Joel Ransom, North Dakota State University Extension Service cereal crops agronomist, has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor presented in recognition of his volunteer service.

Ransom has contributed more than 100 hours of service on international assignments for Winrock International’s U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Farmer-to-Farmer Program in Senegal. While there, Ransom provided instruction to women’s groups on best practices for the use of millet and corn in making couscous, a locally important food.

Established in 2003, the award is given on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering. As one of thousands of certifying organizations participating in the award program, Winrock International confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of its volunteers.

Volunteers find these assignments to be personally and professionally rewarding. Helping people help themselves is a contribution that makes sense, according to the volunteers.

Ransom says, “It was particularly gratifying to be able to use some of the skills I have developed while in the NDSU Extension Service to train and develop educational materials for women groups that were striving to improve their incomes by producing and marketing a locally important food product.”

The award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, a group created by former President George W. Bush to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making to the U.S. The council comprises leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofits and volunteer service organizations, and community volunteering.

For more information about the President’s Volunteer Service Award and to find out how to volunteer, visit http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - May 9, 2017