October 20, 2004
Extension educators, teams honored during annual conference
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Indiana Extension Educators Association recognized Purdue University Extension educators and teams on Tuesday (Oct. 19) during the annual Extension conference.
The Northwest Community Summer Camp team of Extension educators received the IEEA Hank A. Wadsworth County Staff Award of Marion County for the development of a program providing out-of-school activities for children in an Indianapolis neighborhood. The team members include Holly Hays Jones, Dorothy Campbell, Christina Ferroli, Julie Gray, Rebecca Haynes-Bordas and Paula McConnell. This team wrote the grant proposals that funded the camp, trained counselors and camp staff, provided training resources for activities planned by camp counselors and supervised summer program assistants.
Brad Kohlhagen, Extension educator in Adams County, received the IEEA International Award for his Extension project in Romania. Kohlhagen traveled to Romania to present programs on pasture management, the land-grant system and biotechnology during Academic Days in Timisoara. Kohlhagen helped lay the groundwork for the agronomy and animal science Maymester course, "Exploring Agricultural Systems in Hungary and Romania."
The Cooperative Extension Service Team Award was presented to a group of Extension educators in Newton and Jasper counties. Responding to the need for local adult education courses, the team established the Lifelong Learning Network of Jasper and Newton Counties. The team consists of Deb Arseneau, consumer and family sciences Extension educator in Newton County; Sue Frischie, 4-H Extension educator in Newton County; Sharon Blasky, 4-H Extension educator in Jasper County; and Judy Hauser, consumer and family sciences Extension educator in Jasper County. Courses included health education, computerized recordkeeping, basic computer skills, e-mail, leadership and conversational Spanish.
The 4-H and Youth Development Team Award was given to the team of educators that created the Indiana 4-H and FFA Livestock Skill-a-Thon Contest. Team members are Tracy George, Kosciusko County; Tony Carrell, Boone County; Scott Foster, LaPorte County; Carla Kidwell, Warrick County; Matt Deppe, Fountain County; Nancy Scott, Marion County; Lynn Korniak, Cass County; Amy Kelsay, Johnson County; and Angie Riffle, Adams County. They helped create the contest to enhance 4-H and FFA members' knowledge of the beef, swine and sheep industries.
The Agriculture and Natural Resource Team Award was presented to a group of Extension educators responsible for crop data and educational programs in southwest Indiana. Team members included Gary Michel, Warrick County; Jon Neufelder, Posey County; and Phillip Schmidt, Spencer County. The program, Crop Production Information in Southwest Indiana, included seminars on grain production, southwestern corn borer, trapping programs, soybean aphid scouting programs and crop diagnostic clinics.
The Leadership and Community Development Team Award was presented to the team of educators that created Planning & Zoning Education for Indiana Citizens with the Purdue Land Use Team. Team members are Brad Kohlhagen, Adams County; Dave Osborn, Ripley County; Valynnda Slack, Whitley County; Jon Cain, Hendricks County; Mark Spelbring, Vermillion-Parke counties; Jimmy Bricker, Benton County; Jonathon Ferris, Henry County; Mike Ferree, Bartholomew County; Phil Schmidt, Spencer County; and Rick Chase, district director. Through videos, workshops, conferences, educational modules and a Web site, the land use team helped citizens understand land-use issues.
Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402, missler@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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Note to Journalists: Photos will be available online by 5 p.m. today (Wednesday, Oct. 20)
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