SPRINGDALE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture will recognize outstanding performance by faculty and staff at an awards luncheon Friday, January 18, at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center.

The Division of Agriculture includes the Cooperative Extension Service, which provides public education and service programs statewide, and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, which conducts research to assist producers and processors of food and fiber, other agribusinesses, families and rural communities.

Division of Agriculture research and extension faculty are also instructors on University of Arkansas system campuses in Fayetteville, Monticello, Pine Bluff and Little Rock and at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Vice President for Agriculture Milo Shult said, "These awards signify the excellence of services provided by our faculty and staff members throughout the state. I am extremely proud of their work in support of our state's dynamic agricultural sector, the environment, families and communities."

The Robert G. F. and Hazel Taylor Spitze Land Grant University Faculty Award for Excellence will be presented to Duane Wolf, professor of crop, soil and environmental sciences at UA, Fayetteville. Wolf is director of the honors program in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and has served in many faculty leadership positions. His expertise is in soil science. The award carries a $3,000 stipend provided by the Spitzes, who graduated from the university in the 1940s and have had distinguished academic careers.

John W. White awards for outstanding teaching, research, extension service and teamwork are named for the U of A System’s first vice president for agriculture when the Division of Agriculture was created in 1959.

The John W. White teaching award is being given to Casandra Cox of Siloam Springs, an instructor in the department of agricultural and extension education at UA, Fayetteville. Cox advises and mentors students and instructors in courses on leadership, management and computer applications.

Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Yanbin Li of Fayetteville will receive the John W. White research award. The holder of the Tyson Endowed Chair in Biosensing Engineering, Li developed a biosensor system for rapid, in-field detection of the H5N1 avian influenza "bird flu" virus. He is a leading scholar in detection of pathogenic bacteria in food products.

Poultry Specialist Susan Watkins of Fayetteville will receive the John W. White award for extension service at the state level. Watkins provides training and problem solving for poultry producers and industry personnel who work with producers. She has been director of the National Egg Quality School for four years and manages the student internship program for poultry science majors at the University of Arkansas.

The John W. White award recipient for extension service at the county level is Randy Chlapecka of Newport. As staff chair of the Jackson County extension office for 19 years he manages a comprehensive program of support for agriculture, community development, family and consumer education, and youth development through 4-H clubs.

The John W. White team award recognizes accomplishments of the "Eating and Moving for Life" program, a joint project of the Cooperative Extension Service and the Arkansas Minority Health Commission. Team members are Reyna Alvarez and Theresa James of the Sevier County extension office in DeQuenn, Keith Cleek of the Phillips County extension office in Helena-West Helena, and Easter Tucker, associate professor and nutrition specialist at the state extension office in Little Rock.

Mike Duren, program technician II at the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, is receiving the non-classified support personnel award. He works with faculty scientists to manage their field research projects in rice, corn and grain sorghum at NEREC.

Leslie C. "Sam" Atchley, farm foreman at the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, is receiving the classified support personnel award. He supervises a staff that helps manage field research plots and is responsible for shop operations and building and grounds maintenance.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.