Dec. 6, 2021
Extension Service honors excellence, service among peers
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Christa Littlefield first administrative specialist to be named Employee of the Year
- Agents, administrators and associates across the state honored for innovative work
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(Newsrooms: With additional art at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmXdESb7)
LITTLE ROCK — Cooperative Extension Service faculty and staff continued to find innovative ways to reach Arkansans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that dominated much of 2021 — from creating virtual field trips and podcasts to offering virtual learning opportunities.
MAKING HER MARK — Christa Littlefield, administrative specialist in Franklin County, was named extension’s 2021 Employee of the Year. Littlefield, who has worked with extension for nearly 30 years, is the first administrative assistant to be awarded Employee of the Year. She was nominated by staff chairs Herb Ginn in Crawford County and Jesse Taylor in Franklin County. (Division of Agriculture photo.)
The Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, recognized the efforts and excellence of employees at the state and county levels during the service’s annual employee conference on Dec. 6. This year’s hybrid conference was held virtually and at extension’s state office in Little Rock.
Bob Scott, director of the Cooperative Extension Service, commended this year’s winners, who were nominated and selected by their peers.
“This year we saw innovative approaches by individual employees and team efforts led by faculty and staff at the Cooperative Extension Service,” Scott said. “Extension is still very much a people business, and our faculty and staff have continued to find ways to reach our clientele.”
Christa Littlefield, administrative specialist in Franklin County, was named extension’s 2021 Employee of the Year.
Littlefield, who has worked with extension for nearly 30 years, is the first administrative assistant to be awarded Employee of the Year. She was nominated by staff chairs Herb Ginn in Crawford County and Jesse Taylor in Franklin County.
Throughout her three decades with extension, Littlefield has served in Franklin County and other counties as the need arose. When Crawford County lost its longtime administrative assistant, Littlefield stepped in and provided immediate assistance to the agents for more than six months until a new employee could be hired and trained.
“I have no doubt she is the best administrative assistant in this area and should be utilized as a model exhibit of what it means to go above and beyond,” said Jesse Taylor, Franklin County staff chair, said.
This year’s winners include:
Early Career Award - Classified Employee: Casey Ford, Franklin County extension agent-family and consumer sciences
Early Career Award - Program Technician/Associate: Lizzy Herrera, program associate, horticulture
Early Career Award - State Extension Faculty: Aaron Cato, assistant professor, horticulture
County Team Award – “Wondrous Wednesday,” by the Saline County team of Kris Boulton, Megan Maulden, Nicole Nichols and Jennifer Pruitt. They created a 10-week virtual education program to serve 4-H families in the absence of face-to-face meetings during the pandemic. The weekly program addressed topics such as pollinators, bread making, gardening, forestry, citizenship, engineering, healthy snacks, pets and animal science. The program reached 6,900 young Arkansans.
State Team Award — Soil & Water Conservation Virtual Field Trip team members Mike Daniels, Matt Dryer, Mary Poling, Lee Riley, Kerry Rodtnick, Bill Robertson, Julie Robinson, Rita Watson and Diedre Young. The team has presented 14 field trips since July 19, reaching nearly 1,000 webinar attendees; and 3,466 Facebook Live attendees and garnering more than 6,500 YouTube views.
Scholarship Recipients
Three extension employees received scholarships to further their education and professional skills.
The Lynn R. Russell Endowed Award of Professional Excellence was awarded to two county agents. Allison Howell, Clay County extension agent-agriculture, will use her award to attend the National Association of County Extension Agricultural Extension Agents annual meeting and professional improvement conference in 2022. Benton County Extension Agent Ryan Neal is using his award to attend an online course in blueberry physiology, production systems and management from Oregon State University.
The Mildred and Liz Childs Professional Development Fund Scholarship was awarded to Arkansas County 4-H/FCS agent Alta Lockley who is working toward a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service.
Service Milestones
Extension also recognized employees for service milestones for five years of service and higher. Two employees were recognized for 40 years of service:
- Susan James – Information Technology
- Sharon Treat — Phillips County
To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Tracy Courage
Director, Communications Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
tcourage@uada.edu