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MSU Extension agents win state awards
November 17, 2009 -- MSU News Service
Montana State University Extension agents from around Montana received awards recently.
John Pfister, MSU Extension agent in Musselshell and Golden Valley counties, received the 2009 Silver Buffalo Award in recognition of his 21 years of exceptional service to the people of Montana. The award, by Montana's Joint Council of Extension Professionals, is the organization's highest honor.
Pfister received the Silver Buffalo Award because "he has been a great and innovative agent to collaborate with over the years," said colleague John Paterson, MSU Extension beef specialist.
Pfister started in Extension as an agent in 1988. He has led implementation of GPS/GIS technology in management of invasive species and growers' private land management; and for sportsmen in conjunction with topographical map use. Pfister also helped develop a calibration assistant for use with all types of spraying equipment.
The Montana's Joint Council of Extension Professionals also presented Tara Mastel, MSU Extension agent in Madison-Jefferson Counties, with the Anne Wiprud Memorial Award, which recognizes an MSU Extension agent with less than 10 years experience who has developed outstanding special programs.
Mastel was instrumental in creating affordable housing development in Boulder and Whitehall; and helping volunteers, the county, and the National Affordable Housing Network purchase 11 acres near Whitehall. Her work with local farmers' markets has led to vendors collaborating on a store front featuring locally made goods and the successful launch of Web sites to sell goods. She has also written a grant to support the updating of a local business park and help guide its development.
MSU Extension has awarded Shawn Fladager, formerly the agricultural director of KMON radio in Great Falls, the 2009 Arrowhead Award for his assistance in and contributions to Montana Extension programming.
"Shawn was an indispensable partner for our Extension program," said Wade Crouch, MSU Extension agent in Cascade County. "Shawn made our job fun and easier because he was always ready to help our program."
As a spokesman for agriculture, Fladager worked with agents to deliver interviews with relevant experts, maintain current reports on field conditions and promoted Extension activities. He helped promote youth livestock shows and sales through KMON Kid's commercials, where KMON sponsored 4-H members to write and record commercials prior to the events.
Jerry Marks, MSU Extension agent in Missoula County, received the Distinguished Service Award of the Montana chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, a national fraternity of Extension educators.
The Montana chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi presented its Early Career Award to Eric Miller, MSU Extension agent in Garfield County. This award recognizes an agent in the first 10 years of his career for successful programs. Epsilon Sigma Phi presented its Mid-Career Service Award to Jane Wolery, MSU Extension agent in Teton County.
The Montana Association of Extension 4-H Agents made the following awards:
--Achievement in Service Award: Joe Broesder, MSU Extension agent, Hill County; Quinn Holzer, MSU Extension agent, Lewis and Clark County.
--25 Years of Service Award: Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist.
--Meritorious Service Award: Tara Andrews, MSU Extension agent, Custer County.
--Distinguished Service Award: Sharla Sackman, MSU Extension agent, Prairie County; Cody Stone, MSU Extension 4-H volunteer and leadership development specialist.
The Montana Association of County Agricultural Agents made the following awards:
--Distinguished Service Award: Dennis Cash, MSU Extension agronomy specialist.
--Achievement Award: JP Tanner, MSU Extension agent, Beaverhead County.
The Montana Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences made the following awards:
--Distinguished Service Award: Denise Seilstad, Fergus County Extension agent.
--Continued Excellence Award: Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist.
The Montana Association of Community Development Extension Professionals made the following award:
--Distinguished Service Award: Barbara Andreozzi, Deer Lodge County Extension agent.
All awards were presented recently during the MSU Extension annual conference at MSU in Bozeman.
Contact: Rick Jackson (406) 994-5132 or jackson@montana.edu
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