NDSU Extension Agents Win National Awards

Two North Dakota State University Extension Service agents have been presented awards by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA).

David Twist, Dunn County Extension agent, received the Achievement Award. The award is presented for excellence in Extension work by an agent with less than 10 years of experience.

Twist works extensively with beef and crop producers and has a statewide 4-H appointment to work with youth on outdoor skills. Twist also works with 4-H livestock judging teams each year. He helps out at several day and summer camps in surrounding counties each year. He serves as secretary on the Dunn County Fair Board.

Receiving the Distinguished Service Award was Tim Semler, Bottineau County Extension agent. Semler was given the award for his long-term work in the Extension Service. He has been with NDSU Extension for 24 years.

Semler has been involved in educating producers and Extension agents in farm management and the 2002 and 2008 U.S. farm bills. He has developed and delivered educational programs statewide on conservation security, 2002 versus 2008 farm bill changes, the ACRE and SURE programs and boom-bust cycles in commodity prices. He also has mentored four NDSU Extension agents and served on numerous Extension committees.

Dunn and Semler were presented the awards at the association’s annual meeting in Tulsa, Okla.

The NACAA is geared toward Extension educators and other professionals who work in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and natural resources, 4-H youth development, community development, administration, aquaculture and Sea Grant, and related disciplines.