Awards through AL-ANREP are voted on by active membership. Applications will be open February 4 – March 4. Applicants must be a paid member of AL-ANREP by the deadline of the award in order to be eligible. Send applications to Adam Maggard at adm0074@auburn.edu.

Membership Awards

Outstanding Adult Education Program Award

This award is to honor the adult programming efforts of AL ANREP educators. Innovative and impactful programs successfully advance Extension outreach toward a new audience, an existing audience in a new way, or some combination of both, while also increasing the stewardship and/or production of Alabama’s natural resources. Applications should document need, a well-designed education and outreach effort, evaluation methods, and program outcomes/impacts. Individual and team efforts are encouraged for consideration. For a team program to be considered, the majority of team members must be AL ANREP members.

Outstanding Youth Education Program Award

This award is to honor the efforts of AL ANREP education efforts toward youth (18 years and younger). Innovative and impactful youth programing successfully advance Extension outreach toward a young audience to increase natural resources awareness, appreciation, and stewardship. Applications should document need, a well-designed education and outreach effort, evaluation methods, and program.

Outstanding Media Product Award

This award is to honor the media efforts of AL ANREP educators. Innovative and impactful media products (i.e. publications, articles, videos, marketing, websites, blogs, etc.) successfully advance Extension’s reach into either a new audience, an existing audience in a new way, or some combination of both, while at the same time increasing the stewardship and/or production of Alabama’s natural resources. Applications should document need, a well-designed education and outreach product, strong editing, graphics, design, evaluation methods, and program outcomes/impacts. Individual and team efforts are encouraged for consideration. For a team program to be considered, the majority of team members must be AL ANREP members.

Service Award

Friends of AL ANREP AWARD

The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual or organization for their support of and enthusiasm for Natural Resources Extension Education at the county, regional, or statewide level in Alabama. Nominations are reviewed by AL ANREP members.

Individual awardees should be someone who has made significant impacts to further natural resources education. They cannot be a member of the state or national ANREP organization. However, they can be a member of any other Extension professional organization as well as a natural resource professional, administrator, educator, or citizen volunteer. Organizational awardees can be any appropriate agency, group, family, or association, excluding any of the Extension professional associations. Ideally, they should be characterized by having a group of individuals (two or more) that have collectively made significant impacts in furthering natural resources education through Extension education programs.

To advance the professional status, public service, and interdisciplinary collaboration of Land Grant and Sea Grant Extension educators and faculty in Alabama by encouraging regular sharing of their successes in natural resource education, and encouraging continuing self-improvement in their knowledge, skills, and practices.

To discuss, develop, sponsor, and promote educational and training programs and activities that will advance the practice of natural resource management and education in Alabama.

To bring together Extension and other professionals who work with natural resources to discuss issues, needs, and opportunities of mutual interest and to facilitate information sharing.

To strengthen communications with and recognition by Extension administration.

Growing up in Brazil, where agriculture is a driving force in the economy, Camila Rodrigues witnessed firsthand the challenges related to human health and nutrition in a developing country. The experience fueled her passion for improving human health through better food quality and safety. As an Alabama Cooperative Extension System specialist, she uses this passion in her food safety work in Alabama’s fresh produce industry.

Camila’s expertise lies in improving food security by enhancing the safety of the local fresh produce industry. Her doctorate in nutrition and food science gave her a broadened perspective on how the quality and safety of food production directly affect human health. After joining Alabama Extension in 2021, she quickly recognized a critical gap in water safety knowledge among farmers. She also found that many farmers were forced to send water samples out of state for testing, which incurred higher costs. Camila recognized the need for a local solution—thus, the AgWater Safety Program was born.

“We provide Alabama farmers with the resources needed to ensure safe water and to improve food quality, making a significant impact on their livelihoods and public health.” — Camila Rodrigues

Fresh produce growers must meet several regulatory standards to ensure that the water sources they use on their crops are safe, making access to microbial water testing vitally important. The AgWater Safety Program provides Alabama farmers a free, in-state water testing and technical support service. Camila and a team of Extension specialists and agents also provide educational resources, field days, and workshops related to water quality and safety.

Since the start of the program, the team has conducted more than 60 water tests and organized numerous educational experiences for growers. The program has particularly benefited small farmers facing financial challenges. These impacts are testaments of Camila’s commitment to equipping Alabama farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed, ensuring that their food is safe and nutritious for all.

Camila’s work with the AgWater Safety Program is just one of the many ways to discover your water. Whether managing a private well or learning how to be a better steward of water resources, an Alabama Extension educator in your area is working to find practical solutions, provide opportunities, and empower people. Discover more at www.aces.edu/discover.