Congratulations to the many Extension agents and specialists who won state and national awards from their peers in 2020. A list of the honorees includes the following members of state Extension associations.
Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Extension Professionals’ Organization
State winners for 2019. All are national winners for 2020.
National ESP Friend of Extension
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee
Continued Excellence Award
Larry Moorehead, Extension agent and director, Moore County
Mid-Career Service Award
Shelly Barnes, Extension agent, Wilson County
Administrative Leadership Award
Johnny Barnes, Extension agent and director, Dekalb County
Visionary Leadership Award
Ann Berry, professor and specialist, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Diversity Multicultural Team
Haywood Homebuyer Education Program
Walter Battle, Extension agent and director, Haywood County
Karen Jones, TSU Extension agent, Haywood County
Tennessee also received the Gold Chapter Merit Report Award and the Gold Chapter Membership Award.
Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Specialists (TAAA&S) and National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA)
National Award Finalist
Fact Sheet
Jason De Koff, assistant professor, TSU Cooperative Extension
Regional Award Finalists
Team Newsletter
Sheldon Barker, Extension agent and director, Sequatchie County
Fact Sheet
Jason De Koff, assistant professor, TSU Cooperative Extension
Feature Story
Matt Webb, Extension agent and director, Marshall County
State Award Winners
Team Newsletter
Sheldon Barker, Extension agent and director, Sequatchie County
Personal Column
Chris Cooper, Extension agent, Shelby County
Audio
Iris Cui, Extension area specialist, Montgomery County
Individual Newsletter
Amy Dismukes, TSU Extension specialist
Video
Kim Hall, Extension agent, Rutherford County
Computer-generated Program
Melissa Henry, Extension agent, Putnam County
Website
Celeste Scott, Extension agent, Madison County
Photo
Celeste Scott, Extension agent, Madison County
Feature Story
Matt Webb, Extension agent and director, Marshall County
Promo Package
Kathleen Wilson, Extension agent, Carter County
Regional Awards
Central Region County Level Awards
Lucas Holman, TSU Extension agent, Wilson County
Rachel Painter, Extension agent, Rutherford County
Eastern Region County Level Awards
Tom Rison, Extension agent and director, Claiborne County
Hannah Wright, Extension specialist, Office of Evaluation and Staff Development
Western Region County Level Awards
Josh German, former Extension agent, Hardeman County
Heather Kelly, associate professor and specialist, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Other Awards:
NACAA Achievement Award
Jacob Boone, Extension agent and director, Hancock County
Celeste Scott, Extension agent, Madison County
Jessica Wilkinson Smith, Extension agent and director, Roane County
NACAA Distinguished Service Award
Calvin Bryant, Extension agent and director, Lawrence County
Jake Mallard, Extension agent, Madison County
The Following TAAA&S Members Are National Committee Chairs:
Leadership and Administrative Skills
Melody Rose, Extension agent, Greene County
4-H and Youth Programming
Melissa Henry, Extension agent, Putnam County
Also, Melody Rose began her tenure on the NACAA National Board as Southern Region vice-director in 2020. She also has represented NACAA on the Journal of Extension Board (Extension Journal, Inc.) since 2017 and serves as secretary on the board.
National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA)
Communicator Award Winner
Educational Piece
Andy Lantz, Extension agent, Davidson County
Agent Award Categories
Achievement in Service Award
Emily Logan Barton, Extension agent, Carter County
Morgan Beaty, Extension agent, Wilson County
Shelby Brawner, Extension specialist, Tennessee 4-H Youth Development State Office
Brent Smith, TSU Extension agent, Grundy County
Meritorious Service Award
Dwight Loveday, retired associate professor and Extension specialist, Department of Food Science, and former interim director, Tennessee 4-H Youth Development Program
25 Years of Service Award
Michael Barry, Extension agent, Davidson County
National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS)
2020 Regional and National Award Winners
Communications Awards
Radio/Podcast
Southern Region Winners: Third Place—Sarah Poole, Extension agent and director, Crockett County, and team
Third Place National Winner—Poole and team
TV/Video
Southern Region Winners, First Place—Shelly Barnes, Extension agent, Wilson County, and team
National Winner, Second Place—Barnes and team
Written Media Award
Southern Region Winner, First Place—Schancey Chapman, Extension agent, McNairy County
Early Childhood Child Care Training Award
Southern Region Winners, Second Place—Ashley Hillsman, TSU Extension agent, Madison County, and team
Extension Educator of the Year
Southern Region Winner, First Place—Sondra Ganus Thorne, Extension agent and director, Hardin County
Extension House Outreach Awards
Southern Region Winner, Third Place—Justin Thomas, Extension agent and director, Bradley County
Family Health and Wellness Award
Southern Region Winner, Second Place—Sondra Ganus Thorne, Extension agent and director, Hardin County
Florence Hall Award
Southern Region Winner, Third Place—Rachel Erwin, Extension agent, Lauderdale County
Greenwood Frysinger Award
Southern Region Winner, Third Place—Mary Draper, Extension agent, Smith County
Innovations in Programming
Southern Region Winners, Second Place—Tennille Short, Extension agent, Madison County, and team
National Winner, Third Place—Short and team
Innovative Youth Development Programming Award
Southern Region Winner, Third Place—Sondra Ganus Thorne, Extension agent and director, Hardin County
Marketing Package Award
Southern Region Winner, Third Place—June Puett, Extension agent, Hamilton County
Mary W. Wells Memorial Diversity Award
Southern Region Winner, First Place—Lamanda Weston, Extension agent, Greene County
National Winner, Second Place—Weston
Past Presidents’ New Professional
Southern Region Winner, Third Place—Mary Beth Lima, Extension agent, Blount County
School Wellness Award
Southern Region Winner, Second Place—Tennille Short, Extension agent, Madison County
National Winner, Second Place—Short
Continued Excellence Award
Susan Cole, Extension agent, Stewart County
Vicki S. Lofty, former Extension agent, Marion County
Distinguished Service Award
Elizabeth Renfro, Extension agent, Washington County
Please alert us of additional winners if we have omitted any, and we will run their names in the February issue of Common Ground. Congratulations to all!