NASDA announces 2025 Honor Award recipients

At its 2025 annual meeting, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) recognized three exemplary employees for their service, communication and administration on behalf of their respective states.

“Every year, we have the honor of celebrating individuals whose dedication and innovation help advance agriculture in meaningful ways,” NASDA President and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward said. “These awards reflect our deep appreciation for those who work wholeheartedly to support our communities, strengthen our food systems and secure a thriving future for agriculture.”

This year, NASDA also awarded the NASDA Public-Private Partnership Award.

Douglass-Irvin

Administration Award

Julie Cook, administrative and financial manager of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA), was selected as the 2025 Douglass-Irvin Administration Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to a state agency, leading to enhanced administrative efficiency and greater organizational impact.

Cook has dedicated over 25 years to WDA, currently serving as the administration division manager, where she oversees fiscal, human resources, reporting, public information and IT efforts. 

With deep expertise in accounting and state regulations, she is a trusted resource both within the department and across Wyoming’s government. 

Known for her integrity, problem-solving skills and willingness to take on challenges, Cook has been a steady, highly-respected leader instrumental to the department’s success.

Communications Award

Heather Lansdowne, director of communications of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, received the 2025 Communications Award. 

This award honors distinguished efforts in media and public communications which enhance public understanding of agriculture.

Over the last decade, Lansdowne has cultivated a deep respect for and strong connection to Kansas farmers and ranchers, while skillfully ensuring external communication resonates with the general public. 

This perspective has proven invaluable in helping convey complex animal and plant health issues in a clear and relatable way. 

Lansdowne brings humility, passion and a steadfast belief in the power of teamwork to everything she does.

James A. Graham Award for Outstanding Service

Katie Howard, deputy commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYS AGM) is the recipient of the James A. Graham Award for Outstanding Service. 

This award honors outstanding efforts in delivering meaningful support and service to farmers and ranchers.

Howard has served the NYS AGM for five years, progressing from Special Counsel for Ethics, Risk and Compliance to deputy commissioner in 2024, where she now oversees the Division of Food Safety and Inspection, Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services and the New York State Food Laboratory. 

She has played a pivotal role in New York’s proactive response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), leading complex testing and surveillance initiatives in coordination with federal and state partners to protect dairy herds, poultry and public health. 

Her leadership, professionalism and collaborative approach have been instrumental in maintaining New York’s status as unaffected by HPAI, earning her the respect of colleagues, regulators and agricultural producers statewide.

NASDA Public-Private Partnership Award

The NASDA Public-Private Partnership Award honors a NASDA partner organization which has worked alongside state departments of agriculture to deliver a program, project or service with a meaningful impact at the state or national level. 

This year, the award was presented to SAS.

While all NASDA partners raise the department’s ability to serve state agriculture departments and provide quality member value, SAS has gone above and beyond. SAS has been an active NASDA partner since 2022, and since joining the network, the SAS team has proactively sought solutions to the issues they hear about in meetings. 

This year, SAS brought about four regional and national solutions to address issues NASDA members face with an inaccurate drought system, international market development and regional food system resiliency.

NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association representing the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. For more information, visit nasda.org/.