AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — The Alabama Cooperative Extension System received national acclaim at the 2025 Association for Communication Excellence conference June 16–18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From design and video production to written and social media storytelling, the Communications, Strategic Marketing and Client Relations department representing Alabama Extension at Auburn University received 15 awards for outstanding communication products.

“We are fortunate to have a talented team dedicated to telling Alabama Extension’s story,” said Mike Clardy, communications director. “Our ability to craft meaningful messages, develop unified strategies and bring the Extension brand to life has elevated the way Alabama Extension connects with communities. It is nice to see that work recognized by our peers on a national level.”

The Association for Communication Excellence is a professional organization for personnel who practice in all areas of communications related to agriculture, natural resources, and life and human sciences. Many of the country’s land-grant institutions and Extension services are represented among the association’s membership.

Heirs Property in Alabama won Gold and the Outstanding Professional Skill Award in the publishing category, as well as Bronze in the graphic design category.

Winning Projects

Alabama Extension won seven Gold, four Silver and four Bronze awards this year. One project, “Heirs Property in Alabama,” also won the Outstanding Professional Skill Award, which is given to the entry deemed best in show within a particular category. “Heirs Property in Alabama” won the Outstanding Professional Skill Award for the publishing category after winning Gold in the editing class.

Glenda Freeman, Extension communications editor, said she is honored that the project received both awards.

“This recognition celebrates the collaborative work of dedicated specialists, designers and editors, all working together to empower landowners and preserve family legacies through trusted, accessible education,” Freeman said. “It is humbling to have the editing recognized because so much of that work happens behind the scenes. This project was especially meaningful because of its broad potential to help Alabamians at risk of losing family land and property.”

Extension’s 15 awards represent a range of Extension program areas, including the Alabama 4-H, Human Sciences, SNAP-Ed and Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources teams. Three awards also represent Extension’s marketing efforts, including its presence at the 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo and the Discover Alabama Extension campaign.

“These awards not only reflect the great work of our department but also the tireless efforts of Extension administration, specialists and agents,” Clardy said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have a story to tell. So, these awards also celebrate the work they do every day for Alabama residents.”

The following are Alabama Extension’s 2025 award-winning projects:

The Tailgate to Tailgate logo, used at the 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo, won Gold in the graphic design category.

Gold Award

• “Heirs Property in Alabama,” Editing
• Teen Cuisine Video Series, Motion Graphics, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality or Animation
• Discover Alabama Extension Simply Southern TV Series, Television News Video Production
• Tailgate to Tailgate Logo, Graphic Design: Logos
• “The Culture of Camellias,” Popular Publications
• Discover Alabama Extension Social Media Blitz, Paid Social Media Campaign
• Chicken Wings: The Comeback Tour, Writing for Social Media

Silver Award

• Jefferson County 4-H’s Fight Against Food Insecurity, Electronic Media, Video and Audio for Diverse Audiences
• Discover Alabama Extension Rural Bus Exhibit, Graphic Design: Exhibits
• Butterflies and Their Host Plants, Graphic Design: Social Media Graphics
• Extension Today with Anna K, Paid Social Media Campaign

The 2024 4-H Forestry Invitational poster won Bronze in the graphic design category.

Bronze Award

• “Heirs Property in Alabama,” Graphic Design: Design
• Alabama 4-H Forestry Invitational Poster, Graphic Design: Posters
• Great Backyard Bird Count Photo Contest, Single Social Media Item
• Shrimply the Best: Discover Alabama’s Shrimp Industry, Writing for Magazines

To see more work from the Alabama Extension Communications, Strategic Marketing and Client Relations department, visit www.aces.edu/go/CommsReport.