Membership in the Kentucky Association of State Extension Professionals  (KASEP) provides an excellent opportunity for state extension personnel to interact and network with one another. Moreover, this organization is especially helpful to new employees who are trying to navigate their way towards a productive career through our Extension system, and to others who wish to stay current on issues that affect us as professionals.  

2023 AWARD WINNERS

Professionals from the Kentucky Cooperative Extension program took home several awards from the recent annual meeting of The Kentucky Association of State Extension Professionals held at Kentucky State University’s Harold R. Benson Research Farm Pavilion in Frankfort.

The Outstanding Extension Associate award was Edwin Chavous, Kentucky State University’s College of Agriculture, Community and the Sciences and Small Farm Area Agent in Boyle, Clark, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, & Woodford Counties.

Lee Moser, senior agriculture extension associate for water quality/quantity issues in agriculture and natural resources extension, won the Outstanding Extension Associate award.

Jonathan Shepherd, extension specialist for farm management in the department of agriculture economics, won the Outstanding Extension Specialist award.

Courtney Luecking, assistant extension professor and extension specialist for maternal and child health in the department of dietetics and human nutrition, won the Outstanding New Extension Faculty award.

Paul Priyesh, associate extension professor and extension specialist for food safety in the department of animal and food sciences, and his team won the Outstanding Program award for the Produce Safety Program for Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Growers. This award-winning team includes Priyesh: Bryan Brady, senior extension associate at the Food Connection, Annette Heisdorffer, extension agent for horticulture in Daviess County; Kelly Jackson, extension agent for horticulture in Christian County; Tim Woods, extension professor and extension specialist for agribusiness management and marketing in the department of agriculture economics; and Brett Wolff, extension specialist with the Center for Crop Diversification in the department of agriculture economics and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program at Kentucky State University.

Nichole Huff, assistant extension professor and extension specialist for family finance and resource management, and Heather Norman-Burgdolf, assistant extension professor and extension specialist for food and nutrition in the department of dietetics and human nutrition, and their team won the Outstanding Extension Project award for In the Face of Disaster: An Agent Toolkit for Disaster Readiness and Response.  The award-winning team includes Huff and Norman-Burgdolf; Amy Kostelic, associate extension professor and extension specialist for adult development and aging; Miranda Bejda, graduate research assistant for human environmental sciences; Brian Fitzpatrick, computer support specialist; Kelly May, senior extension associate for family finance and resource management; Annhall Norris, extension specialist for food safety and preservation; Paul Norrod, extension specialist for rural health and farm safety; Alyssa Simms, extension associate for family and consumer sciences; Hardin Stevens, extension associate for family and consumer sciences; and Kelli Thompson, graphic artist.