Several North Dakota State University Extension Service agents and specialists were honored at the recent National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) conference in Indianapolis, Ind., for their work with 4-H.

The recipients and the awards they received were:

• Adrian Biewer, 4-H youth development specialist, NDSU Extension Service Center for 4-H Youth Development - Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to an NAE4-HA member with seven or more years of work in 4-H
• Kimberly Fox, agent, Benson County - Achievement in Service Award, which honors NAE4-HA members with more than three and less than seven years of experience in 4-H, and a Regional First-Time Conference Attendee Award
• Samantha Lahman, agent, Pembina County - Achievement in Service Award
• Maxine Nordick, agent, Cass County - 25 Years of Service Award
• Crystal Schaunaman, agent, McIntosh County - Distinguished Service Award
• Rick Schmidt, agent, Oliver County - Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes NAE4-HA members with 15 or more years of work in 4-H
• Rachelle Vettern, 4-H leadership-volunteer development specialist, Center for 4-H Youth Development - National Specialty Award for Excellence in 4‐H Volunteerism ‐ Team, which honors Extension professionals for their work in managing a 4-H volunteer program and/or enhancing 4-H volunteer development

4-H, a program of the NDSU Extension Service, provides hands-on, real-life experiences through projects, activities and events, and is available to all youth in every county in North Dakota. 4-H is the only research-based youth organization in the state.

Research shows that youth involved in 4-H are three times more likely to be active in their communities, nearly twice as likely to attend college and 56 percent more physically active.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Dec. 20, 2017