Distinguished Service Award

Sandra M. Farris has served as the Harris County Extension Agent-Family & Consumer Sciences for the past 30 years. She has also served as a Graduate Student and Assistant in the State 4-H Office and as County Home Demonstration Agent in Hidalgo County. Harris County has seen an explosion over the past eight years in youth leadership programs thanks to Sandra. The newest development from Mrs. Farris and her volunteers is the Advancing Leadership and Service Program, which is a leadership program based on the 7 habits of Highly Effective Teens.

Robert B. Schwart, Jr. has served as Professor and Extension Economist-Dairy Marketing for the past 12 years. He has also served as Extension Economist for 12 years. Dr. Robert “Bud” Schwart is one of the top dairy marketing specialist in the Country. While other dairy specialists have specialized in cooperatives or dairy policy, no one knows more about Federal Milk Marketing orders than Dr. Schwart. He has a long history of developing and teaching relevant educational programs to Texas dairy producers.

Pamela W. Terry has served as the Ford Bend County Extension Agent-Family & Consumer Sciences for the past 24 years. She has also served as the Waller County Extension Agent-Home Economics (Program Leader) for 2 years. Pamela has long been concerned about serving her community with programs, she has identified and implemented major programs in the areas of parenting, diabetes, and tobacco prevention.

State Mid-Career Award

Stephen H. Amosson came to Extension in 1985 as an Extension Economist-Management. Dr. Amosson has used creative and innovative programming that has benefitted Texans throughout his career. As a result of industry needs Dr. Amosson organized and coordinates the only grain grading workshops conducted in Texas. Since its inception, more than 1,000 participants have attended the annual workshops.

Angela Burkham has served as Extension Program Specialist-4-H & Youth Development since 1995. She also served as County Extension Agent-Family & Consumer Sciences in Lamb and Lubbock counties. Angela has been involved with Texas Building Character in the Texas Panhandle. She is the “master” of the master volunteer concept in the Panhandle. Angela has provided leadership for the development of the District 4-H Program Development Board and committees.

Julie K. Massey came to Galveston County in 1992 as the County Extension Agent-Marine. Julie is the program coordinator for the Galveston Bay Area Master Naturalist Program, a volunteer education program. The volunteers have formed their own chapter in less than a year, publish a newsletter and have developed a website. She developed the award winning “Gulf of Mexico Repair Kit,” a spiral-bound handbook which provides coastal residents easy and quick access to “Bay and Gulf Friendly” home and lawn care tips.

State Meritorious Support Service Award

Peggy Coleman has served as Administrative Secretary for Jefferson County since 1993. She provides outstanding support to Extension clientele by effectively and professionally assisting in the preparation and delivery of educational materials. Her skills are indispensable when it comes to trouble shooting both hardware and software. Peggy has worked in creating the first webpage for Jefferson County complete with photos, maps, staff members’ vitae, upcoming events, newsletters, publications pertaining to subject matter areas and vital links to provide additional information.

Jane Lane has served as the Hutchinson County office as Office Manager since 1976. Jane has supported 12 Agricultural and Assistant Agents and three Family Consumer Sciences Agents in her tenure as office manager. In support of the youth of Hutchinson County, she has also served as the Hutchinson County Livestock Show Board Treasurer for thirteen years. Jane has been recognized as “1999 Friend of 4-H in Hutchinson County” by the Hutchinson County 4-H members, leaders and alumni.

Jo Lynn Reynolds served in the Texas Cooperative Extension, Liberty County office for more than 24 years. During that time she assisted many extension clientele, Extension agents, and various stock show entities in the county. Jo Lynn helped train several assistant agents coming into the Extension program. She still volunteers at the County Office in assisting new secretaries.

State Friend of Extension

Chef Michael Chornyak partnered with Extension and the Brazos County Juvenile Services Department to launch an intervention program for first time juvenile offenders in a grant project known as Strengthening Our Capacity to Care. As a volunteer and friend of Extension, Chef Mike’s enthusiasm and conviction towards providing less fortunate, troubled youth in Brazos County an opportunity to learn about and experience the pleasure derived from cooking earned him the respect of various community supporters and additional volunteers.

Maxine Hammonds-Smith is with the Department of Human Services and Consumer Sciences at Texas Southern University. She is a mentor to her students in life as well as in education. It is due to Dr. Hammonds-Smiths’ respect for Texas Cooperative Extension and confidence that made it possible for the Child Care Conference to be accepted by Dottie-Malone Atkins and Dr. Joseph Jones, Jr. She encourages agents to get involved with programs that will enhance the collaborative efforts between Texas Southern University and Extension.

C.E. Williams is the Manager of the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District. He is a highly respected leader in water conservation and management, both locally and at the state level. He has shared his knowledge of water management, groundwater law, policy and their challenges during numerous county Extension agents and other educational meetings, especially those held within the Panhandle Water District boundaries.

State Early Career Service Award

Dr. Jason L. Johnson has served as Assistant Professor and Extension Economist-Management since 1997. Dr. Johnson’s effectiveness can be shown by the demand and scope of his program, illustrated by 103 requested programs in areas such as Biological Resource Management and Marketing, Natural Resource Management and Marketing, and Financial Resource Management. Recognizing the importance of water resources to producers in his region, Dr. Johnson completed the agricultural use water demand projections and analysis for Region F Water Plan as mandated by Senate Bill 1 during 2001. He has demonstrated great ability to plan and deliver Extension programs.

Terrie Casey Looney has served as the County Extension Agent-Marine in Jefferson and Chambers counties since 1998. Terrie’s program in Jefferson and Chambers counties is to plan, implement and evaluate educational programs with the help of the Marine Advisory Committee in accordance with the policies and procedures of Texas Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant Texas A&M College Program as well as the Chambers and Jefferson Counties Commissioners’ Court.

Raymond F. Bader has been with the El Paso County as County Extension Agent-Natural Resources since 1997. Dr. Bader has introduced a significant number of programming innovations into the El Paso Extension program. One certain quality about each of his programs is RESULTS! Now in its fourth year the Sports and Athletic Field Education has expanded this program to five school districts and into the El Paso County Parks Department. He has also been heavily involved in the Master Naturalist Program, the Pesticide Education Program, the Potential EvapoTranspiration Network and the Cotton Agronomy Project.

State Retiree Service Award

Jim Allison retired from Extension as Potter County Extension Agent-Ag in 2001. Jim had a distinguished 30-year career with Texas Cooperative Extension. Since his retirement, he has continued to provide outstanding leadership for Extension in several areas. Jim has been instrumental in the landscape design and maintenance of the veteran’s Park and the Texas A&M Agricultural Research & Extension Center at Amarillo.

State Visionary Leadership Recognition Award

Dr. Bonnie D. McGee is Professor and Assistant Director for Urban Programs. She has been with Extension since 1990. During the past twelve years, Extension in urban counties has experienced remarkable changes, and under Dr. McGee’s visionary leadership the face of Extension is changing as we work with more diverse faculty and clientele. With over 33 years of Extension service in four states, Dr. McGee has a breadth of knowledge in administration, urban programming, program development, grantsmanship, marketing, leadership development and teamwork. Dr. McGee has also served as Project Director for the South Texas AmeriCorps Initiative (STACI) for eight years.

Team Award

Texas 4-H Swine Project Development Team - Bob Robinson, Stanley Young, Scott Strawn, Angela B. Burkham, Jodi Sterle and Danny Nusser. This team was formed in 1999 to give direction and provide resources for the Texas 4-H and Youth Swine Project. The team consists of Extension faculty, Ag Science teachers, industry representatives, 4-H volunteers, 4-H youth and Collegiate 4-H members. This team has been one of the most productive of the 19 state 4-H project teams. The Swine team has provided leadership and direction of the swine project at the county, district and state level. This program has empowered adult volunteers and increased their impact through a broadening of available human resources. These master volunteers teach swine subject matter, provide support to 4-H members and volunteers, and give leadership to learning opportunities for members, parents and volunteers in the county.

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