Virginia Cooperative Extension honors standout programs serving Virginians
The 2024 Program Excellence Awards recognize eight Extension programs and the professionals behind them who are making a difference in their communities.
From helping teens build healthy habits to strengthening local food systems, this year’s Virginia Cooperative Extension Program Excellence Awards winners exemplify what it means to put knowledge to work for Virginia.
Eight standout programs — and the dedicated professionals behind them — earned awards for delivering exceptional Extension services to Virginians in 2024. Presented annually, the Program Excellence Awards celebrate innovative education, impactful outreach, and community-driven solutions across the commonwealth.
“Virginia Cooperative Extension programming responds to community needs and assists Virginians with making positive life changes,” said Matt Lail, Extension coordinator. “Our district and state Extension Program Excellence Award winners are great examples of the impact that Extension has in our communities.”
Following are the Program Excellence Award winners for 2024:
Program Impact Award
Hannah Bishop, Extension agent for 4-H youth development in Dinwiddie County, has transformed the local 4-H program into a thriving, volunteer-led network. Since 2015, club membership grew by 369 percent, teen leadership initiatives expanded, and a $125,000 endowment was established to support camp access. The county now fills an entire week of 4-H camp with its own participants. Enrichment programs reach 25 percent of Dinwiddie’s student population with hands-on STEM, wellness, and career-readiness education — creating a sustainable model for rural youth development.
Program Evaluation Award
Sarah Misyak, assistant director with the Virginia Family Nutrition Program, led the first rigorous evaluation of the Teen Cuisine curriculum, which teaches nutrition and cooking skills to SNAP-eligible adolescents. Results from 167 participants showed statistically significant improvements in dietary habits, physical activity, and handwashing practices. The findings were shared with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and submitted for publication, helping build evidence-based national recognition for Teen Cuisine’s success. Collaborators included Elena Serrano, Gina Moore Kindred, and Camille McGuire of the Family Nutrition Program.
Program Reporting Award
Unit Coordinator Cristy Mosley and the Culpeper County Extension team led an effort to strengthen transparency and trust through stakeholder reporting. The team compiled an annual report highlighting local Extension program outcomes and presented it at a well-attended event hosted by the Extension Leadership Council. With engaging visuals, data, and discussion, the presentation deepened community partnerships and earned praise from local leaders — including the incoming county administrator, who cited the report as a key reference for future decision-making. Culpeper Extension staff and the Carver Food Enterprise Center were instrumental in the initiative’s success.
Programmatic Courage Award
Frank Long, agriculture and natural resources Extension agent in Middlesex County, organized the first Lower Middle Peninsula Farm to Table Networking Conference. Designed to connect small farmers with local restaurants, the conference aimed to strengthen regional food systems, reduce transportation costs, and promote farm-to-table partnerships across Middlesex, Mathews, and Gloucester counties. The strong interest from producers has laid a foundation for better farm-to-table connections across the region.
Program Marketing Award
Senior Extension Agent Chris Lichty and the Pulaski County Extension team developed a strategic, all-hands-on-deck campaign for Virginia Tech’s 2024 Giving Day. Through coordinated social media outreach, printed materials, and strong community partnerships, the team rallied 222 donors and raised $5,840 — the highest sponsor total among all 107 Extension offices statewide. The campaign’s success will support local Extension programs throughout the year.
New Initiatives Award
Mackenzie Gunn, agriculture and natural resources agent in Amelia County, launched “Coop to Soup,” an eight-week hybrid program guiding small-scale and homestead producers through the humane, legal, and food-safe processing of broiler chickens. Developed in partnership with Extension colleagues, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Purdue University, the program combined expert instruction with hands-on poultry processing using a mobile unit. Participants reported major gains in confidence, food safety practices, and regulatory knowledge — increasing local food resilience and safe meat production across Virginia.
Community Empowerment Award
Kim Mayo, unit coordinator and 4-H agent in Fluvanna County, was recognized for partnering with the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors, committee members, and Extension Agent Rick Hernandez to help manage the long-running, volunteer-led Fluvanna Leadership Development Program. Designed to cultivate civic engagement through education on county operations and community service, the program receives ongoing support from Virginia Cooperative Extension through agriculture education and volunteer oversight. Now in its 22nd year, the program has trained over 500 people with more than 375 taking leadership roles in the community.
Interdisciplinary Program Award
In her second award recognition, Mayo led a community initiative to engage rural youth in agriculture and natural resources education. In 2024, more than 50 volunteers and partners — including Extension staff, Master Gardeners, the Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, and local schools — contributed over 1,500 hours to deliver hands-on learning. The program yielded thousands of pounds of donated produce, innovative literacy kits, and a recycling project that diverted over 5,000 pounds of plastic from landfills.
“The Program Excellence Awards spotlight the depth and diversity of our Extension programs and the exceptional people who lead them,” said Mike Gutter, director of Virginia Cooperative Extension and associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “From local food systems and health education to civic engagement and youth development, our team continues to deliver real-world solutions for real-world challenges.”
Virginia Cooperative Extension helps lead the outreach mission of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, the commonwealth’s land-grant institutions. With a statewide network of local offices, Extension agents, specialists, and volunteers, Extension helps people put research-based knowledge to work to improve their economic, physical, and social well-being.
This year’s judging panel included Caroline Buscaglia, assistant director in Virginia Tech’s Office of Government and Community Relations; Robert Hiss, county administrator for Bedford County; Tyler Lester, legislative director for Sen. Todd Pillion; and Brian Solis, deputy city manager for the City of Chesapeake.
