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.

Cooperative Extension Service to offer artificial insemination workshop Nov. 7-8

HOPE, Ark. — Cattle producers looking to learn new skills, brush up on old ones or just expand their beef cattle operations are invited to attend an artificial insemination course Nov. 7-8 in Hope. Registration is $450, due Nov. 4.

TWO-DAY WORKSHOP — Charles Looney, extension genetic improvement specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will lead an upcoming workshop on artificial insemination of cattle on Nov. 7-8. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

The beef cattle course includes in-depth instruction on estrous synchronization, semen handling, pregnancy determination methods and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice artificial insemination techniques on live cattle.

The two-day event will take place at the Southwest Research & Extension Center, located at 457 S. Nip-n-Tuck Circle in Hope, Arkansas. The course will begin at 8 a.m. each day. The $450 registration includes lunch.

Charles Looney, extension genetic improvement specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the course will help participants approach cattle management as a holistic business.

“This workshop is more than just an A.I. school,” Looney said. “Of course we train you to artificially inseminate cows, but participants will be exposed to much more in cattle management, such as record keeping, nutrition and herd health.”

To register, visit uada.formstack.com/forms/beef_cattle_ai_2024.

Individuals with questions about the seminar should contact Looney at clooney@uada.edu or (870)826-3880.

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.

Groce, West honored by University of Central Arkansas

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

CONWAY, Ark. — Mary Beth Groce and Joy West took two very different paths to wind up as award-winning family and consumer science agents for the Cooperative Extension Service.

West of Jackson County and Groce, the Faulkner County extension staff chair, were honored by the University of Central Arkansas as distinguished alumni. West earned the Distinguished Alumni Award for graduates of the Nutrition and Family Science Department, while Groce was recognized with the department’s Young Achiever Award in a ceremony on March 5.

From left, Joy West, Jackson County extension agent, Nina Roofe, head of FCS for the Cooperative Extension Service, and Mary Beth Groce, Faulkner County extension staff chair. Taken March 5, 2024. (UCA image)

Family and Consumer Sciences, formerly known as home economics, covers a broad range of topics including personal finance, health, family living and nutrition. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture conducts outreach for this discipline in all 75 counties of Arkansas through the Cooperative Extension Service.

Mary Beth Groce
Groce was recognized with the Young Achiever Award, which is presented to alumni within 15 years of graduation who demonstrate emerging leadership and professional achievements in FCS. After graduation, Mary Beth was hired by the Cooperative Extension Service and will celebrate her 10 years with the Cooperative Extension Service in September.

"I am incredibly excited for Mary Beth and her achievements,” said Sherry Beaty-Sullivan, Ozark District director for the Cooperative Extension Service. “What an honor to be named Young Achiever of the Year from UCA's Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences! We are proud of her and all of her accomplishments as an agent and young professional.”

Kevin Lawson, a long-time co-worker and Faulkner County extension agent, praised Groce for her mentoring skills and continued partnership with UCA.

“She has been interning students from UCA for several years and we have gone on to hire those interns as agents,” Lawson said. “I am super proud of how hard she works and her partnership with UCA has been beneficial to UCA and to extension.  She has given so much knowledge to FCS majors at UCA and her impact will always be with these young FCS professionals.”

Working for the Cooperative Extension Service was almost a foregone conclusion for Groce who graduated in 2104 with a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science.

“I grew up in 4-H from a Cloverbud through an Ambassador, and was always involved with extension, but it wasn't until I had Mrs. Judy Riley as a teacher at UCA that I considered it as a career,” Groce said. “Mrs. Riley asked what I wanted to do with my degree, and I told her that I wanted to help people in the most practical ways possible. 

“She naturally started the conversation about becoming an extension agent, and almost 10 years later with my master’s degree and as a staff chair, I think she was right,” Groce said.

Riley was Delta District director for the Cooperative Extension Service and is an adjunct instructor at UCA. She continues to be involved as a member of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation Board of Directors.

Joy West
UCA’s Distinguished Alumni Award is for graduates of the Nutrition and Family Science Department who demonstrate outstanding accomplishments and leadership in family and consumer science professions.

West graduated from UCA with bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1990, something that almost didn’t happen.

“Just four years before, the UCA board had thought to dismiss the department thinking it was no longer needed,” West said. “My father, James Griffith, was the superintendent of South Side, Bee Branch and spoke at the hearing with other school superintendents to request the program stay. 

“Dr. Mary Harlan, department chair, told me he said, ‘I have a sad little girl at home right now’,” West said. “I’m not sure his argument swayed the board, but the department stayed and actually grew much larger during my time at UCA.”   

West’s extension career almost didn’t happen either.

“When I graduated, I had no intention of working for extension,” she said, adding that she had planned to teach high school family and consumer sciences for my entire career. “But life changes your intent sometimes.”

West took a break from teaching to focus on her children but couldn’t find a school where she wanted to teach. A suggestion from one of her sisters  steered West toward extension.

“After accepting the position in Yell County I learned this type of education was quite gratifying,” West said. “I was attracted to the continual change and freedom to choose programs that were of interest to the many different groups I could serve. 

“Although I miss the school atmosphere and influence you can have on the lives of so many students, having 4-H responsibilities gives me back a sense of this,” she said. “I plan to stay with extension and continue using the knowledge I was gratefully given while at UCA.”

Carla Due, Ouachita District director for the Cooperative Extension Service and a former family and consumer science agent, said West is an exceptional agent who serves in leadership roles in her professional organization both in Arkansas and on a national level.

“Joy is innovative in addressing the clientele’s needs,” Due said. “We are happy to have her in Jackson County.”

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.