Extension recognized by professional associations

This year, University of Wyoming (UW) Extension employees received state, regional and national honors from professional associations in their fields. 

These outstanding staff members were recognized at an annual UW Extension conference held in Laramie in November.

NACAA recognizes Vardiman, Julian, Marshall 

UW Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program Assistant Coordinator Jeremiah Vardiman – an expert in soil, pest and crop management, from vineyard establishment to cheatgrass control – won the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). 

This award is given to an exceptional educator who has served Extension for over 10 years, led effective programming and actively worked to improve Extension.

Lincoln County Extension Educator McKenna Julian earned NACAA’s Achievement Award, which is given to an outstanding educator who has been with the association for less than 10 years. 

During Julian’s two years as a NACAA member, she has been instrumental in coordinating key programs throughout the state, including Wyoming Ranch Camp, Southwest Wyoming Ag Days, Women in Ag Night and the UW Extension Sheep Task Force.

Fremont County Extension Educator Chance Marshall was recognized by fellow Wyoming Association of County Agricultural Agents (WACAA) members. 

He received the WACAA Outstanding Educator Award for his leadership, willingness to tackle challenging issues and delivery of innovative programming. Marshall currently serves as WACAA’s president and has been a member of the association since 2014.

Additionally, Marshall provides a calm perspective when discussing controversial topics like predator management and has helped lead impactful programs like Wyoming Ranch Camp and Fremont County Farm and Ranch Days.

4-H Educators earn state, regional, national honors

Several UW Extension employees were recognized by the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP), an organization which honors members for outstanding community service, impactful youth programming and innovative communication materials.

Converse County 4-H Educator Kellynne Doyle won the NAE4-HYDP Achievement in Service Award, which celebrates an employee who has been a member of NAE4-HYDP for three to seven years. 

Former Sheridan County 4-H Educator Emily Swinyer won the Distinguished Service Award, awarded to those who have been members of NAE4-HYDP for seven to 14 years.

Doyle and Converse County Administrative Professional Jamie Wright earned the state, regional and national Periodical Publication Team Award for their Converse County 4-H newsletter.

Weston County 4-H Educator Erin Persche received the state and regional Periodical Publication Award for her Weston County 4-H Chatter newsletter. She also received the state and regional Promotional Package Award for her 2024 National 4-H Week promotion efforts.

Emily Haver of Carbon County, Amber Armajo of Washakie County and a former Laramie County educator earned the state and regional Excellence in Global Citizenship Programming Award for their Cross-Cultural Experiences Program, which allowed Wyoming 4-H’ers to travel to Italy or Finland.

Campbell County 4-H Educator Makala Riley received the Rookie of the Year Award from the Wyoming Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (WAE4-HYDP). This award recognizes an exceptional 4-H educator who has been a member of UW Extension for less than three years.

Twenty-six 4-H youth development educators won state awards from the WAE4-HYDP for programming and communication excellence.

Family and Consumer Sciences educators applauded 

Members of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) won state, regional and national awards for exceptional programming and publications.

Extension Educators Melissa Cook of Big Horn County, Mary Evans of Converse County and Crystal Zerbe, formerly of Niobrara County, achieved first place regionally and third place nationally in the Community Partnership category. 

Their Winter Survival Skills for Seniors Program reached almost 1,000 older adults. The team also earned the regional Florence Hall Award, which recognizes outstanding programs which meet needs within the communities of NEAFCS members.

Weston County Extension Educator Vicki Hayman won first place in the regional Educational Publication category for her Cooking It Up! publications, a cookbook series highlighting recipes featuring zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos. 

Hayman worked with Extension Educators Mary Evans, Mary Martin of Teton County, Cent$ible Nutrition Program (CNP) Director Mindy Meuli and CNP Program Manager Kali McCrackin Goodenough to create the Cooking It Up! series. 

The team also placed second in the national Educational Publication category for the project.

Additionally, Hayman received a regional award for her “Try Grilled Produce” column. She achieved first place in the Communications Written Media category for this article, which was published in a local paper.

Finally, UW Extension’s Wyoming Walks program won first place in the regional Master Family and Consumer Sciences Volunteer Program category and third place in the national category. 

The Wyoming Walks program provides physical activity, education and community engagement through free walking tours organized in partnership with local experts. 

The program was developed by Extension Educators Joddee Jacobsen of Natrona County, Hailey Sorg of Natrona County and Sara Olsen of Campbell County and implemented with assistance from Educators Hayman, Evans, Zerbe, Cook, Makayla Getz of Park County, Josh Bliss of Natrona County and Micah Most of Johnson County. 

Wyoming Walks also earned second place in the regional Family Health and Wellness awards category.

Communications team and FCSAmerica awarded

The Wyoming chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, an organization seeking to foster excellence in the Extension system, recognized the UW Extension Communications and Technology team and longtime partner Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) for their contributions to UW Extension.

Communications and Technology earned the Meritorious Service Award for their efforts to support and raise awareness of UW Extension programming and resources. Current members of this team are David Keto, Jeremy Cain, Peter Bishop, Priyanka Ahuja, Sean Thornton, Brooke Ortel and Maya Gilmore.

FCSAmerica received the Friend of Extension Award for their investments in UW and commitment to education and rural prosperity in Wyoming.

Maya Kate Gilmore is a writer and editor for UW Extension. This article was originally published by UW Ag News on Nov. 21.