NDSU Extension recognizes individual and team achievements at 2025 spring conference

News Release from NDSU Agriculture Communication

NDSU Extension teams and individuals are recognized for excellence.

North Dakota State University Extension recognized several individuals and teams for their work in the past year at the 2025 Extension Conference, held April 8-10.

This year’s awards and recipients were the following:

• Communicator of the Year – Julie Garden-Robinson, Extension food and nutrition specialist, Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences
• Epsilon Sigma Phi Distinguished Service Award – Lynette Flage, NDSU Extension associate director
• Epsilon Sigma Phi Administrative Leadership Award – Carrie Johnson, assistant director, Extension Family and Community Wellness program leader
• Epsilon Sigma Phi Visionary Leadership Award – Meagan Hoffman, 4-H youth development specialist
• Epsilon Sigma Phi Early-Career Service Award – Dustin Hammond, Extension agent, Family and Community Wellness
• Epsilon Sigma Phi Mid-Career Service Award – Patrick Beauzay, research specialist, Extension entomology program
• Epsilon Sigma Phi 25-Year Tenure Award – Mohamed Khan, assistant director, Extension agriculture and natural resources program leader
• Epsilon Sigma Phi Meritorious Support Staff Award – Jane Hayen, administrative assistant, Cavalier County
• Program Excellence Award – NDSU Extension Horse Management Webinars and Field to Fork: A Multidisciplinary Program with Impacts

Additionally, recipients of the 2024 Epsilon Sigma Phi awards were recognized.

Communicator of the Year

NDSU Agriculture Communication and the North Dakota chapter of the Association for Communication Excellence administers the Communicator of the Year award to recognize a person who has displayed exceptional expertise and professionalism in delivering educational programs and information to the public through various communication methods.

The 2025 Communicator of the Year is Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist and professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. Garden-Robinson’s research and information about nutrition, food safety and related health and wellness topics reaches a nationwide audience through her communication efforts. She has been writing her weekly Prairie Faire column since 1997 — an estimated 1,400 weekly columns.

“Julie is regularly sought after by national news outlets to share food and nutrition information, most recently in a New York Times article about the safety of eggs,” says Elizabeth Cronin, director of NDSU Agriculture Communication. “Her multitude of educational programs have helped many people in North Dakota to lead healthier lives.”

The North Dakota chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, a national association for Extension professionals, recognizes those dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension system and developing the Extension professional.

Epsilon Sigma Phi Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award pays tribute to an experienced Extension professional who has consistently exhibited leadership and excellence in Extension program planning, delivery, evaluation or administration over a career of more than 20 years. The 2025 Distinguished Service Award is presented to Lynette Flage, associate director of NDSU Extension.

Flage has been an Extension professional for 30 years. She has served in a variety of roles with NDSU Extension over that time span, including serving as an Extension agent in Grand Forks and Pembina counties, information technology specialist, community leadership specialist, district director, director and specialist with the Center for Community Vitality, Extension assistant director and program leader for the family and community wellness program.

Flage developed several peer-reviewed Extension curricula and programs as a specialist and program leader, including Building a Strong Sense of Community, Managing Conflict, Difficult Conversations, Lead Local and Building Tomorrow’s Leaders. She also helped develop the Soil and Water Leadership Academy to offer structured professional development for North Dakota soil conservation district supervisors. Flage has served as the associate director of NDSU Extension since October 2020, providing day-to-day operational oversight of NDSU Extension.

“Lynette exemplifies everything we believe in the Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Professional’s Creed,” says Anitha Chirumamilla, NDSU Extension cropping systems specialist. “She has put those beliefs into action through her 30-year Extension career.”

Epsilon Sigma Phi Administrative Leadership Award

The Administrative Leadership Award recognizes an Extension professional who has shown noteworthy administrative enthusiasm, performance and accomplishment during their Extension career.

The 2024 Administrative Leadership Award is presented to Dena Kemmet, Central District director. Kemmet has been part of NDSU Extension for over 30 years, first as an administrative assistant, then as an agent and currently as a district director. She’s an administrator in hiring, mentoring and coaching agents. Kemmet connects readily with county commissioners and works on various projects at the organizational level. 

The 2025 Administrative Leadership Award recipient is Carrie Johnson, in recognition of her leadership, organizational skills, dedication to professional development and support of Family and Community Wellness programs.

Johnson has co-chaired the North Central Region Professional Development Leadership Group and serves as the administrative advisor to the Hatch multistate research project.

“These roles, combined with her regular contributions to the Extension Leadership Team, highlight her ability to balance strategic oversight with day-to-day leadership,” says Chirumamilla.

Epsilon Sigma Phi Visionary Leadership Award

The Visionary Leadership Award recognizes Extension professionals whose accomplishments have led NDSU Extension in new directions.

The 2024 Visionary Leadership Award is presented to Angie Johnson. After serving as the agriculture and natural resources Extension agent in Steele County for six years, Johnson has served as the farm and ranch safety coordinator since 2021.

She has grown the farm and ranch safety education program, implemented regional farm safety camps, and partnered with the NDSU School of Nursing to bring the Stop the Bleed program to rural communities. 

The 2025 Visionary Leadership Award is presented to Meagan Hoffman, associate professor and 4-H youth development specialist. Since joining NDSU Extension in 2016, Hoffman has led initiatives in youth development, particularly through her leadership in designing programs that foster leadership, career readiness and resilience in youth.

Hoffman has focused on addressing emerging issues such as mental health, substance abuse and educational disparities.

“She has worked on opioid prevention education, collaborated with South Dakota State University on rural health and safety initiatives and is shaping the future workforce by introducing youth to career opportunities in agriculture, food systems and natural resources,” says Chirumamilla.

Epsilon Sigma Phi Early-Career Service Award

The Early-Career Service Award pays tribute to Extension professionals who have exhibited the potential for leadership and excellence in Extension program planning, delivery, evaluation and administration during the first 10 years of their career.

The 2025 Early Career Service Award recipient is Dustin Hammond, family and community wellness agent for Logan and McIntosh counties. Hammond joined NDSU Extension in July 2022 and is recognized for his teaching and programming.

“His ability to connect with audiences of all ages is a testament to his dedication, expertise and passion for education,” says Chirumamilla. “He adheres to the highest ethical standards, maintains a positive attitude even in challenging situations and contributes to a supportive organizational culture defined by integrity and collaboration.”

Epsilon Sigma Phi Mid-Career Service Award

The Epsilon Sigma Phi Mid-Career Service Award pays tribute to an experienced Extension professional who has consistently exhibited leadership and excellence in program planning, delivery, evaluation and administration for over 10 years but fewer than 20 years.

The 2024 Mid-Career Service Award recipient is Sara Laite, family and community wellness Extension agent in Ramsey County.

Laite joined NDSU Extension in January 2006, first as a family nutrition program agent and currently as a family and community wellness agent. She delivers various high-impact programs, including Field to Fork, On the Move, babysitting training, Medicare classes and mini-camps.

Laite is an NDSU Extension mentor, a program team leader for the Nutrition, Food Safety and Health team and a participant in multiple Extension professional associations.

The 2025 Mid-Career Service Award is presented to Patrick Beauzay, a research specialist in NDSU Extension’s entomology program.

Beauzay has supported many Extension projects throughout his 17-year Extension career, including the wheat midge soil survey, field crop insect surveys, insecticide efficacy testing and resistance screening.

“All of these projects feed directly into our NDSU Extension entomology program to provide relevant information for Extension agents and specialists, farmers, crop consultants and other stakeholders,” says Chirumamilla.

As a result of Beauzay’s efforts co-leading the IPM team, more than $1 million has been awarded to NDSU Extension for the North Dakota IPM Extension Implementation Program in the last five years. Beauzay has authored or co-authored over 59 Extension publications and makes more than 500 routine insect identifications and pest control recommendations each year. 

Epsilon Sigma Phi 25-Year Tenure Award

The 25-Year Tenure Award recognizes 25 years of Extension service (not to include other government/civil service employment and military service time).

The 2024 25-Year Tenure Award is presented to Mohamed Khan, Extension agriculture and natural resources program leader and assistant director of NDSU Extension. 

Khan started his NDSU Extension career as an Extension sugarbeet specialist and assistant professor with a joint appointment with NDSU and the University of Minnesota Extension. He was promoted to associate professor in 2005 and full professor in 2011. He has been the agriculture and natural resources program leader and Extension assistant director since 2022.

Epsilon Sigma Phi State Meritorious Support Service Award

The Epsilon Sigma Phi State Meritorious Support Service Award pays tribute to staff in support roles who have shown support for the mission, program and professional staff of Extension.

The 2024 Meritorious Support Service Award is presented to Linda Schuster, administrative secretary for NDSU’s Carrington Research Extension Center.

Schuster hosts numerous workshops and events throughout the year and works to ensure the programs reach as many people as possible. Because of Schuster, the CREC could continue offering the Getting it Right crop production series and the Advanced Crop Advisors Workshop after a key cropping specialist retired. She also organizes Center Points, the weekly CREC blog.

“Linda’s caring nature, desire to do the right thing, and willingness to help others exemplify how we can positively impact people’s lives and communities,” says Chirumamilla.

The 2025 Meritorious Support Service Award is presented to Jane Hayen, administrative assistant in Cavalier County.

Hayen was recognized for her 19 years working in the Cavalier County office. She organizes the Cavalier County Crop Improvement Association seed increase program, pesticide certification trainings, Cavalier County Township Officers Association meetings and 4-H archery trainings. She has been instrumental in recruiting two 4-H Cloverbud leaders for the Langdon 4-H club, reviving the club and overall participation in 4-H programs.

“Her work has led to the success of the Agriculture and Natural Resources agents and Family and Community Wellness agents in Cavalier County,” says Chirumamilla.

Program Excellence

The NDSU Extension Program Excellence awards honor teams for excellence in Extension programming. The Program Excellence award is sponsored by NDSU’s Joint Council of Extension Professionals. The council comprises executive leaders from the various professional Extension associations in North Dakota. The NDSU Extension Horse Management Webinars program and Field to Fork: A Multidisciplinary Program with Impacts were honored with 2025 Program Excellence awards.

The horse management webinars ran from 2020 to 2024 and consisted of 23 webinars. Over 80% of the live webinar participants responded that the webinar was “very” or “extremely useful.” Participants reported changing their grazing rotations and using electric fencing, as the webinars promoted. Participants also said education on hay quality, individual grain rotations, and weed identification and elimination has improved the health of their horses and land.

The Field to Fork webinar series has been running yearly for the past decade. In 2023-2024, the focus was on food safety and preservation. Over 1,700 participants watched the live webinar and another 4,000 watched the recordings. Of all participants, 57% reported that they tried growing vegetables they had never grown before, 77% tried to attract more pollinators, 53% increased their canning safety recommendations and following scientific canning recipes and 47% ate more fruits and vegetables.

Source: Lynette Flage, 701-231-7782

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546