View the recipients of some of the highest awards available in the association.  Additional award winners can be viewed by clicking the buttons below each award.

Achievement Award

The purpose of the Achievement Award Program is to encourage and recognize excellence in the field of professional Extension for members with less than ten years of service.  Each year, each State Recognition and Awards Committee may submit the names of up to 2% or fraction thereof of the state’s membership.  Nominees must be members of the State and National Association the year that they receive the award.

Year	Name	County / Affiliation
2026	Jackie McCarville	Grant, Green, Iowa, and Lafayette
2025	Kim Kester	Grant, Green, Iowa, and Lafayette
2024	Natasha Paris	Adams, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara
2023	Carolyn Ihde	Crawford & Richland

 

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Distinguished Service Award

The purpose of the Distinguished Service Award Program is to encourage and recognize excellence in the field of professional Extension for members with more than ten years of service, who have conducted outstanding programs, and are held in high esteem by their fellow workers.  Nominations are limited to 2% and/or major fraction thereof, of the membership of each state. They must be members of their State and National associations the year that they are selected.

Recipients of the DSA should have worked out, and put into effect, an effective Extension program which includes carrying to completion, some constructive and outstanding work.  Recipients shall be actively interested in the improvement of the Extension profession and should participate in the affairs of the State Association and constructively support its program. Each recipient should have studied some specific Extension subject by group study, correspondence, university residence study, or should have pursued some other means to improve his/her abilities.

Year	Name	County / Affiliation
2026	Peggy Damann	Horticulture Program Manager
2025	Heather Schlesser	Clark and Marathon
2024	Sandra Stuttgen	Taylor
2023	Tina Kohlman	Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, & Washington / Regional Dairy Educator

 

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Hall of Fame Award

The purpose of the NACAA Hall of Fame Award is to recognize NACAA individuals for demonstrated commitment, dedication and effective leadership in job performance as an outstanding educator, consideration for association involvement at both the state and national level, and outstanding humanitarian service. This award recognizes NACAA members with sustained and distinguished careers.  This award will be presented annually to one person from each of the four NACAA regions. The candidate must have previously been awarded the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to be eligible for this award.

Candidates for this award must meet the following criteria to be successful in achieving this high award.

Demonstrated commitment, dedication and effective leadership in job performance as an outstanding educator. Quality of Extension Programs includes the scope, innovation and appropriateness of the nominee’s program to the identified needs of the people and community within his or her assigned area or state.

Adequate association involvement at the State and National level. Involvement includes length of membership, committee assignments, offices held, AM/PIC attendance, and special assignments.

Humanitarian activities and leadership outside of normal Extension programming. Humanitarian activities may span any length of time and involve any type of service to one’s community beyond the normal call of duty.

Examples:

• Volunteerism (Red Cross, civic organizations, hospital, EMT, church, youth organizations, crisis teams, etc.)
• Leadership (Civic organizations, community action groups, church, schools, crisis teams, boards, etc.)
• Personal (Acts of heroism, care of foster children or elderly, philanthropy, etc.)

Year	Name	County / Affiliation
2021	Don Drost	Barron
2016	Mahlon Peterson	Eau Claire
2013	Randy Knapp	Chippewa

 

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WACAA Recognition Awards

The Wisconsin Association of County Agriculture Agents presents awards to deserving State Specialists and individuals in affiliated industry who have went above and beyond in helping Extension achieve its mission of bringing university research out to the residents of the state.

Second Mile Award

The Second Mile Award is assigned to State Specialists, administrators, and other individuals not in a county educator role who have went above and beyond to help Extension deliver its programs, share out research, and support county educators in their work.

Year	Name	Title / Affiliation
2026	Jed Coluhoun Jennifer Van Os	Integrated Pest Management Extension Specialist Dairy Animal Welfare Extension Specialist
2025	Jeff Reisdorfer	Communications Specialist
2024	Luiz Ferraretto PJ Leisch	Dairy Nutrition Extension Specialist Director of the Insect Diagnostic Lab
2023	Kevin Shelley Glenn Nice	South Central Nutrient Pest Management Specialist UW Pesticide Application Training Program Manager

 

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Friend of the County Agent

Friend of the County Agent is assigned to individuals in industries affiliated with agriculture who have went above and beyond in helping Extension achieve its mission of bringing university research out to the residents of the state.

Year	Name	Title / Affiliation
2026	Karl Pippenger Bach Farms LLC	Area Manager Cranberry Lake Cranberry Corporation Dairy Farm Dorchester, WI
2025	Tilth Agronomy Group Lynn Johnson	Crop Consultant Company Grazing Consultant
2024	Abby Bauer	Managing Editor Hoards Dairyman
2023	Tammy Vaassen Millaine Wells	Executive Director of the Wisconsin Beef Council Broadcaster at WFRV Local 5 Green Bay

 

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