CLEMSON — When they weren’t meeting with farmers, foresters and 4-H’ers, Clemson Cooperative Extension agents from across the Palmetto State spent part of the summer landing an array of state and national awards.
The awards were presented at recent meetings of the South Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents (SCACAA) in Aiken and National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Patricia Whitner, 4-H agent, Greenville County; Andy Rollins, horticulture agent, Upstate; and Travis Mitchell, livestock agent, Saluda, Newberry and Lexington counties, all received SCACCA certificates of merit for excellence in extension programming.
Amy Dabbs, horticulture agent, Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, won the NACAA Achievement Award for agents with less than 10 years’ service.
Brian Beer, livestock agent in Chester, Lancaster, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland and Fairfield counties; and Andy Rollins, horticulture agent, Upstate, both earned Distinguished Service Awards for agents with more than 10 years’ service, the highest award given by NACAA.
Clemson Extension agents also won awards for their skill in communicating research-based information for their constituents:
- Audio Recording: Zachary Snipes, horticulture agent, Charleston and Beaufort counties — state and regional winner.
- Computer Generated Graphics: Brian Beer, livestock agent, Chester, Lancaster, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland and Fairfield counties — state and regional winner and national finalist.
- Personal Column: Paul Thompson, horticulture agent, York, Chester, and Lancaster counties — state winner.
- Feature Story: Amy Dabbs, horticulture agent, Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties — state winner.
- Team Newsletter: Cassie Wycoff, livestock agent, Laurens and Union counties — state winner.
- Video Presentation: Terasa Lott, water resources Extension agent, Darlington and Florence counties — state and regional winner.
- Fact Sheet: Barbara Smith, horticulture agent, Home and Garden Information Center — state winner.
- Publication: Kim Counts Morganello and Amy Scaroni, water resources Extension agents, Charleston County — state, regional and national winners.
- Website: Kim Counts Morganello, Water Resources Extension Agent, Charleston County — state winner.
- Published Photo and Caption: Barbara Smith, horticulture agent, Home and Garden Information Center — state winner.
- Program Promotion Piece: Terasa Lott, water resources Extension agent, Darlington and Florence counties— state regional winner.
“I am proud of our award winners and the work of all our Clemson Cooperative Extension agents,” said Extension Director Tom Dobbins. “These awards are well-deserved and further confirmation of the positive impact Clemson Extension has across South Carolina.”
— Jonathan Veit, Public Service and Agriculture, Clemson University
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