FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas students and faculty from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences were recently recognized for outstanding achievement in economic agribusiness, communication and education at the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Students Brannon Daniels, Will Maples, Hannan Southard and Amy West from agricultural and economics agribusiness competed in the Agricultural Economics Section Quizbowl. Maples’ team finished third against a field of 91 students from across the southern region.

Four teams from agricultural and extension education won poster awards.

In the Communication Section, undergraduate student Hayley Jernigan, assistant professor Leslie Edgar, instructor Casandra Cox, and associate professor Jeff Miller placed first in the Outstanding Innovation Poster Award with “Intensive Digital Technology Training for Extension Personnel: A Focus on Collaboration.”

In the same section, Morgan Large and Miller placed second with “The Experiential Learning Lab: A Pathway to Real World Experience.”

In the Education Section, Amanda Northfell, Carley Calico and Edgar claimed first in the Outstanding Innovation Poster competition with “Providing Experiential, Real World Learning Opportunities in Communication Campaigns.”

In the Research Poster category, Brittany Dees, Catherine Shoulders and Andrew Thoron received a Distinguished Award with “The Impact of a Course in Agricultural Laboratories on Pre-Service Teachers’ Level of Comfort in Laboratory Settings.”

Six faculty, six graduate students and two undergraduates from agricultural education, communication and technology attended the meeting and combined to present five research papers, four innovative posters, seven research posters and one seminar.

The SAAS has been in existence since 1899 and strives to bring together agricultural leaders in education and industry. It also offers young scientists opportunities to present papers resulting from research, extension or other efforts.

Regional membership is open to anyone engaged in agricultural research, teaching or extension in schools, colleges or state or federal experiment stations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or Virginia, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Award Winners – Orlando, Fla.

Communication Section – Outstanding Innovative Poster

Hayley Jernigan, Leslie Edgar, Casandra Cox, Jeff Miller – “Intensive Digital Technology Training for Extension Personnel: A Focus on Collaboration”

Education Section – Outstanding Innovative Poster

Amanda Northfell, Carley Calico, Leslie Edgar – “Providing Experiential, Real World Learning Opportunities in Communication Campaigns”

Research Section – Distinguished Award

Brittany Dees, Catherine Shoulders, Andrew Thoron – “The Impact of a Course in Agricultural Laboratories on Pre-Service Teachers’ Level of Comfort in Laboratory Settings”