Several North Dakota State University Extension Service agents and specialists were honored for their work at the recent National Association of County Agricultural Agents’ annual meeting and professional development conference in Little Rock, Ark.

Those receiving recognition were:

• Karl Hoppe, area Extension livestock systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center - Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes the recipient for long-term (more than 10 years) Extension work.
• Sheldon Gerhardt, the agriculture and natural resources agent in Logan County - Achievement Award, recognizing outstanding educational efforts by a person with less than 10 years with the Extension Service
• Todd Weinmann, the agriculture and natural resources-horticulture agent in Cass County - state winner of a Search for Excellence Award in the consumer or commercial horticulture area and national finalist for Search for Excellence Awards in the farm health and safety and forestry and natural resources categories. He earned state and regional awards to advance to the national level.
• Mohamed Khan, Extension sugar beet specialist - state winner of the Search for Excellence Award in the crop production category
• Crystal Schaunaman, the agriculture and natural resources agent in McIntosh County - national finalist for the Search for Excellence Award in the farm and ranch financial management area. She also received state and regional awards to advance to the national level.
• Greg Endres, area Extension cropping systems specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center - regional finalist for a poster presentation in the applied research category. He won at the state level to advance to the regional competition.
• Willie Huot, the agriculture and natural resources agent in Grand Forks County - regional winner, Hall of Fame. He also was selected to present a seminar on Annie’s Project, a program to help women be better business partners in the farm or ranch operation
• Rick Schmidt, the agriculture and natural resources agent in Oliver County - state winner, Excellence in 4-H Programming Award
• David Ripplinger, Extension bioproducts/bioenergy economist - state winner, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education/National Association of County Agricultural Agents Fellows Program
• Lindy Berg, the agriculture and natural resources agent in Towner County - selected to present a seminar on preventing dog bites

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Aug. 4, 2016