The Shadow
Virginia. (VR) – From teaching children the science behind baseball to helping older adults understand how nutrition, sleep, and physical activity can support brain health, Virginia Cooperative Extension programs are finding practical ways to meet the needs of Virginians across the commonwealth.
This year, seven of those efforts are being recognized with Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Program Excellence Awards, which honor faculty, staff, and volunteers who develop innovative programs, respond to community needs, and help Virginians put research-based knowledge into practice.
“Every day, Extension faculty, staff, and volunteers are working alongside Virginians to address the challenges and opportunities facing their communities,” said Mike Gutter, director of Virginia Cooperative Extension and associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “These awards give us an opportunity to recognize that work, while showcasing the many ways Extension turns research knowledge into practical solutions that make a difference for all Virginians.”
The programs recognized through this year’s awards put that mission into action, exemplifying Extension’s unique ability to connect Virginians with the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.
“The Extension Program Excellence Awards showcase the innovation, dedication, and measurable difference we make as we enrich and enrich the lives of our citizens on a daily basis,” said Matt Lail, Extension coordinator, who helped organize the awards.
This year’s awards recognize excellence in the following categories: Community Empowerment, Interdisciplinary Program, New Initiatives, Programmatic Courage, Program Impact, Program Marketing, and Program Reporting.
Extension Master Gardeners in the Northern Shenandoah Valley were recognized for their partnership with NW Works, a local nonprofit organization that develops life skills and builds confidence for clients with disabilities. Extension Master Gardeners provided six months of gardening skills education to NW Works clients, teaching them how to prepare soil, grow crops, and care for garden infrastructure like raised beds.
Over the six-month growing season, Extension Master Gardeners contributed 115 volunteer hours to support the NW Works garden program. With their guidance, clients grew and donated 791 pounds of fresh produce to area food banks, expanding access to nutritious food for community members in need.
The COVID‑19 pandemic highlighted critical vulnerabilities in regional food systems, especially supply chain disruptions that led to empty grocery store shelves and uncertainty for families. These challenges motivated many central Virginia residents to increase self-sufficiency by growing, harvesting, and processing their own foods.
In Buckingham County, a group of community leaders identified a growing need for hands-on education in safe canning methods. Amber Taylor, agriculture and natural resources agent in Cumberland County, Jennifer Ligon, agriculture and natural resources agent in Buckingham County, and Mackenzie Gunn, agriculture and natural resources agent in Amelia County, responded by developing a series of hot water bath canning workshops that gave participants hands-on experience in home food preservation with a food-safety focus.
In Pittsylvania County, Mandi Dolan, 4-H agent, and Stephen Barts, agriculture and natural resources agent, developed an affordable, inclusive baseball camp that combines STEM literacy and athletic skills for elementary-aged youth.
Under the guidance of Extension staff and local youth league coaches, participants aged 6 to 10 compared and contrasted elasticity across sports balls, explored material science concepts, and calculated batting averages and fielding percentages through interactive games. Skill stations emphasized teamwork, responsibility, and communication alongside age-appropriate drills such as hitting, throwing mechanics, fielding, and game-based activities. Youth participants left with an appreciation for the many ways STEM concepts impact sports and a greater awareness of Virginia 4-H programming.
In response to changing county demographics that include an aging population, family and consumer sciences Extension agents in Dinwiddie County developed the Boost Your Brain program, a 90-minute workshop targeted to adults 60 and older who care for aging loved ones. Participants learned how nutrition, physical activity, and sleep routines can impact cognitive engagement and leave with actionable steps for improving their own brain health.
Bridgitte Groome, 4-H agent in Hanover County, was recognized for addressing youth challenges in developing effective communication skills through a novel competition which youth competed in six formats: public speaking, PowerPoint presentations, “share-the-fun” performances, essay writing, and educational poster creation.
Youth from across Hanover County were evaluated on their ability to organize their thoughts, express ideas clearly, think critically, and build confidence while presenting to an audience.
How might a cattle producer in Bland County hear about a local uptick in cases of bovine winter dysentery, a highly contagious gastrointestinal disorder that can cause a major drop in milk production?
Thanks to Hunter Romano, agriculture and natural resources agent in Bland County, local producers have a new resource: the Bland agriculture and natural resources newsletter, which helps connect local producers with timely, research-based advice from Virginia’s land-grant universities. Seasonal diseases like bovine winter dysentery are highlighted in this monthly publication, which also includes a list of upcoming educational programming, community opportunities, and updates from local 4-H events.Th
The Northern Shenandoah Valley is one of Virginia’s fastest-growing regions. For Extension agents, that means an influx of new and beginning farmers seeking guidance and growing demand for consumer horticulture programming.
After years of advocacy by Extension leaders, local agents, and community partners, the region added three Extension agent positions and established a sustainable funding model to support 4-H, agriculture and natural resources, and family and consumer sciences programming.
Mark Sutphin, agriculture and natural resources agent in Frederick County, was among the local agents who helped lead the effort.
Extension brings the resources of Virginia’s land-grant universities to the people of the commonwealth. This year’s Program Excellence Awards judging panel included Extension representatives from across the commonwealth, as well as Caroline Buscaglia, assistant secretary of agriculture and forestry in the Office of Governor Abigail Spanberger.
