Longtime AgriLife Extension leader in Texas Panhandle retires
Danny Nusser celebrates 42-year career dedicated to agricultural and natural resources education
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Danny Nusser has worn many caps during his 42-year career with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and the next one he will wear is “retired.”
A retirement celebration will be held Oct. 13 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the event center of the Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center in Canyon, 3211 Russell Long Blvd.
From his entry-level position as an assistant county agent in Hale County in 1984 to his current position as a regional program leader for agriculture and natural resources, Nusser has approached every day with a passion and commitment to agency leadership that has resulted in a distinguished career.
Since taking his current position of regional program leader in 2013, he has been recognized as a leader in educational programming in agriculture and natural resources, community resources and economic development in the agency’s 41-county North Region. He officed in both the center at Canyon and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock.
“It’s been an amazing ride,” Nusser said. “I feel thankful, blessed and appreciative of the experiences and opportunities this career has provided me. First and foremost, I’m thankful to God. He has blessed me immensely in this journey.
“I’ve also been so fortunate to work for a great agency and represent a world-class university for 42 years. However, the joy has come from the relationships, experiences and memories with incredible coworkers, partners, producers, families, volunteers and clientele I’ve been fortunate to know. I wouldn’t change one single thing.”
An educator’s educator
Nusser played an important role in coordinating the development and planning of educational activities, providing leadership to the North Region’s county agents and regional and campus-based specialists to develop high-quality, effective professional trainings.
“Danny Nusser has done a tremendous job for over 40 years serving the people of the state of Texas,” said Dan Hale, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension association director for agriculture and natural resources and professor in the Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station. “His guiding hand for all of AgriLife Extension’s agriculture and natural resources programming in the state’s largest ag-producing area has been exceptional and hugely impactful.”
Nusser contributed greatly to the knowledge base of what a quality program is for AgriLife Extension, Hale said. His leadership was instrumental in creating consistent programmatic expectations.
Dedicated to building relationships and exceptional programming
With a priority to develop quality research-based programs that effectively addressed the issues and challenges facing agriculture, Nusser spent many years building relationships with the key agricultural commodity groups that call the North Region home — cotton, corn, wheat, cattle and sorghum.
His positions as county agent in Hale, Carson, Gray, and Randall counties, and his experience as a district administrator and regional program leader, helped him develop an appreciation for all AgriLife Extension program areas and an understanding of how quality interdisciplinary programs work.
During his leadership in the North Region, Nusser helped develop consistent program expectations with in-depth planning that are similar regardless of county size or program. Templates were built in each area to aid program planning, and he worked to reinforce the in-depth focus during plan development and approval.
With a long-standing reputation of producing quality educational programs at both the local and state level, Nusser led the creation of the Premier program in each agricultural commodity area to give direction and consistency to planning, programming, evaluation and professional development.
Awards and accolades
A native of Alva, Oklahoma, Nusser earned a master’s degree from Texas Tech University and a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
He has been awarded the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents Fellow title, received the Texas A&M AgriLife Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for his outstanding programming efforts in agriculture and natural resources, and earned multiple AgriLife Extension Superior Service Awards.
His efforts while an agent were also recognized by the Texas Association of 4-H Agents and the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association.
