Five North Dakota State University Extension personnel were recognized for their contributions at the 2025 National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Those recognized were the following:

• MaKayla Fleming, NDSU Extension 4-H youth development agent in Grand Forks County, received the Achievement in Service Award.
• Rebecca Hager, the NDSU Extension agent at Fort Berthold and president of the State 4-H Association, received the Achievement in Service Award.
• Ronda Gripentrog, NDSU Extension family and community wellness and 4-H youth development agent for NDSU Extension in Richland County, received the Distinguished Service Award.
• Angie Johnson, NDSU Extension farm and safety coordinator, received the Distinguished Service Award.
• Carrie Knutson, NDSU Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Grand Forks County, received the Meritorious Service Award.

The NAE4-HYDP is a professional organization dedicated to promoting, strengthening and advocating for the 4-H youth.

The Achievement in Service Award recognizes current members of the organization who have served more than three years but fewer than seven years in Extension 4-H youth programs.

Fleming was honored for providing youth with many opportunities to develop life skills. She works to help youth find their spark through agronomy and land judging, holding project days and day camps, and advising the Grand Forks County 4-H Ambassadors and the North Dakota 4-H Ambassadors.

Hager, a third-generation 4-H’er, was honored for leading STEM, horse and gardening programs and for fostering cultural collaboration with the MHA Nation. Hager works to build inclusive opportunities across North Dakota through education, tradition and innovation.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes current members who have served seven or more years in Extension 4-H youth programs.

Gripentrog was honored for working to deliver impactful 4-H programs that build leadership, life skills and community engagement. Gripentrog co-leads her county 4-H program and supports statewide efforts through her leadership in professional associations.

Johnson was honored for training teens to work safely in production agriculture. Johnson helped create a nationally recognized farm safety camp program, and she partners with agents to offer three regional farm safety camps, training nearly 50 teens each year.

The Meritorious Service Award recognizes current members who have served 15 years or more in Extension 4-H youth programs and have previously received a Distinguished Service Award. Meritorious Service Award winners have demonstrated innovative youth programming and leadership in the association at the state, regional and national levels.

Knutson was honored for providing youth programming related to the environment, plants, gardening and soil. She received her master’s degree in horticulture from NDSU and is currently working on pursuing her master’s in natural resource management.

In addition to service awards, NAE4-HYDP also presents the National Communicator Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements in public information and communication that highlight 4-H programs and values. Karla Meikle, state 4-H activities coordinator; Stacy Wang, NDSU Agriculture Communication social media specialist; and Ada Erlandson, NDSU Extension 4-H associate, were recognized for their North Dakota 4-H Camp social media campaign.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Jan. 26, 2026

Source: MaKayla Fleming, 701-780-8229, makayla.fleming@ndsu.edu

Source: Rebecca Hager, 701-627-8034, rebecca.hager@ndsu.edu

Source: Ronda Gripentrog, 701-642-7793, ronda.gripentrog@ndsu.edu

Source: Angie Johnson, 701-231-1873, angela.b.johnson@ndsu.edu

Source: Carrie Knutson, 701-780-8229, carrie.knutson@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu