L-R: Scott Jensen, who presided over the 2025 NACAA Annual Meeting and presented the 2025 Distinguished Service Award to Amy Rowe, agricultural agent, RCE of Passaic and Essex counties, who was joined on stage by her brother, Dennis Rowe.
The 110th National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference was held from June 29 to July 2 in Billings, Montana, with more than 1,000 Extension agents and staff in attendance.
NACAA, whose mission is to further the professional improvement of Extension agents, fosters communication and cooperation among all Extension. The association, whose slogan is “Making Agriculture and Extension Stronger,” works to provide professional development and resources to Extension agents across the county.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) agents are active members of NACAA. Nick Polanin, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), is the current past Northeast Region Chair, and Timothy Waller, agricultural agent, RCE of Cumberland, is the immediate past New Jersey State Chair. Waller also concluded a three-year term as the NE Vice-Chair of the Early Career Development Committee.
RCE continues to be a leader of Extension as evident in its outstanding statewide contributions and recognition among national peers. New Jersey was well-represented at the 2025 NACAA annual meeting as it related to the presentation of new research, leading meetings, and receiving awards across a broad range of categories.
“Presenting at the national level helps us share innovative ideas, gain new insights, and meet collaborators,” said Michele Bakacs, agricultural agent, RCE of Middlesex County. Bakacs, whose participation was sponsored by the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, gave an oral presentation in the horticulture and turfgrass session titled, “The Dirt on Native Plants: A Propagation and Education Program,” an RCE of Middlesex County program now in its sixth year.
Conference presenters included Timothy Waller for “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of “Service” (Early Career Development)” and “Agents Guide – New and Old Threats to Boxwood Production and Maintenance (Horticulture)”, and William Errickson, co-presenter of “Building Public Relationships: The Skills, Attitudes, and Management Needed to Make Them Successful.”
Belinda Chester, program associate, RCE of Atlantic County, was recognized with a 2025 Achievement Award from NACAA.
Top awards recognizing long-term achievements were presented to Belinda Chester, program associate, RCE of Atlantic County, and Amy Rowe, department head, RCE of Passaic County, and agricultural agent, RCE of Passaic and Essex counties.
Achievement Award
Belinda Chester has served RCE, Atlantic County for eight years as a civic-grounded horticulturalist, volunteer manager, educator, and program developer. Her contributions include streamlining the RCE Master Composting Program to accommodate a hybrid curriculum and co-creating the Rutgers Garden Education Series. She co-authored a journal publication, assisted RCE community agendas, and presented at national, international, and local conferences. She’s published 105 articles in local and statewide publications and is actively involved in related professional organizations.
Distinguished Service Award
Amy Rowe has worked in Extension for 14 years as a dual-county agent specializing in environmental issues and sustainability in northern New Jersey. She has been awarded more than $3 million in external funding for her projects, with a new focus on reducing food waste. She is a coordinator for both the Rutgers Environmental Stewards and Rutgers Master Gardener programs, while also mentoring pre-tenure faculty across Extension.
Other Rutgers award recipients in the following categories included:
National Winner
Steven Yergeau, Website/Online Content
National Finalists
Ruth Carll, Feature Story
Michele Bakacs, Newsletter
Regional Winners:
Jean Epiphan, Computer Generated Presentation with Script
William Hlubik, Educational Video Recording
William Errickson, Publication
Belinda Chester, Published Photo
State Winners
Kaylynn Hyson, Audio Recording
Ruth Carll, Event Promotional Package
Timothy Waller, Search for Excellence in Consumer or Commercial Horticulture
Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Search for Excellence in farm and Ranch Business Management
National Winner, Poster
Steve Yergeau, “Effectiveness of Treatments to Reduce Mosquito Larvae in Rain Barrels.”
