BOZEMAN -- Don Addy, Montana State University Extension agent at the Fort Belknap Reservation, has been named Agricultural Agent of the Year 2002 by the MSU Extension Service.
In announcing the award, David Bryant, vice provost and director of Extension, said that Addy has worked closely with the tribes of Fort Belknap--the Assiniboine and the Gros Ventre--in many areas. Extension agents are generalists; they work with agricultural producers, families, educators, and others, and they bring in Extension specialists to develop and present programs on topics as varied as weed control, estate planning and nutrition.
Addy "supported tribal elders and others in developing an all-encompassing strategic plan," said Bryant. "Because everybody in the community has been invited to contribute their say to this plan, it provides stability and continuity to the community. The plan has been highly successful. It's a model for planners everywhere."
Darrell Martin, vice president of the Fort Belknap Tribal Council, agrees.
"One of Don’s strongest points is that he’s been involved in strategic planning--planning that helps out youth with their future goals, what they want to go for, and planning for farmers and ranchers,” said Martin. “Don’s involved with everything--with helping youth start a ranch or helping with business plans for a nursery, for example. I don’t know where he gets his energy. He’s been a blessing to the community."
A native of New York State and an agriculture graduate of Cornell University, Addy began his Extension career at the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming. In 1974 he came to Fort Belknap, and he’s been there ever since. In 1998, the Assiniboine inducted Addy into the tribe--a rare honor.
Addy himself is proudest of the young people he’s shepherded through the Junior Livestock program, which is jointly sponsored by the Montana Department of Agriculture and MSU Extension. One veteran of the program, Toby Werk, already a successful rancher at 29 years old, credits Addy with helping him attain success in the cattle business.
"Without Don, there wouldn’t be a Junior Livestock program," said Werk. "Don helped my parents get started in cattle at Fort Belknap. Then, when I was 12 or so, I went through Don to get a Junior Livestock loan. When I was 18 he helped me get a Rural Assistance loan.…There isn’t a time I don't contact Don about anything in my livestock program. If I'm having a hard time with something, I know his door is always open."
Addy and his wife Patricia, a Gros Ventre, have five children, three girls and two boys.
For all his successes, Addy is modest about his career. He said he consulted a wise elder in the community years ago, a man who said to him, "You’re just a piece of a puzzle. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, just work as hard as you can to fit your piece of the puzzle. If you’re struggling, back up and find your place."
About working with a community, Addy says, "Don’t try to lead the community, let the community lead itself--they know what they want and how to go about getting it."
And about his work as an Extension agent, he said, "I love helping people.…every agent feels the same way, or they wouldn’t be in Extension. Yes, you can get stretched pretty thin sometimes, but if you know you’ve helped make a difference, you feel good about yourself. We can make a difference if we do our part--our part of the puzzle--and just hope that everybody else does too."
Bryant will formally present the award to Addy at a banquet on the MSU campus, Bozeman, on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Contact: James Johannes (406) 994-1750, Don Addy (406) 353-2205
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