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:

Individual - less than 10-years experience
Individual - more than 10-years experience
Group program effort

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.

Eligibility
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.

Nomination
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.

AAEA Extension Competition for Graduate Students
Overview:
The Extension and Graduate Student Sections of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association announce a competition for graduate students for 2010. This competition, sponsored jointly by the Extension Section and the Graduate Student Section, provides graduate student competitors the opportunity to develop extension and outreach programs from their thesis research. The development of education materials and presentations suitable for a general public audience is expected.

We encourage all departments with graduate students in agricultural economics, agribusiness, natural resource economics, community resource economics, applied economics or similar programs related to agriculture and/or the food system to inform their students about this important competition.

Purpose for the Competition:
To provide incentives to graduate students to learn to prepare and present appropriate analytical results for an extension (usually non-economist) audience. This can be based upon the graduate student’s research for a thesis or dissertation. Participation in the competition is expected to enhance the professional growth of the participating students regarding extension programs.

Who’s Eligible?
Eligible applicants are:
• Graduate students currently engaged in agricultural economics, agribusiness, natural resources, community resource economics, applied or similar economics MS or PhD programs related to agriculture and/or the food system.
•Those who graduated from such programs in 2009 or later.
Note: Participants must identify and work with a mentor with experience in outreach or extension activities.

Competition Application Information
Applications should be addressed to Margot Rudstrom and must include:

1. Student’s name, university, department, address and contact information.
   
2. Title of the extension program to be delivered.
   
3. A summary of the proposed extension program. This should include target audience, delivery plans, communication methods and activities planned for distributing the information to the public such as with fact sheets, pamphlets, press releases, reports, web sites, streaming videos, spreadsheets, workshops, PowerPoint presentations and training activities to be conducted (4 page maximum).
   
4. A profile of the student applicant’s background as well as the related thesis title and brief description of the research (maximum 1 page).
   
5. The mentor’s name, address and description of the mentor’s role in assisting the student with this project.
   

Submission Deadline
Applications must be submitted electronically no later than April 15, 2010.

Selection of Finalists
Finalists will be selected to make an extension/outreach presentation at the AAEA meeting in Denver Colorado, July 25, 2010, to a panel of judges. Selection of the finalists will be based on the material submitted and the criteria listed below.

Criteria for Selecting Finalists
Criteria for judging the finalist and winners will include:

1. Identification of a target audience.
   a. An explanation of the issue/problem/opportunity being addressed
   b. An explanation on how this target audience was identified
   
2. Development of an extension program for the target audience that includes:
   a. An outline of the goals of the extension program
   b. A summary and an explanation of the main elements of the thesis or dissertation results to be included in the extension program. Include a description of how the research results will address the issue/problem/opportunity and benefit the target audience.
   c. A summary of the program in an extension report, or extension PowerPoint presentation, or other appropriate extension communication media that the audience can take home. This summary should be an explanation that would be effective in accomplishing the extension goals as identified in step 2a. above.
   
3. An explanation of extension team development and responsibilities in terms of program development and delivery should be addressed, if appropriate.
   
4. Plans for evaluating the effectiveness of the extension program.
   

Extension/outreach presentation at the AAEA
Each finalist must develop oral and visual presentations (15-20 minutes in length) for delivery at the AAEA meetings. The presentation should include the selection criteria described above.

The top three finalists will also be expected to make presentations during an AAEA Extension track organized symposium.

Awards
Cash awards will be given to those judged to be the top three graduate students in this competition. Awards are:

First Place: $1,000 and a plaque
Second Place: $300 and a certificate
Third Place: $200 and a certificate
Other finalists receive finalist certificates

The top 3 competitors selected will receive their awards at the AAEA Awards ceremony. All finalists are guests at the Extension Luncheon during the AAEA annual meetings. Luncheon tickets will be provided to all finalists.

Sponsors
This competition is jointly sponsored by the Extension Section and the Graduate Student Section of AAEA. The Extension Section and Graduate Student Section gratefully acknowledge the Farm Foundation as the primary sponsor for the cash awards.

Submit Entries by March 1, 2009 to:
Dr. Margot Rudstrom
Competition Committee Co-Chair
Agriculture Department
207 Hill Hall
2900 University Avenue
Crookston MN 56716
Phone: 218-281-8138
Fax: 218-281-8694
Email: rudstrmv@umn.edu

The Extension Section of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association has in the
past recognized outstanding institutional websites, electronic newsletters, and
outstanding individual or team websites. This year the Extension Section continues to
promote excellence by focusing the Electronic Media Education award on the innovative
use of electronic media to educate or deliver educational programs, tools and materials
to extension educators, agency personnel or agricultural managers. Examples of
electronic media may include but will not be limited to: websites, electronic libraries,
webinars, wikis, social networking sites, social bookmarking, pod casting, blogs, etc.
Nominations will be evaluated based on the relevance of the tools selected and
application of electronic media to facilitate education. Emphasis will be given to
nominations which demonstrate innovative use of multiple electronic media into a wellintegrated
educational program.

Nominations may come from any current member of the AAEA. One of the individuals
responsible for the nominated media education effort must be an AAEA Extension
Section member. Nominations should be sent to John Hewlett, University of Wyoming,
hewlett@uwyo.edu no later than April 15th, 2010. Submissions should contain the name
and contact information of the nominator, the name and URL addresses of all relevant
electronic media sites and a one-page description of the electronic media education
program covering the following points: 1) the goal of the education effort, 2)
identification of all relevant, electronic components of the education program with a brief
description of how those components contribute to the overall effort, and 3) why the
electronic media education effort is being nominated.

A panel of reviewers from the AAEA Extension Section membership will make the final
determination of the winner. The highest ranked Electronic Media Education program
will be recognized at the Extension luncheon at the 2010 AAEA meeting.

Award: Outstanding Electronic Media Education Award

Deadline: no later than April 15, 2010

Where to submit: email nomination materials to hewlett@uwyo.edu