FARM SAFETY DAY CAMP ORGANIZERS HONORED WITH EXTENSION AWARD

RALEIGH -- Faculty members with the Beaufort, Bertie, Hyde, Tyrrell, Martin and Washington county centers of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service were honored Tuesday, Nov. 18, as winners of the 1997 Team Award from the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, Epsilon Sigma Phi recognized the team's efforts in developing the Fourth Annual Farm Safety Day Camp held last summer at the Vernon G. James Research and Extension Center in Plymouth. The camp was geared for 9- to 13-year-olds and was supported by 65 donors and numerous volunteers.

During the camp, 315 campers and others learned more about ATV, bicycle, chemical, grain bin, farm tractor and lawn mower safety. They also learned about snakes, rabies and other topics.

The Extension faculty members honored for their efforts in organizing the camp were:

• Ann Darkow, family and consumer education agent, and Louise Hinsley, 4-H agent, Beaufort County

• Bettina Odom, 4-H agent, and Linda Boyette, family and consumer education agent, Bertie County

• Jean Ballance, county Extension director, and Laurie Lewis, 4-H agent, Hyde County

• Elizabeth Furlough, family and consumer education agent, and Shelly Haskell, 4-H agent, Tyrrell County

• Page Bolz, family and consumer education agent, and Ruthie McDowell, 4-H agent, Washington County

• Ila Parker, family and consumer education agent, Martin County

• Julia Storm, agromedicine information specialist at NC State University

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

SCIENTIST HONORED FOR WORK WITH WESTERN N.C. NURSERIES

RALEIGH -- Dr. Richard Bir, a horticulture specialist at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center at Fletcher, was recognized Tuesday, Nov. 18, as winner of the 1997 Distinguished Service Award from the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, Epsilon Sigma Phi recognized Bir's groundbreaking work aimed at helping those involved in Western North Carolina's growing nursery industry. The society cited his impact in improving the quality and diversity of plant material and increasing environmental consciousness and profitability of producing nursery crops in the area.

Bir is a faculty member with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

CLEMMONS MAN RECEIVES HONOR SOCIETY AWARD

RALEIGH -- Jerry Hardesty of Clemmons, retired director of the Forsyth County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, was recognized Tuesday, Nov. 18, as winner of the 1997 Retiree Award from the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, Epsilon Sigma Phi recognized Hardesty's continuing efforts to be a mentor and advocate for the state Cooperative Extension system.

Hardesty served as Forsyth's Extension director from 1984 until his retirement in 1990. He began his career in 1958 as an agent in Currituck County.

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

SCIENTIST HONORED WITH STATE FRIEND OF EXTENSION AWARD

RALEIGH -- Dr. Thomas Isleib, a professor of crop science at North Carolina State University, was recognized Tuesday, Nov. 18, as winner of the 1997 Friend of Extension Award from the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, Epsilon Sigma Phi recognized the peanut breeder's efforts in supporting the state's extension programs related to peanuts. The society cited his research into identifying and incorporating disease resistance into new high-yielding peanut varieties.

Isleib is a frequent speaker at Extension field tours and production meetings for growers and works closely with Extension agents in providing research-based information about advances in peanut breeding.

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

SECRETARY HONORED FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE

RALEIGH -- Vicki Pettit, administrative secretary for the Lee County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, was honored Tuesday, Nov. 18, by the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, Epsilon Sigma Phi recognized Pettit as winner of its 1997 Meritorious Support Award.

Since joining Extension in 1994, Pettit has created a videotape library and video catalog that is part of the center's World Wide Web home page. She also was cited for her work as office coordinator for Lee County's Master Gardener Program, in tracking budgets, in marketing Extension programs and in using the Internet to locate information for county agents and residents.

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

EXTENSION DIRECTOR, AGENT RECEIVE STATE RECOGNITION

RALEIGH -- Gwyn Riddick, director of the Guilford County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, and Carolyn Langley, an area specialized information management agent based in the center, were recognized Tuesday, Nov. 18, by the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, the Xi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi presented Langley with its International Award.

Langley was honored for her efforts related to a 4-H exchange program between U.S. and Japanese students. Since 1990, she has hosted six Japanese chaperones and placed 30 Japanese youths with 4-H families. She also has developed 10 4-H lesson plans focusing on Japan and emphasizing cultural diversity and understanding. Earlier this year, she spent several weeks in Japan teaching youth seminars focusing on U.S. culture.

Riddick received one of its three statewide Early Career Awards. He was cited for his work in exploring innovative ways of delivering extension programs and in obtaining $45,000 in grants and sponsorships to support that work. In his five years with Extension, he has published widely in horticulture-related trade journals, written more than 260 weekly newspaper columns, been featured on 280 radio programs and conducted 381 seminars.

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

INFORMATION SPECIALIST WINS STATE EARLY CAREER AWARD

RALEIGH -- Julia F. Storm, agromedicine information specialist at North Carolina State University, was recognized Tuesday, Nov. 18, as one of three state winners of the 1997 Early Career Award from the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, the Xi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi recognized Storm's efforts with NC State and East Carolina University's joint Agromedicine Program. The program provides health and safety information, training and expertise for health care, extension education and agricultural communities.

Storm, an extension faculty member with NC State's Department of Toxicology, also was noted for her role in helping develop Farm Safety Day Camps for youths, in studying pesticide poisoning cases in North Carolina and in developing a plan to put together safety-related, Spanish-language learning aids for the children of migrant farm workers.

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.

BLADEN AGENT RECEIVES EARLY CAREER AWARD

RALEIGH -- Ann M. Votaw, a family and consumer education agent with the Bladen County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, was recognized Tuesday, Nov. 18, as winner of the 1997 Early Career Award from the state chapter of the national extension honor society.

At its annual awards banquet in Raleigh, Epsilon Sigma Phi recognized Votaw's efforts in providing educational opportunities that allow Bladen County residents to improve their health and their nutrition. In addition, Votaw has coordinated numerous training sessions for day-care providers and has served as a nutrition consultant for Bladen County's Head Start program.

Votaw also was instrumental in starting a four-county group of agents who meet monthly to share resources and plan programs to increase the Extension Service's efficiency and program quality in family and consumer education.

In North Carolina, extension work is supported by county governments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. Field faculty in each county, backed by specialists at the land-grant universities, conduct educational programs related to sustaining agriculture and forestry; protecting the environment; maintaining viable communities; developing responsible youth; and developing strong, healthy and safe families.