Extension staff recognized for innovation, excellence in serving Arkansans
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Dec. 2, 2025
Fast Facts:
- Kelley Cochran named Employee of the Year
- Extension staff recognized for excellence, innovation in outreach work
(1,576 words)
(Newsrooms: With photos from conference)
LITTLE ROCK — The Cooperative Extension Service this week celebrated the passionate, innovative work of faculty and staff who worked to serve Arkansas families and their communities during a particularly difficult year for the agriculture industry.
Extension, the outreach and education branch of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, hosted its annual employee conference on Dec. 1 at its headquarters in Little Rock. The program recognized employees for excellence and innovation in delivering extension’s mission: to strengthen agriculture, communities and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices.
Deacue Fields, vice president for agriculture for the Division of Agriculture, commended extension staff for how they navigated the trials of 2025.
“If you think about all that has happened throughout this year, from funding being frozen early in the year to programs being cut, we had a lot going on,” Fields said. “Despite all that we’ve gone through and what we’ve seen, we’ve survived, and I think we’ve actually come out on the other side stronger than we were before.
“We’ve learned a lot through this process,” Fields said. “We learned how to strategize better, and we still have some challenges ahead of us.”
John D. Anderson, extension director for the Division of Agriculture, said the mission of extension is especially critical today.
“Extension is absolutely an essential organization,” Anderson said. “There is no other organization in the state that plays the role we play. The need for objective, unbiased information, training and support is greater than it’s ever been.”
This year’s extension award winners include:
Employee of the Year: Kelley Cochran
Kelley Cochran, administrative assistant for the Ouachita District Office, was named Employee of the Year. In 2024 and 2025, Cochran “single-handedly” supported all three extension districts across the state of Arkansas, which included 75 county programs and more than 200 county agents, Anderson said.
“She embodies the Division’s core values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, relevance and excellence, making everyone’s job easier and inspiring confidence at every level,” Anderson said of Cochran. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kelley in a bad mood, and she’s always a joy to be around.”
Cochran thanked her co-workers and supervisors for their support during a challenging time.
“The last two years have been very difficult, but we’ve made it through, and I think we’ve made it through a little stronger,” Cochran said.
State Team Award: Building Healthier Lives: Excellence in Statewide SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education
Over the last three years, extension’s SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education team worked to streamline and update the program’s curricula. As a result of these efforts, the program made more than 230,000 educational contacts in 2024 alone.
When the elimination of the SNAP-Ed program was finalized with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July, the team “quickly shifted focus and remained mission-driven” to ensure vital services to low-income Arkansans would continue.
“This past year has brought a lot of challenges for us, but it’s made us stronger,” said team member Tristin Bolton. “We’ve worked together to re-evaluate our curriculum and training to support our county agents across our entire state. Our team didn’t just work together; we worked better together.”
Team members include Bolton, Sarah David, Julia Gaunt, Katie Holland, Teresa Henson, Amy McClelland, Lindsey Sexton and Angie Stewart.
Innovation Individual Award: Samantha Horn
As Howard County staff chair, Samantha Horn was recognized for her “highly effective and innovative approach” to 4-H recruitment in the county, according to her nominators. Horn has served Howard County for seven years, and during that time, she recognized that hosting club meetings in the evening often conflicted with youth’s after-school and weekend schedules.
To make 4-H “more accessible and appealing,” Horn held meetings immediately following the school day at 3:30 p.m., minimized evening and weekend events, expanded program offerings to summer break and school holidays, and introduced in-school enrichment through immersive experiences.
Horn’s changes led to year-over-year growth in 4-H numbers, with 150 youth now enrolled in the program in the county. “Participation has increased, engagement is deeper and youth are benefiting from consistent, meaningful experiences that support their development,” Horn’s nominators said.
Innovation Team Award: Grow Your Own Groceries
Krista Quinn, Faulkner County Extension agriculture agent, and Mary Beth Groce, Faulkner County Extension staff chair, were honored for their successful Grow Your Own Groceries program, a monthly virtual seminar series focusing on horticulture and family and consumer sciences education. The program began in 2020. Quinn said their original plan was to host only four sessions, but a swift community response prompted them to expand it.
“Almost immediately, our viewers started sending emails, messages in the chat, and even hand-written notes saying how much they appreciated the program and felt like they were benefitting from it,” Quinn said. “That’s when we started asking other extension professionals to present as well.”
Since its launch, Grow Your Own Groceries has hosted 77 presentations, reaching 57 Arkansas counties, 31 states and seven countries. More than 30 extension staff have given presentations as part of the series.
“The real key to success is having many different agents and specialists as presenters, and having the support of many other extension professionals,” Quinn said. “This brings a wealth of expertise and professionalism to the program, which increases its value to the public.
“If it were just Mary Beth and I doing this, it would be a nice program,” she said. “But with so many different extension contributors, it’s a truly powerful program.”
Early Career Award for State Extension Faculty: Hunter Biram
Hunter Biram, assistant professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness for the Division of Agriculture, was recognized for his efforts as a “reliable and insightful source of information” for Arkansans. Biram joined extension as an economist in 2022 and has since become a regular contributor of analysis to policymakers, Division of Agriculture news writers and external news outlets. Biram provided critical expertise through articles about “net farm income, the drought-plagued Mississippi River, and various facts of the current Farm Bill and its impacts,” according to his nominators.
“Biram has been praised by colleagues, both in his department and elsewhere, for his ability to communicate complex topics and know intuitively what information needs to get in front of what audience — which is the very essence of successful extension outreach,” one nominator wrote.
Early Career Award for Extension County Agent: Lauren Cheevers
Now in her fourth year as a 4-H agent in Washington County, Lauren Cheevers oversees one of the largest 4-H programs in Arkansas. Cheevers was recognized for her efforts to grow the Washington County 4-H program and create innovative programming. Cheevers increased 4-H membership and clubs from 336 members in 18 clubs in 2021 to 425 members in 20 clubs in 2024. Under her leadership, the county has had several Teen Stars, State Ambassadors, State Officers and Hall of Fame winners, as well as a Governor’s Award winner.
“From her first day as a county agent, Lauren has demonstrated a wonderful passion and enthusiasm for involving and growing youth through 4-H,” her nominators wrote. “As a former Washington County 4-H’er herself, with experiences ranging from showing livestock to serving as a State Officer and Governor’s Award winner, she wants other kids to get everything they can out of 4-H.”
Early Career Award for Program Technician/Associate: Mishanna Lanes
As project manager for the High Obesity Program, Mishanna Lanes works with 11 counties to “coordinate, implement and evaluate a multi-year, community-based obesity prevention and health promotion program.” Lanes was honored for her commitment to this important work and for her drive to develop as a leader within and outside of extension. Over the past year, Lanes completed the internal extension leadership development program, iLead, as well as the Region 6 Public Health Leadership Institute and participated in Toastmasters.
“Mishanna exemplifies the Cooperative Extension Service’s mission by creating healthier, stronger and more resilient communities,” her nominators wrote.
Lanes said she grew up in the 4-H youth development program and feels that her career at extension is where she’s meant to be.
“Extension is full of remarkably brilliant people,” Lanes said. “It’s inspiring to be supported by this level of innovation and expertise.”
Early Career Award for State Support Staff: Michael Coven
As an accountant in extension's Financial Services department, Michael Coven was recognized for his leadership, reliability, attention to detail and collaborative spirit.
“Michael is responsible for some of the most time-sensitive and critical functions within the Finance Department, particularly in the cash management area,” his nominators wrote. “His role demands precision, timeliness and strong communication skills. His professionalism and attention to detail are essential to maintaining the financial integrity of the organization.”
Scholarship Recipients
Three extension employees received scholarships to support their education and professional development. Kevin Lawson, Faulkner County extension agriculture agent, received the Lynn R. Russell Endowed Award of Professional Excellence.
Lawson said he was proud to receive the award, named in honor of Russell’s legacy.
“When I was a young agent, Lynn came and did a presentation called Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate, and we brought in a lot of farmers to come and learn about succession planning, establishing a trust and things like that,” Lawson said. “That really stayed with me. Lynn was incredible at what she did. She was a really great person and I am honored to receive this.”
The Mildred and Liz Childs Professional Development Fund Scholarship was awarded to Kirby Owens, assistant facilities manager and the Little Rock state officer, and Heather Wingo, extension immunization educator.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System 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 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System 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:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061