This year, University of Wyoming 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 in Sheridan earlier this month.
National Association of County Agricultural Agents recognizes Marshall, Arndt
Chance Marshall of Fremont County received 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, created effective programming, and actively worked to improve extension.
Marshall joined UW Extension as a Fremont County educator in 2014. “Chance has shown impeccable leadership and exceptional programming on artificial insemination in cattle and other livestock,” says Jeremiah Vardiman, past president of the Wyoming Association of County Agricultural Agents (WACAA).
Jaycie Arndt earned the Achievement Award from the NACAA, which is given to an outstanding educator who has been with the association for less than 10 years. Arndt joined extension in 2020 and currently works as coordinator of the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE) and an assistant research scientist at the Sheridan Research and Extension Center.
“As a newer educator in our association, she shows a very high quality of work, especially leading a statewide organization like IMAGINE,” says Vardiman. He highlights Arndt’s ability to connect with her community.
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). Awards are given to NAE4-HYDP members who are leaders in their communities and create innovative youth programming.
Former Teton County 4-H educator Glenn Owings won the Achievement in Service Award, which recognizes an employee who has been a member of NAE4-HDP for 3-7 years. Laramie County 4-H educator Kristi Nagy won the Distinguished Service Award, awarded to those who have been members of NAE4-HYDP for 7-14 years.
Erin Persche, who joined Weston County Extension as a 4-H educator in 2022, was named the 2024 Wyoming Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (WAE4-HYDP) Rookie of the Year. This award recognizes an exceptional 4-H educator who has been a member of UW Extension for less than three years.
Persche also received the state and regional Individual Periodical Publication Awards for the Weston County monthly 4-H newsletter. In addition, she won the state and regional Individual Social Media Package Awards for her “This Week in Weston County 4-H” weekly Facebook updates. Finally, Persche earned the state, regional and national Individual Promotional Piece Awards for a postcard that boosted re-enrollments in Weston County 4-H.
Emily Haver, Carbon County 4-H educator, received the state Excellence in Natural Resources/Environmental Education Award for revitalizing the Carbon County 4-H summer camp. She also earned the state and regional Jim Kahler Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Awards for creating an after-school maker camp.
Campbell County 4-H educator Makala Riley received state and regional recognition for a book club she created for 4-H volunteers.
Riley also earned several accolades for her work on the Campbell County 4-H newsletter, including state and regional honors for her personal column introducing the newsletter. Riley, fellow Campbell County 4-H educator Kim Fry, and Campbell County administrative assistant Treasure Boller received the state and regional Team Periodical Publication Awards for the newsletter as a whole.
UW Extension’s Food, Fun, 4-H Program won the state Team Educational Package Award. This innovative program, created by UW Extension educators Kellie Chichester of Niobrara County, Joddee Jacobsen of Natrona County, Mary Louise Wood of Park County, and Erin Persche of Weston County, encourages youth to cook with their families.
Finally, Emily Swinyer of Sheridan County earned state and regional Individual Educational Package Awards for organizing and leading a childcare and babysitting course for older 4-H’rs .
