Texas Extension Specialist Association announces 2025 award winners
Professional association recognizes AgriLife Extension agents and staff for outreach, impact
Exceptional achievements by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program agents and associates were recognized at the Texas Extension Specialist Association, TESA, professional development conference recently in Corpus Christi.
In addition to Distinguished Program Achievement awards within the agency, TESA honored Anthony Munoz, field representative with Texas Farm Bureau in Eldorado, with the Outstanding Friend of Extension Specialists award, and Jeff Nunley, executive director of the South Texas Cotton and Grain Association in Victoria, with the John E. Hutchison Distinguished Extension Visionary Award.
Agents, student worker receive Distinguished Program Achievement awards
TESA recognizes county agents for their development of outstanding educational programs using the support of specialist faculty to jointly deliver programs to their county clientele. Individual agents and a student worker were recognized in the following categories.
Family and Community Health Agent of the Year Award
Gayle Bludau in Gonzales County was honored with the Family and Community Health Agent of the Year Award. According to her nomination, Bludau utilizes a variety of teaching methods, strategies and techniques to conduct educational programs on food safety, child care, gardening, nutrition and financial planning. She is a master of the program development process, utilizing program area committees, planning groups and task forces to lead a large and impactful program.
Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent of the Year Award
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent of the Year Award honored Caitlyn Frederick in Crosby County. Frederick hosts one of the largest AgriLife Extension meetings in the state, the Caprock Crops Conference, which routinely attracts over 200 farmers. Her speakers address new and emerging issues for area farmers. Her nomination said she has “a real knack for truly understanding the issues facing her producers and helping them find solutions.”
4-H and Youth Development Agent of the Year Award
Paige Melton of Victoria County received the 4-H and Youth Development Agent of the Year Award. Melton manages almost 500 members in 4-H clubs and in her outreach program, including the Path to the Plate Youth Expo, Ag Day Outreach and Family Farm Fun Day. She uses innovative ways to reach new audiences with involvement in the Heritage Homeschool Program and has been instrumental in providing resources and extracurricular activities to youth, her nomination stated.
Specialty Agent of the Year Award
The recipient of this year’s Specialty Agent of the Year Award is Amy Nowlin, coastal marine resources agent in Matagorda County. She works closely with Texas Master Naturalist volunteers on several educational events such as Sea Turtle Rescue and the Hummer Fest. She has established partnerships with the Matagorda Bay Foundation, YMCA and local parks and recreation departments. She has more than 2,400 youth in her mid-coast aquatic education program.
Community Development Agent of the Year Award
Michael Berry, agriculture and natural resources agent in Comanche County, received the Community Development Agent of the Year Award. Berry exhibits leadership in peanut research trials and grower demonstrations, along with support for workforce training, producer outreach and youth engagement in the Tri-County Dairy Committee. He has made a substantial impact on long-term community planning and development with participation in the Texas Target Communities program.
Outstanding Administrative Support Person of the Year Award
The Outstanding Administrative Support Person of the Year Award was presented to Karli Kaase, a student worker in the programs of AgriLife Extension specialists Morgan Treadwell, Ph.D., range management, San Angelo; Pancho Abello, Ph.D., economist, Vernon; and Tiffany Lashmet, J.D., agricultural law, Amarillo. Kaase handles numerous tasks, including managing social media accounts, working at registration desks, graphic design for marketing materials and producing grant reports.
John E. Hutchison Distinguished Extension Visionary Award
Nunley, executive director of South Texas Cotton and Grain Association, has been a tireless advocate for agriculture in South Texas, working on behalf of producers in 33 counties on legislative issues, according to his nomination. He consistently champions AgriLife Extension’s research-based solutions and has played a critical role in creating and promoting many initiatives alongside agency personnel, amplifying the reach and impact of the efforts. An example is Nunley’s recent leadership in organizing and promoting AgriLife Extension’s response to the issue of plastic contamination in cotton, which provides education on the sources of contamination and remediation methods.
Friend of Extension Award
The TESA Friend of Extension Award is presented each year to an individual or organization that has contributed significantly to the success of AgriLife Extension’s educational programs. Munoz and Texas Farm Bureau work closely with the agency to support the Kids, Kows and More program. Munoz, who works in the Abilene and San Angelo areas, stands out when it comes to establishing, planning and helping during the implementation of this program, his nomination stated. He goes above and beyond to ensure the program’s success, including traveling after hours to bring the learning trailer to various programs. He also organizes his Texas Farm Bureau board to cook lunch for students and volunteers and they help cover the cost of exhibits and other items.
For more information about the association, visit http://tesa.tamu.edu/.
