Outstanding Cooperative Extension employees were recognized last month during the annual chapter meeting of Epsilon Sigma Phi, extension’s professional development society.

• Early Career Award: Kyleen Burgess, area information management extension agent, Hertford
• Mid-Career Award: Dr. Lucy Bradley, urban horticulture extension specialist, Horticultural Science Department
• Visionary Leadership Award: Dr. Lisa Guion, professor and diversity coordinator, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Distinguished Service Award: Christine Barrier, Cabarrus County extension administrative assistant
• Meritorious Support Award: Diane Lynch, Wayne County extension secretary
• Meritorious Support Award: Rick Seagroves, crop science research specialist, Weed Control Lab
• Friend of Extension Award: JoAnna Foegeding, research analyst, Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences Department
• Bernadette Watts Professional Development Scholarship winner: Christine Smith, Wayne County family and consumer sciences extension agent
• State Team Award: Northeast Ag Expo and Precision Ag Field Day team of Al Wood, Pasquotank County; Tommy Grandy, Currituck County; Lewis Smith, Perquimans County; Dr. Ron Heiniger, Crop Science Department, based in Plymouth; Mark Powell, Camden County; Paul Smith, Gates County; Heather Lifsey, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and Dr. Carl Crozier, Soil Science Department, based in Plymouth

The following county extension staffs were recognized with County Performance Awards:

• Chatham County Extension
• Gates County Extension
• Wayne County Extension
• Yadkin County Extension