Washington, DC – The US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Lang-grant University (APLU) announce the following winners for the 2026 national Excellence in Extension awards. These awards are given annually and recognize Cooperative Extension individuals and teams demonstrating outstanding community leadership, innovative programming, and measurable impact. This year’s winners are as follows:
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Ms. Mynda Tracy, University of Illinois- Urbana Campaign
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“This year’s awardees truly reflect the strength and dedication of the Cooperative Extension System. Their leadership shows how powerful it can be when universities and communities work side‑by‑side to share knowledge and put it into action,” said USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Director Dr. Jaye Hamby. “Together, they’re creating meaningful, lasting change across the country.”
The National Excellence in Extension Award for an Individual
is awarded annually to one Cooperative Extension professional who demonstrates
outstanding scientific programming, visionary leadership, and positive impact
in their community. Over the course of his career, he has built a nationally
recognized Extension outreach program centered on plain-language legal
education, covering farm leasing, succession planning, environmental law,
right-to-farm laws, employment law, renewable energy contracting, and other
issues affecting Maryland producers.
The National Excellence in Extension Team Award recognizes
an Extension team performing work above and beyond their peers in research,
technical assistance, and outreach education. Coordinated by Penn State
University, Resilient Engaged Active Community Health (REACH), is a
five-state partnership that addresses critical behavioral health challenges,
including substance use disorders, opioid overdose, mental health concerns,
stigma, and limited access to evidence-based services.
The Excellence in Extension for Innovative Programming that
Addresses New Audience Award distinguishes a group or individual for
significant achievement in Extension outreach to underserved communities. Lead
by Mynda Tracy, the Extension Dual Credit & Credentialing Pathway
demonstrates how Cooperative Extension can drive systemic change that expands
access to college and career readiness opportunities. In Illinois, rural and
under-resourced schools often face barriers to offering dual credit courses and
industry-recognized credentials due to shortages of qualified instructors,
limited Career and Technical Education (CTE) infrastructure, and fragmented
connections among educational institutions and workforce partners. University
of Illinois Extension sought to overcome these challenges by building educator
capacity and creating new opportunities.
NIFA, Cooperative Extension, and APLU will also present four
regional awards to individuals. This year’s recipients are:
·
1890s Region: Dr. Niki Whitley is
an Extension Specialist at Fort Valley State University and serves producers
across Georgia as the State Small Ruminant Specialist. With 26 years of
Cooperative Extension experience at three 1890 land-grant universities, she has
developed collaborative programs in small ruminants, beef cattle, pasture pork,
rabbit production, equine health, and parasite management. Her work emphasizes
practical, research-based solutions for small-scale and limited-resource
livestock producers.
·
Southern Region: Dr. Daryl Brian Arnall
is a Professor and Extension Precision Nutrient Management Specialist in the
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Oklahoma State University, where he
also serves as the Sitlington Endowed Chair and Director of the Soil Research
Services Laboratory. Throughout his career, he has advanced science based
nutrient management by helping producers improve profitability while enhancing
nutrient use efficiency and environmental stewardship through precision
agriculture.
·
North Central Region: Dr. Timothy
McDermott is an Extension Educator and Assistant Professor, Agriculture
and Natural Resources, in the Department of Extension, College of Food,
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State University. His Urban
agriculture/Local food production teaching focused on agricultural workforce
development, controlled environment agriculture, soil health, specialty crops,
family food security, and economic sustainability.
·
Western Region: Dr. Stephen Worker
is a 4-H Youth Development Advisor with University of California Agriculture
and Natural Resources. In the San Francsico north Bay, Dr. Worker has
cultivated a STEM Learning Ecosystem that expands equitable access to science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics learning.
“Extension professionals work hard every day to make a
difference in the lives of people they work with. It is such an honor to celebrate excellence
in this work and recognize Extension professionals as changemakers in their
communities,” said 2026 ECOP Chair Lisa Townson. “We are pleased to recognize
this year’s winners and humbled by their dedication to the land grant mission.”
