Several North Dakota State University Extension Service professionals received awards and two were elected to board positions at the recent National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences’ annual meeting in Omaha, Neb.

Brenda Langerud, an agent in Extension’s Ramsey County office, received the Continued Excellence Award for her commitment to meeting the needs of individuals, families and communities

Other awards NDSU Extension personnel received were:

• Second place, Central Region, family wellness category - team of Julie Garden-Robinson, Extension food and nutrition specialist; Rita Ussatis, Extension agent/Cass County; Bev Gravdahl, faith community nurse and founder of AllHealth Home Care, West Fargo; and Kim Lipetzky, public health nutritionist for Fargo Cass Public Health, for the Faith Communities Alive program
• Second place, Central Region, communication category, curriculum package - Garden-Robinson for the Pulse Food Education program, which includes videos, lessons and publications
• Second place, Central Region, early childhood education category - team of Kristi Berdal, Extension agent/Nelson and Steele counties; Kim Fox, Extension agent/Benson County; Sara Laite, nutrition education agent/Ramsey County; and Langerud for the Building a Child Care Business program

Regional winners who earn a minimum score of 80 points can advance to the national competition. The Building a Child Care Business program received third place at the national level. The Early Childhood Child Care Training Award recognizes outstanding child-care professional training that addresses the needs of young children birth to 8 years of age.

During the business portion of the annual meeting, Garden-Robinson was elected to a two-year term as vice president for public affairs, and Ellen Bjelland, Extension agent/Ward County, was elected to a two-year term as Central Region director. This is the first time in several decades that North Dakota has had representation on the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences board.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Nov. 9, 2017