Extension agents, staff honored for excellence

By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — Faculty and staff at the Cooperative Extension Service celebrated a successful year of serving Arkansas families and communities— from starting Crittenden County’s first farmers market to creating professional development opportunities to teach college students about agriculture in Arkansas.

The extension service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, recognized employees for their excellence and innovation on Dec. 2 during its annual employee conference at the state office in Little Rock.

WINNER — Cooperative Extension Service Director John D. Anderson (right) congratulates Brad McGinley on being named 2024 Employee of the Year (Division of Agriculture photo).

John D. Anderson, extension director, commended this year’s winners for their excellence and innovation and commitment to the Division of Agriculture’s mission of strengthening agriculture, communities and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.

This year’s winners, who were nominated and selected by their peers, include:

Employee of the Year – Brad McGinley
Grant County Extension Staff Chair Brad McGinley was named Extension Employee of the Year. In his 20-year career, McGinley has worked as an agriculture agent in six counties, including Grant County for the past decade.

“Brad has spent years building programs in agriculture and 4-H and has done a lot of innovative work,” Anderson said. As an example, Anderson cited the Grant County 4-H Steak-Out event that raised $40,000 to help Grant County 4-H members attend camps, activities and events. “It’s a model for how to generate support for 4-H,” Anderson said. 

Earlier this year, McGinley stepped in as coordinator of the SeaPerch program. This year’s contest was the largest with 66 teams from across the state. McGinley took four Arkansas 4-H teams to the international competition where they competed against 174 teams. One of the Grant County teams placed second.

“I’m extremely humbled to receive this award for doing a job every day that I love,” McGinley said.

 State Team Award — Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour
The Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour is a five-day professional development opportunity for undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing agriculture or ag-related majors. The students travel around the state to learn about careers in Arkansas’ No. 1 industry. They also network with potential employers and learn about issues and policies impacting Arkansas farmers and the agriculture industry.

The program started in 2019. The team includes Rachel Bearden, Hot Spring County extension agent; Jesse Bocksnick, 4-H and youth development; Leigh Ann Bullington, Family and Consumer Sciences educator; Mike Daniels and Lee Riley, both with Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences; and Julie Robinson, Lisa Davis and Keith Harris, all with extension’s Community, Professional and Economic Development unit.

Innovation Team Award — Crittenden County Farmers Market
Before this past summer, Crittenden County residents had to drive to Memphis, Tennessee, to get to the closest farmers market because the county lacked one of its own. Crittenden County extension agent Morgan Chrestman and Mishanna Lanes, a health program associate, established the Crittenden County Farmer’s Market to meet that need. The market operated for four months in 2024 and gave residents access to healthy foods. Their work was part of the Arkansas High Obesity Program, which works to lessen obesity in 11 rural counties, including Crittenden.

Early Career Award for State Extension Faculty— James Mitchell
James Mitchell, assistant professor for agricultural economics and agribusiness joined extension during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed critical programs when the beef supply chain was experiencing significant economic disruptions. His integrated extension and research program “Marketing, Risk Management and Policy Strategies for Southeastern Agricultural Producers” has delivered significant outcomes to stakeholders.

“One of Dr. Mitchell’s most impactful contributions has been his work on feed cattle market policy, which has directly influenced policy positions at both the state and national levels,” Anderson said.

Early Career Award for Program Technician/Associate — Brandon L. Mathews
In his role as program associate for economic development, Brandon Mathews serves as the program manager for the Division of Agriculture’s University Center for Rural Resilience and Workforce Development. Mathews leads the day-to-day operations and coordinates training and technical assistance, collaborates with research partners, and tells the story of Arkansas’ eight economic development districts.  Mathews also has consulted entrepreneurs and small businesses in Central Arkansas through the Arkansas Community Navigator Program. Last year, he helped establish an emergency assistance center for small businesses in Cross County that were affected by the spring tornados in Wynne. This year, he co-leads the Capacity Building through Grant Writing Training program.

 Early Career Award for Project / Program Administrator — Rebekah Hall
Rebekah Hall, a content writer in the communications department, works with faculty and staff throughout Extension to produce stories that show the impact of extension outreach through agriculture, 4-H, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Community, Professional and Economic Development programs.

 Early Career Award for State Support Staff— Khaliah Coleman
Khaliah Coleman has worked for Extension since 2022 – first in the horticulture department, then in the development office, and currently as executive assistant for 4-H and Youth Development. In all three areas, she helped streamline administrative processes to improve efficiency.

 Scholarship Recipients
Four extension employees received scholarships to further their education and professional skills. Kristin Higgins, program associate in the Public Policy Center, and Rebecca Simon, Family and Consumer Sciences instructor, received the Lynn R. Russell Endowed Award of Professional Excellence.

The Mildred and Liz Childs Professional Development Fund Scholarship was awarded to two individuals working in Family and Consumer Sciences: White County agent Katie Collum and Heather Wingo, health program associate.

 Service Milestones
Extension also recognized employees for length of service. Martha Thorpe, an administrative assistant in Communications, was honored for 50 years of service.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

Land-grant faculty, staff earn honors at annual Ag Awards

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Outstanding land-grant faculty and staff were honored Friday during the annual Agriculture Awards, held at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences.

AG AWARDS — Amanda McWhirt, associate professor and extension specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture,  spoke on behalf of the Expanding the Fresh-Market Blackberry Industry Team, which won the John W. White Outstanding Team Award. (U of A System Division of Ag photo.)

The event recognizes the achievements of those from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, representing the extension, research and teaching missions of the nation’s land-grant system in Arkansas.

“These awards do more than recognize the excellence in our ranks. Since our winners are nominated by their colleagues, these awards are an acknowledgement of the esteem in which their peers hold them,” said Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System. “Nothing could be more gratifying for our professionals and our organization.” 

The following were honored with John W. White Awards, which commemorate the first head of the Division of Agriculture.

• John W. White Outstanding Research Award – Kristen Gibson, professor of food safety and microbiology, who joined the Division of Agriculture in 2010 as a postdoctoral research associate in the Center for Food Safety.

• John W. White Outstanding Teaching Award – Nathan Kemper, an associate professor of community and rural economic development and the director of undergraduate and online programs in the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness.

• John W. White Outstanding Extension State Faculty Award – Laura Hendrix, professor, department of family and consumer sciences.

• John W. White Outstanding County Extension Educator Award – Brad McGinley, Grant County extension staff chair.

• John W. White Outstanding Team Award – Expanding the Fresh-Market Blackberry Industry Team: Aaron Cato, extension specialist-horticulture integrated pest management; Amanda McWhirt, extension specialist-horticulture crops, Jackie Lee, director of the Fruit Research Station, and Margaret Worthington, fruit breeder, all of the department of horticulture; and Renee Threlfall, associate professor, department of food science.

The following were honored with Outstanding Support Personnel Awards.

Program Area Awards

• Daniel McCarty – Rice breeding program associate based at the Rice Research and Extension Center.

• Julian Abram – Program technician in the biological and agricultural engineering department.

 Support Function Awards

• Dwain Ober – Farm foreman, Fruit Research Station.

• Karen DiCicco – Assistant director of information technology, Cooperative Extension Service.

Support Staff Awards 

• Genean Butler – Associate for administration for agriculture and natural resources.

• Tonya Foster – Administrative manager for the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness

EXTENSION — John Anderson, director of the Cooperative Extension Service and senior associate vice president-extension for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, speaks at the 2024 Agriculture Awards. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

John Anderson, head of the Cooperative Extension Service, said that “our Agriculture Awards give us an annual reminder of the exceptional work being done in the Division of Agriculture and in Bumpers College across all or our land-grant mission areas. 

“This year’s awardees are all highly deserving of recognition for the quality and the impact of their work. Our Extension winners – both individually and in their contribution to interdisciplinary teams – have clearly earned the respect of their colleagues,” he said. “Their work in linking the UA System directly to our stakeholders with practical, relevant, and impactful programming deserves to be recognized and celebrated. These awards give us an opportunity to do just that.”

“The faculty and staff we recognize this year are a testament to the level of achievement we aim for as an institution. They reflect our values and our mission to innovate and improve people’s lives,” said Jean-François Meullenet, director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. “I am grateful for how these awardees set the standard for excellence with their impactful work.”

The following were honored with Bumpers College Awards:

• Outstanding Honors Thesis Mentor Award – Gisela Erf, an immunologist and holder of the Tyson Endowed Professorship in Avian Immunology in the department of poultry science and with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science.

• Alumni Society Outstanding Advising – Stephanie Hubert, a senior instructor of apparel merchandising and product development in Bumpers College’s School of Human Environmental Sciences.

• Jack G. Justus Teaching – Christopher Estepp, associate professor in the department of agricultural education, communications and technology.

• Dean’s Award of Excellence for Professional Staff – Kristin Seals, associate director of facilities and special events with the Bumpers College dean’s office.

• Spitze Land Grant University Faculty Award for Excellence – Walter Bottje, professor in the department of poultry science.

BUMPERS COLLEGE — Jeff Edwards, dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, speaks at the 2024 Agriculture Awards. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)

Jeff Edwards, dean of Bumpers College, offered his “congratulations to everyone who is receiving an award. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge members of the college faculty and staff who are being honored.

“We have the best faculty and staff on campus and these awards are a small way of recognizing all that they do,” Edwards said. “Their dedication to serving students, and others, stands out and I’m proud to have them representing Bumpers College as recipients of their respective awards.”

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

Arkansas 4-H and Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas host 2024 SeaPerch Challenge; Hope Bragg and family remembered

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — A record number of students participated in the 2024 Arkansas SeaPerch Challenge, held March 1 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The underwater robotics competition welcomed teams from 12 Arkansas counties and one Mississippi county to put their submersible robots to the test.

Arkansas 4-H and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas host the annual competition, which began in 2016. Since then, the program has grown to 66 teams with 241 participating students.

Brad McGinley, Grant County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and director of the Arkansas SeaPerch Challenge, said this growth is due in part to the exciting nature of the program.

“It’s a unique, hands-on project that I think many youth find fun and challenging,” McGinley said. “The fact that it draws on real-world scenarios makes it even more interesting for the participants.”

FOCUSED — The Grant County Aquanauts watch as their teammate Priyam Laxmi puts their ROV back into the water to complete the mission course at the 2024 SeaPerch Challenge. The annual underwater robotics competition is hosted by Arkansas 4-H and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas. (Division of Agriculture photo.)  

Rob Roedel, senior director of corporate communications for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, said the organization has also worked to increase program participation.

“The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas have worked to spread the great learning opportunities that SeaPerch provides to the youth of Arkansas,” Roedel said. “Our team is actively working with schools and 4-H groups to provide assistance in purchasing kits and sponsoring the program.”

Participants used more than three dozen parts to design and build their remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, including pieces of pool noodles, electrical tape, 12-volt motors, PVC pipe and 3D-printed parts. Teams then steered their ROVs through an underwater obstacle course and mission course, which was designed to mimic deep-sea exploration.

The overall winning junior, senior, open and wildcard teams will compete at the International SeaPerch Challenge May 31-June 1 at the University of Maryland.

Winning Senior Team:

• Deep Water Vanguard from Grant County: Gavin McGinley, Gracie McGinley and Callen Shaw

Winning Junior Team:

• The Wet Willies from Grant County: Jaxson Andrews, Luke Douthit, Ryleigh Kimbrell and Miley McGinley

Winning Open Team:

• Aquanauts from Grant County: Garrett Key, Priyam Laxmi and Eli Watson

Winning Wildcard Team:

• Submarine Crew from Madison County: Elijah Franklin and Jayden Griffin

Remembering Hope

McGinley said it was important for the event to honor Hope Bragg, former extension instructor in 4-H youth development for the Division of Agriculture, who directed the SeaPerch program last year and was enthusiastic about its growth. On the underwater mission course, which included a door mechanism that teams had to open and close using their ROVs, “Hope” was stamped on the door in signature 4-H green.

Bragg, her husband Don, and their children Kenny, 22, and Elizabeth,19, were killed in a house explosion in Michigan on Dec. 30, 2023. The same blast injured their son Stephen, 16, and Hope’s father, Richard Pruden, 72. Hope’s husband Don was a project leader for the U.S. Forest Service, and their children were active in 4-H.

“Hope Bragg was an amazing person,” McGinley said. “Anyone who knew Hope knew her passion for science, teaching youth and lifelong learning. We wanted to make sure she was honored and remembered for the impact she had on the 4-H program and the lives of youth across the state.”

The Arkansas 4-H Foundation established the Bragg Family Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will benefit a current 4-H member pursuing a college degree in natural resources or STEM-related — science, technology, engineering and math — fields. To learn more about the scholarship or make a donation, visit arkansas4hfoundation.org/ways-to-give/bragg-family-scholarship.aspx.

Working together toward growth

Roedel said it is important for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas to support the mission of the SeaPerch program and Arkansas 4-H.

“The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas’ heritage is closely linked to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, as extension agents were crucial in the establishment of the local electric cooperatives,” he said. “Our two organizations have partnered on many initiatives together over the years. I see the SeaPerch program as another example of the success that can be achieved when 4-H and the cooperatives work together.”

McGinley said the organization is crucial to the success of the SeaPerch program.

“The Electric Cooperatives’ support has been key to the expansion of SeaPerch,” he said. “Not only do they sponsor the Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge, but their willingness to put SeaPerch kits in the hands of youth across the state has been instrumental in helping more youth become involved.

“The partnership between the Electric Cooperatives and Arkansas 4-H is rooted in a passion for rural Arkansans and their families,” McGinley said. “Together we are making a difference, and we look forward to that partnership only growing stronger in the future.”

Roedel said he hopes to grow the SeaPerch program to attract more students and eventually hold regional competitions and a state championship in Arkansas.

For more information about the Arkansas 4-H SeaPerch Challenge, visit 4h.uada.edu. To learn more about the SeaPerch program, visit seaperch.org/about.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.