Distinguished Extension/Outreach Programs Awards
The Distinguished Extension/Outreach Program Awards recognize achievement of excellence in agricultural economics extension and outreach programs. A maximum of three awards is given:
1. Individual - less than 10-years experience
2. Individual - more than 10-years experience
3. Group

Nominations for either individual award may recognize not only individual programs, but also significant contributions of an individual agricultural economist to a larger, group program. The Group award recognizes the overall effectiveness, impact and contributions of a single program. Characteristics of an award-winning program will be judged on the following criteria:
a. Ability to clearly define an important problem and target audience;
b. Proficiency in conceptualizing and applying educational approaches which utilize appropriate qualitative and quantitative analysis, primarily economics but with other relevant disciplines included if appropriate;
c. Effective communication as measured by appropriateness of teaching materials to intended audience, quality of communication media, and innovation in communication methods;
d. Evidence of accomplishment and impact through improved understanding, decision-making or behavioral change in the target audience.

Any AAEA member(s) may make nominations and selection is made from among those nominated. The nominee(s) must have been active in extension education and/or outreach programs within one year of the nomination and the content of extension/outreach effort must be principally in the field of agricultural economics. Nominations for any extension/outreach awards are open to any worthy candidate regardless of job title, employment institution, or academic appointment. These awards are meant to recognize individuals for their contributions to the agricultural economics profession through their extension and/or outreach programs. Re-nominations are invited if supporting materials are brought up to date and resubmitted.

Each nomination must include a letter of nomination (maximum of three single spaced pages) which should be a concise statement summarizing the reasons why the nominee is worthy of the award. The nomination letter is the centerpiece and should focus on hard evidence that the nominee meets the criteria by which entrants are judged. Supporting materials are limited to not more than three items (publications, videos, computer programs, etc.) which are the nominee's best examples of quality work. No other material may be submitted. Nine copies of the nomination letter and supporting materials should be submitted.

Distinguished Teaching Awards
These awards recognize and encourage meritorious performance in undergraduate and graduate teaching in agricultural economics. A maximum of three awards is given: one for less than ten years undergraduate and/or graduate teaching as a full-time professional; one for ten or more years undergraduate teaching as a full-time professional; and one for ten or more years graduate teaching as a full-time professional. Nominations may be submitted by any member(s) of the AAEA.

Selection is made on the basis of nominating materials. Renominations are encouraged, providing materials are updated and resubmitted. If a nominee has previously won a Distinguished Teaching Award, the selection is based on activities subsequent to the previous award. Nominees must be actively engaged in teaching at a professional level during the current year.

Nominating materials should demonstrate that the nominee has outstanding ability and performance as a teacher of agricultural economics. The quality of performance in five major areas is considered in evaluating nominations. They are:

1. Teaching activities (50%);
2. Academic advising, counseling and extracurricular activities with students (20%);
3. Campus participation in instructional, course and curricular improvement efforts (15%);
4. Professional improvement in teaching for benefit of self and peers (10%); and
5. Department/college/university teaching awards (5%).

The nomination packet should include the following:

1. A cover page that provides the nominee's name, address, educational background, present position (including a description and time assignment to instructional activities) and the time period over which the award is based.
2. A letter of nomination (maximum of 3 single-spaced pages) that will be the centerpiece for evaluation. It should contain a concise statement summarizing reasons why the nominee is worthy of the award. The letter of nomination should focus on evidence that the nominee meets the criteria by which entrants are judged.
3. A biography of the nominee emphasizing current and past teaching achievements (maximum of 2 single-spaced pages).
4. A statement of teaching philosophy by the nominee (maximum of 1 single-spaced page).
5. An appendix devoted to evaluation of teaching quality (maximum of 5 single-spaced pages) may accompany the nomination.
6. Supporting materials may be submitted. These materials are limited to three items such as videos, CDs, publications, books, etc. They should be the nominee's best examples of quality. (These materials will not be returned.)
   

Nine copies of the nominating materials should be submitted. No additional materials should be submitted. All materials submitted should use a 12-point font with 1-inch margins. If nominators have any questions, they are encouraged to contact the Distinguished Teaching Awards Committee Chair.

1. An entry must be submitted by the head or chair of the department where the degree is earned.
2. A department may submit one nomination for each 15 Master's theses or fraction thereof presented to a graduate school faculty in the calendar year preceding the year of recognition. In determining the number of eligible theses, departments should limit consideration to theses in any field consistent with AAEA mission statement (agriculture, food, resources or economic development).
3. Nominations should include thesis or other comparable documentation.
4. Selection will be made from documentation approved in final form by the student's advisory committee. The thesis will be eligible for the competition in the calendar year following the one in which the thesis was accepted by the graduate school or division of the degree-granting institution.
5. A published thesis may be entered in both the published research and master's thesis classes but is eligible for only one award. Although a published thesis is acceptable, a copy of the thesis as submitted to the graduate faculty should be sent whenever possible.
6. Two copies and an electronic version in PDF format of a thesis (or comparable document) must be sent to the subcommittee chair. (All copies are returned after they have been read by the judges).
   

1. A department may submit one nomination for each 12 doctoral theses or fraction thereof presented in any field consistent with the AAEA mission statement (agriculture, food, resources or economic development) to a graduate school faculty in the calendar year preceding the year of recognition. In determining the number of eligible nominations, departments should limit consideration to theses in the areas of agricultural, natural resource or rural economics.
2. Selection will be made from documentation approved in final form by the student's advisory committee. The thesis will be eligible for the competition in the calendar year following the one in which the thesis was accepted by the graduate school or division of the degree-granting institution.
3. A published thesis may be entered in both the published research and thesis categories but is eligible for only one award. Although a published thesis is acceptable, a copy of the thesis as submitted to the graduate faculty should be sent whenever possible.
4. Two copies and an electronic version in PDF format of a thesis (or comparable document) must be sent to the subcommittee chair. (All copies are returned after they have been read by the judges.)
   

Professional Publications
Four major awards are given to encourage excellence in types of publications in all areas of agricultural economics. These awards include: Quality of Research Discovery; Quality of Communication; Publication of Enduring Quality; and Outstanding Journal Article.

Quality of Research Discovery and Quality of Communication.
General Rules.

1. No requirements regarding number of authors or professional experience are imposed.
2. Nominations may be by individuals, departments or agencies.
3. Nine copies of each publication should be submitted unless expense for the individual is excessive. Return of the publication is not customary but can be requested.
4. Nominations should be submitted for only one category within which it is judged and must be so identified.
   

A given article is eligible for only one award in either the Quality of Research Discovery or Quality of Communication category.

1. Quality of Research Discovery. A maximum of two awards is given. Entries must specify that the nomination is to be judged for the Quality of Research Discovery and must have been published in the calendar year preceding the year of recognition. The research must be a significant contribution to the field of knowledge in agricultural economics. The work should demonstrate excellence in research methodology and may deal with conceptualization of researchable problems as well as empirical verification.
   
2. Quality of Communication. A maximum of two awards is given. Entries must specify that the entry is to be judged for the Quality of Communication and must have been published in the calendar year preceding the year of recognition. Entries must demonstrate superior communication of concepts or knowledge in any subject matter of professional specialization (i.e., teaching, research, policy analysis or extension) in agricultural economics to a specified audience. The publication may communicate the author's original research or include that of others, and the communication may be directed to audiences inside or outside the profession. Seven major areas are considered in evaluating nominations as follows: a) Importance of topic.
   b) Timeliness of topic.
   c) Value of communication to its intended audience.
   d) Significance of contribution to the literature or other media.
   e) Organization and presentation of material.
   f) Presentation of material.
   g) Economic content of communication.

Publication of Enduring Quality
A maximum of one award is given for a publication which has a publication date in the 15 year period commencing 10 full calendar years prior to the year of recognition. Entries are judged on the basis of the enduring quality of their contribution to the profession. Competition is focused on the publications by authors, one of whom was a member of the association at the time of publication. Entries may be submitted by departments or other administrative units, by colleagues, or by the authors themselves. Nominations should be accompanied by a short statement (maximum of three single-spaced pages) documenting the publication's contributions to the profession. Other than the publication, no other material may submitted. Eight copies of the nomination letter and publication should be submitted.

Outstanding AJAE Article
The editor(s) and associate editors of The American Journal of Agricultural Economics with the editor as chair, shall choose a maximum of one outstanding article in the volume published in the year preceding the year of recognition. All articles are automatically eligible for consideration, except:

1. the president's address
2. the fellow's lecture
3. the Waugh lecture

Outstanding Choices Article
The editor(s) and advisory board of Choices, with an editor as chair, shall choose a maximum of one outstanding article in the volume published in the year preceding the year of recognition. All articles are automatically eligible for consideration.

Outstanding RAE Article
The editor(s) and editorial council of the Review of Agricultural Economics, with an editor as chair, shall choose a maximum of one outstanding article in the volume published in the year preseding the year of recognition. All articles are automatically eligible for consideration.

Nominations may be submitted by individuals, groups or institutions. In addition, the Distinguished Policy Contribution Award Committee is encouraged to generate nominations to assure that all outstanding policy contributions are considered. Winners will be selected on the basis of supporting materials showing major contributions within the previous five years. Renominations are invited provided the supporting materials are updated. Each nomination must be made by separate letter accompanied by documentary evidence supporting the nominee's contributions to the development and/or understanding of public policy. Individual or group efforts may be nominated. In groups, the name and contribution of each person must be identified in the nomination. Eight copies of each entry should be submitted. Return of the material submitted is not customary but can be requested.

General Recognition Awards
Recipients of awards are presented at the annual awards program of the association at the annual meeting. Winners for all categories are identified in the annual meeting awards program brochure and in the proceedings issue of the Exchange.