Back row (L to R): Eli Feight, Tim Waller, Steve Yergeau, Pete Nitzsche, Nick Polanin, and Brendon Pearsall. Front row (L to R): Doug Zemeckis, Mike Haberland, Belinda Chester, Lauren Errickson, and William Errickson.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension agents received multiple state, regional and national awards from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). NACAA is an organization of extension educators, whose purpose is to further the professional development of its members, facilitate communication and cooperation among all extension educators, and provide for enhancement of the image of extension. Members include extension educators and other professionals who work in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and natural resources, 4-H youth development, community development, administration, aquaculture and related disciplines.
State Awards
Search for Excellence Award in Livestock Production. “Livestock Processing and Harvesting Needs Assessment in New Jersey” — Henry Bignell, Brian Schilling, Steven Komar, Michael Westendorf, Kevin Sullivan, and Dan Wunderlich (NJDA).
Search for Excellence Award in Crop Production. “Hemp Extension Education, Research and Outreach Program for New Jersey” — Steve Komar, William Bamka, Michelle Infante-Casella.
Communication Award, Website / Online Content Category. “New Jersey Weekly Apple Maturity Review” — Megan Muehlbauer, Rebecca Magron.
Communication Award, Publication Category. “Important Links for Beginning Farmers – RU Ready 2 Farm Toolshed” — William Hlubik, William Errickson, Brendon Pearsall, Megan Muehlbauer, Nicholas Polanin, Peter Nitzsche, Henry Bignell, Lauren Errickson.
Communication Award, Newsletter Category. “Rutgers Earth Day, Every Day E-News Blast.” — Michele Bakacs, Salvatore Mangiafico, Amy Rowe, Steve Yergeau.
Northeast Regional Awards
Communications Award, Educational Video Recording Category. “Development of Hemp Production Resources for New Jersey” — Steve Komar, William Bamka, Michelle Infante-Casella.
Communications Award, Published Photo Category. “’GLORIA’ The Neat Peach” — Hemant Gohil.
National Finalist Awards
Poster Presentation Award, Extension Education Category. “Development of Hemp Production Resources for New Jersey” — Steve Komar, William Bamka, Michelle Infante-Casella.
Poster Presentation Award, Research Category. “Exploring Market Potential of Baby Ginger as a Niche Crop in Temperate Climates” — William Errickson.
Communications Award, Bound Book/eBook. “New Jersey Commercial Hemp Field Production Guide” — Steve Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella, William Bamka, Kate Brown.
Communication Award, Audio Recording Category, “Ask the Ag Agent – Podcast” — Steve Komar, William Bamka, Lisa Chiariello.
Communication Award, Personal Column Category. “The Gardener State,” a monthly column published by The Gannett News Network, MyCentralJersey.com, and affiliated websites — William Errickson.
Communication Award, Event Promotional Package Category. “RU Ready to Farm: Getting Rooted in the Garden State” — Brendon Pearsall, William Hlubik, William Errickson, Lauren Errickson, Alex Sawatzky, Linnea Eberly.
Search for Excellence Award in Consumer or Commercial Horticulture. “Using Technology to Improve Extension Home Horticulture Programming” — Steve Komar, Lisa Chiariello, William Bamka, Belinda Chester, Megan Muehlbauer, William Errickson, Timothy Waller, Rebecca Magron, Peter Nitzsche, Dave Los, Rick VanVranken, Michelle Infante-Casella, Gary Pavlis, Michele Bakacs, Meredith Melendez, Susan Servidio.
Search for Excellence Award in Environmental Quality, Forestry and Natural Resources, “Earth Day, Every Day’ webinar series — Steven Yergeau, Michele Bakacs, Sal Mangiafico, Amy Rowe.
National Awards
Daniel Kluchinski Memorial Scholarship — Douglas Zemeckis.
Achievement Award, recognizing excellence in the field of professional Extension for members with less than ten years of service — Douglas Zemeckis.
