Resources and Family and Community Health programs have been recognized by their peers with national and regional awards.
Five faculty members in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Program in the College of Agricultural Sciences were national award-winners at the 2023 National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) annual meeting in Des Moines, Iowa.
Melissa Fery, associate professor of practice in the OSU Extension Small Farms Program in Benton, Lane and Linn counties, was awarded NACAA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, for her outstanding and engaging Extension outreach.
Fery was also part of a team that won the Communication Award for the online course “Developing a Successful Agricultural Tourism Business.” The course is offered through the Professional and Continuing Education unit in OSU’s Division of Extension and Engagement. The winning team was comprised of Fery, Audrey Comerford, OSU Extension’s statewide agritourism coordinator; Teagan Moran, small farms coordinator for Benton, Lane and Linn counties; and David Chaney of DEC Education Services in Corvallis.
Scott Duggan, associate professor of practice and Extension livestock specialist for Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, won the Achievement Award for excellence in the field of Extension.
Jacob Powell, assistant professor of practice and Extension crops and livestock specialist in Sherman and Wasco counties, won awards in the West Region for computer generated presentation with script, newsletter and published photo.
Several faculty and staff in the Family and Community Health Program in the College of Health won awards at the annual National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) conference in Providence, Rhode Island.
OSU and the nonprofit organization SPOON were awarded both the national and Western Region first-place awards in Early Childhood Child Care Training for “Nourished and Thriving Children: A Trauma-Informed Nutrition and Feeding Course.” The course is offered through OSU’s Professional and Continuing Education unit. The team included Jenny Rudolph, Lura Jones, Karen Taylor, Katie Klump-Hensley, Kate Miller, Rose Jepson- Sullivan, Lily Joslin, Lauren Tobey and Patrick Hart.
Robin Maille, associate professor of practice and Extension faculty in Union and Baker counties, received the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes Extension family and consumer science educators for leadership, outstanding programs and personal and professional growth.
Also receiving awards (listed in alphabetical order):
- First Place, Western Region, Communications Radio or Podcast, Outreach Through Radio Broadcasting: Olivia Davis, Sara Olson and Rosanna Sanders-Wallulatum.
- First Place, Western Region, Communications Television/Video, Indigenous Farm to School Video Series: Olivia Davis, Patrick Hart Videography, Lily Joslin, Danita Macy, Letty Martinez, Raceme Farm Collective/Flying Dogheart Farms; Jenny Rudolph, Jennifer Serna, Wapato Island Farms; Rick Sherman, Oregon Department of Education; and Lauren Tobey.
- Second Place, Western Region, Innovative Youth Development Programming, Food Hero at the Farmers Market for Youth: Katie Ahern, Tina Dodge, Mandy Hatfield, Cheryl Kirk, Joanna Lyford and Kelly Streit.
- Second Place, Western Region, SNAP-Ed/EFNEP Educational Programming, OSU Growing Health Kids Virtual Curriculum Lessons Expand Reach Throughout the State: Shara Anslow, Kathy Bates, Jenny Boyle, Jennifer Bunn, Diana Cardenas, Sarita Contreras, Jamie Cox, Rachel Dillard, Tina Dodge, Luciana Falcon, Maria Falcon, Darla Foster, Anne Gross, Mandy Hatfield, Anne Hoisington, Rose Jepson-Sullivan, Cheryl Kirk, Carly Kristofik, Francisca Lopez, Joanne Lyford, Chris Mouzong, Ellen Radcliffe, Sally Schulte, Stephanie Stuart, Rebecca Marson, Jennifer Morris, Yolanda Rodriquez and Lauren Tobey.
- Third Place, Western Region, Innovation in Programming, Growing Healthy Kids Virtual Toolkit Implementation: Shara Anslow, Kathy Bates, Jenny Boyle, Jennifer Bunn, Diana Cardenas, Sarita Contreras, Jamie Cox, Rachel Dillard, Tina Dodge, Luciana Falcon, Maria Falcon, Darla Foster, Anne Gross, Mandy Hatfield, Anne Hoisington, Rose Jepson-Sullivan, Cheryl Kirk, Carly Kristofik, Francisca Lopez, Joanne Lyford, Chris Mouzong, Ellen Radcliffe, Sally Schulte, Stephanie Stuart, Rebecca Marson, Jennifer Morris, Yolanda Rodriquez and Lauren Tobey.
