Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP), the Extension Service honorary organization, presented awards during the North Dakota State University Extension/Research Extension Center fall conference held Oct. 22-25 in Bismarck, N.D.

Honored were:

Friends of Extension

• Chris Boerboom, NDSU Extension director from 2012 to 2018 - He was attracted to NDSU Extension because of its county-based system, which supports local needs in addition to state needs extremely well. He also values the impacts 4-H has on North Dakota’s youth and families’ strong support for 4-H.
• Michael Miller, director and bibliographer for the NDSU Libraries and Germans from Russia Heritage Collection - He uses Extension resources in much of his work. He also facilitates relationships between organizations and individuals, such as the North Dakota Heritage Center and Prairie Public Television, and NDSU Extension.
• Kendall Nichols, director of research for the North Dakota Soybean Council - He strongly supports soybean research and educational programs for NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. One program was an in-service training tour to Nebraska for Extension agents and specialists to learn about Palmer amaranth identification and management.

Meritorious Support Service Award

• Cindy Entze, administrative assistant, Mercer County
• Jan Hanson, administrative assistant, McLean County

Other Awards

• Early Career Service - Andrew Friskop, plant pathologist
• Mid-Career Service - Carrie Knutson, Extension agent, horticulture, Grand Forks County
• Distinguished Service - Dean Aakre, 4-H youth development specialist
• Visionary Leadership - Vanessa Hoines, Extension agent, family and community wellness, Morton County
• Administrative Leadership - Jim Gray, west district director

Ken Hellevang, NDSU Extension agricultural engineer and ESP president, presented the awards.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Oct. 29, 2018