The National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences has honored a North Dakota State University Extension Service specialist and an agent for their work.

Julie Garden-Robinson, Extension food and nutrition specialist and associate professor in the Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Department, received a Distinguished Service Award. She also was the association’s Central Region winner of the Program Excellence Through Research Award.

Peggy Anderson, Extension’s family consumer science and 4-H youth development agent for Burke and Divide counties, received the Continued Excellence Award.

Garden-Robinson has been the principal investigator or co-investigator on grants totaling more than $3 million. Many of her efforts showcase the connection between agriculture and food and nutrition, including several “garden to table” and food preservation publications, the “Eat Smart. Play Hard. Together” initiative, and youth and adult food safety programming.

“Being recognized for your work always makes you feel good, but no one does these projects alone,” she says. “Every project takes a team of people, and I appreciate all the support from my colleagues. I hope the projects I have helped implement will encourage our participants to follow the path to a healthier lifestyle.”

Anderson was recognized for developing strong youth and adult educational programs and responding to the needs and issues in her counties. Her efforts include providing nutrition education in the classroom and at the local senior citizen meal sites and helping an advisory board assist a community day-care center.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by your peers for the educational programs you provide for the residents in your county,” she says. “An award such as this helps motivate you to keep on top of innovative programming.”

Anderson and Garden-Robinson received the awards at the association’s recent conference in Portland, Maine.

“Receiving national recognition through these prestigious awards highlights the innovative and cutting-edge work being done by NDSU Extension professionals for our state, our university and our communities,” says Lori Scharmer, president of the North Dakota Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

NDSU Agriculture Communication