County Services Awards

The purpose of the County Services Awards is to increase local recognition of individuals and teams who have done outstanding work. Using a similar application as the state awards process, county and regional staff and council members can apply for County Services Awards. Those who apply will be encouraged to submit their revised/updated applications to the state awards. Refer to the County Services Awards Summary that identifies award qualifications and which are for individuals or teams.

Award resources and tools for 2022 (MyExtension, for staff only)

Past County Services Award winners


2022 County Services Award Recipients

County Extension Council Distinguished Service

Hancock County Extension Council
Dallas County Extension Council
Alan Beyer, Cedar County Extension Council
Osceola County Extension Council

Creativity in Service to All Iowans

Missy Crawford, county director – Franklin
Kara Vance, county program director – Buchanan
Madeline Widman, horticulture coordinator - Woodbury

Excellence in Partnership to Iowans

Nicole Leidal, nutrition educator – Cerro Gordo
Jennifer Vincent, county youth coordinator – West Pottawattamie
Christine Craig-Beyerink, youth outreach coordinator – Woodbury
Sandy Rosenberger, Master Gardener coordinator – Linn
Lisa Louck, Iowa DNR, Wapello

Exceptional Volunteer Service

North Central – Mary Ann Gardner
South Central – Kathy McCoy
Southwest - DeAnn Kruempel and Sherri Webb
Northeast - Dog Committee Chairs in Linn County, Ashley Ford and Paige Junge
Southeast - Christine Westercamp

Originality and Innovation in Programming

Diane Van Wyngarden, community and economic development tourism specialist
Annie Fisher, office assistant - Adams
Evelyn Ganfield, former county youth coordinator - Adams
Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist – Southwest Iowa
Kimberly Cavalier, human sciences specialist, family wellbeing - Adair, Adams, Cass, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, East and West Pottawattamie
Sandra McKinnon, human sciences specialist, family wellbeing - Adair, Adams, Cass, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, East and West Pottawattamie

Pride of Extension

Cheryl Bruene, executive director – Tama County
Dawn Morgan, youth outreach coordinator – Lucas
Amber McClary, county youth coordinator - Mills
Sadie Graham, program coordinator - Montgomery
Katie Hart, office manager – Montgomery
Carter Oliver, county director – Harrison
Jen Gaydo, office assistant - Cherokee
Carly Herum, agriculture program coordinator and office assistant – Lyon
Sheila Wettleson, office manager – Black Hawk
Sadie Martin, youth program assistant – Henry

Program Area Recognition

4-H Youth Development
Maya Rowe, county youth coordinator – Cerro Gordo
Shayla Martsching, county youth coordinator – Appanoose
Amie Koffman, county youth coordinator – Monroe
Kaitlyn Deahl, county youth coordinator – Wayne
Rhesa Leiding, 4-H youth program specialist, field supervisor - Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page
Mandy Maher, county director - Fremont
Jessica Prazan, county youth coordinator - Fremont
Amber McClary, county youth coordinator – Mills
Buddi Thompson, program coordinator - Mills
Lexy Davies, county youth coordinator - Page
Dee Dino, county director - Page
Cedar County, Northwest Iowa
Diane Rinner, youth outreach educator – Washington

4-H Youth Development in Cedar County

  • Greta Bierman, office manager - Cedar
  • Teresa Bohlmann, K-12 outreach educator - Cedar
  • Dionne Daedlow, families and youth education - Cedar
  • Lori Miller, county youth coordinator - Cedar
  • Jacki Luckstead, 4-H youth program specialist - Cedar, Clinton, Jones

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Carter Oliver, county director – Harrison
Stacie Hewett, office and program coordinator – Buena Vista
Jill Mims, office assistant – Calhoun
Krista Lukins, office manager - Ida
Lora Wright, office assistant - Sac
Jen Gaydo, office assistant - Cherokee
Terry Janssen, Region 7 regional director – Cherokee, Buena Vista, Ida, Sac, Cahoun

Human Sciences

Jennifer Hulme, county youth coordinator – Tama County
Cheryl Bruene, executive director – Tama County
Rosa Gonzalez, human sciences specialist, family wellbeing - Audubon, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Polk, Shelby
Myra Willms, early childhood quality improvement educator - Adair, Dallas, Madison, Warren
Val Cameron, preschool enhancement coordinator – Dallas
Donna Mills, farm and ranch wellness educator and master gardener coordinator – Sioux

Human Sciences Block Team - Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Iowa, Jefferson, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington:

  • Sara Sprouse, human sciences specialist, food and heath
  • Dawn Dunnegan, human sciences specialist, family wellbeing
  • Hailey Burgher, human sciences specialist, family wellbeing

Spirit of Cy Award

Jeanene Blickenderfer, office assistant - Cerro Gordo
Tammy Welcher, office manager - Jasper
Katie Bateman, county youth coordinator - Cass County
Emily Damro, 4-H youth program specialist - Benton and Linn
Sadie Martin, youth program assistant – Henry
Beth Bunkers, 4-H youth program specialist - Cherokee, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux

Outstanding Achievement in Advancement

Amber Wengert, marketing coordinator and assistant bookkeeper - Story
Hannah Offenburger, office assistant - Lucas
Kiley Biedenfeld, marketing coordinator - Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Sioux

Friend of Extension

North Central
Jim Lundberg and Brett Spurgin, Charles City FFA

South Central
James Swearingin, South Central Iowa Action Program Coordinator

Southwest
Home State Bank, Greene County

Northeast

Together We Build – Jackson County

  • Dean Engel, Co-Chair - Maquoketa State Bank
  • Skott Gent, Co-Chair - Innovative Ag Services
  • Laura Farrell, Secretary - Maquoketa State Bank and Jackson County Extension Council
  • Brian Schwager, Co-Treasurer - Fidelity Bank
  • Rick Prull, Co-Treasurer - Bellevue State Bank
  • Amber Matthiesen – ISU Extension and Outreach Jackson County, director
  • Lanny Simpson, Jackson County Fair Board Manager
  • Mark Anderson, Jackson County 4-H Youth Committee and Jackson County Fair Board
  • David Burmahl, Jackson County Extension Council Treasurer
  • Judy Tonderum, Jackson County Master Gardener
  • Connie Weirup, Jackson County 4-H leader
  • Owen Hayes, Jackson County Fair Board
  • Darcy Hankemeier, Jackson County Fair Board
  • Jack Willey, Jackson County Board of Supervisors
  • Will Cornelius, Cornelius Seed
  • Jerry Schau, Roeder Brothers Inc.
  • Jeannett Kruse, ISU Extension and Outreach Jackson County, office assistant
  • Mary Thomas, 4-H parent and Jackson County Extension Council

Face of Extension

Jamie Neff, county program coordinator – Palo Alto

Northeast

NE County Extension Council Distinguished Service - Application

NE Creativity in Service to All Iowans - Application

NE Excellence in Partnership to Iowans - Application

NE Exceptional Volunteer Service - Application

NE Originality and Innovation in Programming - Application

NE Pride of Extension - Application

NE Program Area Recognition - Application

NE Spirit of Cy - Application

NE Outstanding Achievement in Advancement - Application Added

NE Inclusive Excellence - Application New

NE eAccessibility Champion - Application New

NE Friend of Extension - Application New

NE County Services Awards Committee Members

RaeAnn Gordon, Region 11 Regional Director Chair
Deb Pic Deutmeyer, Dubuque County Office Assistant
Sue Barnes, Howard County Director
Melissa Blair, Linn County Youth Coordinator
Angie Gougherty, Youth Program Specialist
Jill Weber, Human Sciences Family Well-being Specialist
Karen Lathrop, Advancement Specialist

 

Southwest

SW County Extension Council Distinguished Service - Application

SW Creativity in Service to All Iowans - Application

SW Excellence in Partnership to Iowans - Application

SW Exceptional Volunteer Service - Application

SW Originality and Innovation in Programming - Application

SW Pride of Extension - Application

SW Program Area Recognition Award - Application

SW Spirit of Cy - Application

SW Outstanding Achievement in Advancement - Application Added

SW Inclusive Excellence - Application.docx New

SW eAccessibility Champion - Application New

SW Friend of Extension - Application New

SW County Services Awards Committee Members

Julie Hering Kent, Region 22 Regional Director, Chair
Kerry Aistrope, Region 21 Regional Director, Assistant Chair
Haillie Robinette, Region 21 Youth Program Specialist
Alexis Stevens, Farm Management Specialist
Ann Carter, Audubon County Program Coordinator
Julee Grell, Carroll County Director
Mandy Maher, Fremont County Director
Annie Fisher, Adams County Office Assistant

South Central

SC County Extension Council Distinguished Service - Application

SC Creativity in Service to All Iowans - Application

SC Excellence in Partnership to Iowans - Application

SC Exceptional Volunteer Service - Application

SC Originality and Innovation in Programming - Application

SC Pride of Extension - Application

SC Program Area Recognition Award - Application

SC Spirit of Cy - Application

SC Outstanding Achievement in Advancement - Application Added

SC Inclusive Excellence - Application New

SC eAccessibility Champion - Application New

SC Friend of Extension - Application New

SC County Services Awards Committee Members

Ann Torbert, Region 15 Regional Director, Chair
Rosa Gonzalez, Human Sciences Family Well-being Specialist
Courtney Chapman, Youth Program Specialist
Denice Fischer, Jasper County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and High School Education Coordinator
Cathy Lents, Poweshiek County Director
Cassie Odland, Polk County Family Life Nutrition Educator
Syerra Niday, Wayne County Bookkeeper

 

 

Southeast

SE County Extension Council Distinguished Service - Application

SE Creativity in Service to All Iowans - Application

SE Excellence in Partnership to Iowans - Application

SE Exceptional Volunteer Service - Application

SE Originality and Innovation in Programming - Application

SE Pride of Extension - Application

SE Program Area Recognition Award - Application

SE Spirit of Cy - Application

SE Outstanding Achievement in Advancement - Application Added

SE Inclusive Excellence - Application New

SE eAccessibility Champion - Application New

SE Friend of Extension - Application New

SE County Services Awards Committee Members

Katharinna Bain, Region 19 Regional Director, Chair
Ryan Drollette, Farm Management Specialist
Cherry Sandeen, Youth Program Specialist
Emily Belvel, Keokuk County Program Coordinator and Office Assistant
Cindy Emery, Wapello County Youth Coordinator
Heidi Hoffman, Muscatine County Director