UW Extension Recognizes 2021 State and National Award Recipients

Author of Wyoming Specialty Crop Directory earns recognition

Cole Ehmke, former community development specialist for the UW Extension, received the Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) Eta Chapter Mid-Career Service recognition for his 2021 Wyoming Specialty Crop Directory. With listings for more than 800 local food producers, farmers markets, and community gardens, the directory is a “great resource for anyone interested in connecting with the local foods ecosystem in Wyoming,” says ESP President David Keto. “His work highlights Extension’s strength in elevating local community resources to create statewide connections.” Vist bit.ly/wy-specialty-crop-directory to view the publication.

Group photo with a woman in a turquoise shirt holding an award plaque and surrounded by four other people

Left to right: Amanda Marney, Bridger Feuz, Feliciana Turner, Juliet Daniels. Turner received the 2021 WACDEP award for her innovative approach to health care policy.

Wyoming health equity manager applauded for community development efforts

Feliciana Turner, performance improvement and health equity manager for the Wyoming Department of Health, received the 2021 Friend of Wyoming Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (WACDEP) Award. In collaboration with the UW Extension, Turner developed a web-based survey instrument to gather statewide feedback from the public on Wyoming’s health improvement plan. She organized “a first attempt at utilizing technology for garnering input from stakeholders across the state,” WACDEP reports.

Fremont, Albany County Extension educators commended by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA)

Two UW Extension educators received national recognition from the NACAA for their exemplary performance. Chance Marshall of Fremont County received the Achievement Award and Brian Sebade of Albany County earned the Distinguished Service Award. Barton Stam, president of the Wyoming chapter of the NACAA, says both educators “work hard in their careers to further ag education and support the mission of UW Extension. They are appreciated by ag producers around the state.”

Wyoming 4-H leaders excel locally and nationally

UW Extension educator Emily Swinyer of Sheridan County received the Rookie 4-H Educator Award from the Wyoming Association of Extension 4-H Agents (WAE4-HA). The Rookie Award recognizes outstanding 4-H leaders with less than three years of service in the state.

Extension educators Joddee Jacobsen of Natrona County and Kim Fry of Campbell County earned national awards for their leadership and service.

Jacobsen received the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) Achievement in Service Award, which celebrates exceptional performance in members who have served more than three and less than seven years in extension youth programs. Fry received the NAE4-HA Distinguished Service Award, recognizing more than seven years of exceptional performance in extension youth programs.

Four people stand in a field; Jahshua Sanchez is holding a bird.

UW’s WYOBIRD Contributes to Study on Climate Sensitivity Among Tree Swallows

Across the board, tree swallow populations have similar sensitivity to warming amid climate change, but different abilities to respond to change. Breeding dates have advanced about one day per degree of warming, but northern populations face tighter time constraints and greater exposure to warming, according to recent research that included University of Wyoming students and faculty in the Wyoming Bird Initiative for Resilience and Diversity (WYOBIRD).

large group of people organized into two rows pose together next to a sign advertising UW's Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

UW Graduate Student Presents Hunger in Wyoming Workshops Across the State

In partnership with the Food Bank of Wyoming, University of Wyoming graduate student Julie Hampton-Lyon has organized a workshop series addressing the issue of food security.

Hampton-Lyon, a master’s student in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Food Science and Human Nutrition program, has spearheaded six events sharing information about Wyoming food policy with communities across the state.