Alana Voss, Juneau & Sauk Co., presenting the Wisconsin flag at the opening ceremonies.
2019 Annual Meeting & Professional Improvement Conference
There were nine members from WACAA that traveled to the AM-PIC September 8 through 12. Wisconsin sent a larger delegation of agents again this year, a mix of award winners and finalists, others with responsibilities at the regional level, and first-timers. Wisconsin was well represented in most activities with posters, several presentations, and many regional winners and national finalists for communication awards.
North Central Region Leadership
Jerry Clark (Chippewa Co.) in assuming the NACAA North Central Region Director role for the next two years.
Jerry Clark (Chippewa Co.) is assuming the role of the North Central Region Director for NACAA and will be serving in the role for the next two years.
Distinguished Service Award & Achievement Award
Mark Hagedorn received the Distinguished Service Award for his excellence as a WACAA member with more than ten years of Extension service. Hagedorn served as the agriculture agent for Brown County from 2006 – 2013 and Eau Claire County from 2013 – present. Hagedorn programs in dairy farm management, employee safety, and the cost of raising dairy replacements. Mark has served for several years as the Dairy Team Co-Leader. For the association, Hagedorn has served as the president, past president, and on the JCEP board.
Sarah Mills-Lloyd received the Achievement Award as recognition of her excellence in the field of professional Extension among WACAA members with less than ten years of service. Mills-Lloyd has served as the dairy and livestock agriculture agent for Oconto County since 2013. She has programming in animal health and well-being and farm financial health and management. For the association, she has served as the Early Career Development North Central Region Vice Chair and State Chair.
NACAA Communication Awards
NACAA members who excel in communicating programs and ideas to their clientele were honored this week in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Wisconsin members were recognized in the following categories.
Audio Recordings
Jerry Clark, Chippewa Co., National Finalist
Computer Generated Graphics Presentation
Greg Blonde, Waupaca Co., North Central Region Finalist
Program Promotional Piece
Tina Kohlman, Fond du Lac Co., North Central Region Finalist
Personal Column
Katie Wantoch, Dunn Co., North Central Region Finalist
Team Newsletter
Katie Wantoch, Dunn Co.; Jerry Clark, Chippewa Co.; Mark Hagedorn, Eau Claire Co.; North Central Region Finalists
Learning Module/Notebook
Tina Kohlman, Fond du Lac Co.; Sara Mills-Lloyd, formerly Oconto Co.; Jamie Patton, formerly Shawano Co.; North Central Region Finalist
If you would like to see what items communication award winners submitted that got them to the national level, go to the NACAA awards page, select Wisconsin, and hit continue to view the winners. Click on the name to go to their submission abstract. To view the piece submitted, click on the title of their submission.
The week was packed with many activities. As usual, there were several pre-conference tours to choose from the weekend prior to the conference. Likewise, there were over 25 professional improvement tours to choose from for Thursday’s activities.
The 2020 NACAA AM-PIC will be July 19-24, in Virginia Beach, VA.
