The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities today announced the following 2023 awards:
Excellence in Extension Team Award: The Growing Together Multi-State Collaborative.
Excellence in Extension Award for an Individual: Mary Arnold, Oregon State University.
National Extension Diversity Award: The University of Florida for the CAFÉ Latino project.
The awards will be presented at the APLU Annual Meeting in November, which USDA-NIFA and Cooperative Extension have sponsored since 1991.
“Each year, these awards showcase the fundamental, transformative difference Cooperative Extension continues to make in our society,” said Manjit Misra, NIFA director. “This important partnership and excellent programs like these are a testament to the true value of Cooperative Extension capacity funds more than a century after the Smith-Lever Act created this unparalleled system of outreach and education that enriches every community across the nation.”
National Excellence in Extension Team Award recognizes excellence of an extension team in performing the work of extension research, technical assistance and outreach education. The Growing Together Multi-State Collaborative was established to expand access to fresh produce at food distribution sites. It also offers companion nutrition and gardening education to those experiencing nutrition insecurity throughout the North Central United States. Over the past three years, the multi-state collaborative has donated over 600,000 pounds, equivalent to 1.8 million servings of fruits and vegetables, to 878 food distribution sites serving 375,000 clients. The initiative’s original cooperating state Cooperative Extension Services are based at Iowa State University, the University of Wisconsin and Purdue University. The program has expanded to a total of nine states with the help of the following participating institutions: Michigan State University, Montana State University, South Dakota State University, University of Illinois, University of Nebraska and the University of Wyoming.
The Excellence in Extension Award for an Individual is given annually to one Cooperative Extension professional who excels at science-based programming, provides visionary leadership and makes a positive impact on constituents. Mary Arnold is a professor and 4-H Youth Development specialist at Oregon State University and works with the National 4-H Council. Arnold’s leadership among positive youth development professionals has improved the impact of 4-H programs across the country.
National Diversity in Extension Award recognizes significant contributions and accomplishments in achieving and sustaining diversity and pluralism. The Coalition of Florida Extension for Latino Communities, referred to as CAFÉ Latino, is working to increase the capacity and competency for extension to serve the needs of Florida’s growing Latinx population. CAFÉ Latino focuses on enhancing the access and efficacy of extension programs.
Source: iastate.edu
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