UA Division of Agriculture communications team receives ACE Awards
June 23, 2026
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Critique & Awards Program held by Association for Communication Excellence
- Recognition earned in media graphics, marketing, writing
- Awards presented at conference in Billings, Montana
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BILLINGS, Mont. — Keeping people “Bear Aware” and informed on a wide range of agricultural research and extension programs is just a part of what the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture communications department does, but sometimes they get national recognition for it.
The communications team earned six awards at the 2026 annual conference of the Association for Communication Excellence, a professional organization of communicators at land-grant universities throughout the United States and similar institutions in other nations.
“This recognition shows that our talented, creative and hard-working group of communicators is among the best in the country,” said Nick Kordsmeier, chief communications officer for the Division of Agriculture’s research and outreach arms, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service. “The competition at ACE is always strong, and I am very proud of our team for coming away with six awards, including two first-place prizes.”
Among the 11 award categories in the ACE Critique & Awards Program, the Division of Agriculture was recognized for work in graphic design, marketing, media relations, publishing and writing for newspapers.
The awards include:
- Gold, Graphic Design — “Be Bear Aware,” by Oliver Williams, publications specialist.
- Gold, Writing for Newspapers —“Bradley County’s John Gavin celebrates long, fruitful career as tomato expert,” by Tracy Courage, director of communications for the Cooperative Extension Service.
- Silver, Publishing — “High Tunnel Production Guide for Arkansas and the Southeast,” by Emily Davis, publications specialist.
- Silver, Writing for Newspapers — “How Do Road Salts Impact Roadside Organisms?” by John Lovett, science editor.
- Silver, Marketing — “Grow Arkansas Rice: For Arkansas, By Arkansas,” a video promoting the Arkansas Foundation Seed Program and the Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program, by Benjamin Aaron, video production specialist, Paden Johnson, video producer, Ava Lacy, student video producer, and Kordsmeier.
- Bronze, Media Relations —“Rice Rebels: Research Reveals the Grain’s Brewing Benefits,” by Lovett.
“I'm proud of the work our team does to communicate the research efforts that improve lives and move our state forward,” said Mollie Pratt, director of research communications for the experiment station. “They take highly complex information and translate it into engaging stories that bring clarity and visibility to the great work happening at the Division of Agriculture.”
To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
John Lovett
U of A Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
(479) 763-5929
jlovett@uada.edu