CONWAY, Ark. — A video about Razorback mascot Tusk VI, the origin story about a weed scientist and a voter guide to Arkansas ballot issues were among winners on Saturday in the 2025 APW Communications contest.

A dozen U of A System Division of Agriculture employees were recognized for excellence in videos, podcasts and writing by Arkansas Press Women, an organization celebrating its 75th anniversary. The awards ceremony was held at Central Arkansas Baptist.

This year's contest saw 321 entries, all evaluated by independent judges.

First-place entrants in the Arkansas contest who are members of the National Federation of Press Women advance to NFPW's national competition. National winners will be recognized during NFPW's annual conference Sept. 11-13 in Golden, Colorado.

Ballot issues guide

The 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Voter Guide is one of the most widely used publications from the Division of Agriculture's Public Policy Center. More than 48,000 were delivered by the PPC and county extension agents across the state. The work was underscored by videos and online content.

The guide won in the Public Service Program or Campaign category of the APW contest. Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, program associate for the Public Policy Center, along with co-entrants Julie Thompson and Chris Meux, both graphic designers for the Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service, and Kerry Rodtnick, extension videographer, were honored for the win. Netterstrom Higgins was the guide's author. 

"So often the changes sought through a proposed constitutional amendment or state law involve polices Arkansans don't deal with on an everyday basis," Netterstrom Higgins said. "The technicalities or legal jargon can be confusing. Our goal is to be a trusted source of election information, and I think this award recognizes we have been successful."

Netterstrom Higgins was also formally recognized as APW's Communicator of Achievement, the organization's highest honor. 

Tusk VI

Tusk VI — Ag is Big in Arkansas, is a video developed to show how agriculture is integrated into all aspects of life, including sports. The 94-second video follows the Razorback mascot from his farm in the Arkansas River Valley to his game-day activities. The win in the Special Interest Video category went to the team of Ben Aaron, Paden Johnson, Kerry Rodtnick, Nick Kordsmeier and Mary Hightower.

In the weeds

The backstory of Jason Norsworthy becoming a weed scientist honored by the rice industry for his work earned a first place in agriculture writing for Hightower. In addition to his research work for the Division of Agriculture, Norsworthy also holds the title of Distinguished Professor and is the Elms Farming Chair of Weed Science for the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Division of Agriculture employees being honored:

Ben Aaron, video production specialist, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service:

• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special-interest video for Ag is Big.
• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Podcast for UADA Today.
• Co-entrant: First place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special Interest Video for Tusk VI: Ag is Big in Arkansas.

Samantha Barker, video conferencing manager, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service:

• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Podcast for UADA Today.

Christina Breckenridge, chief of staff, U of A System Division of Agriculture:

• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Podcast for UADA Today.

Deacue Fields, vice president for agriculture, U of A System Division of Agriculture:

• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Podcast for UADA Today.

 Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, program associate - Public Policy, U of A System Division of Agriculture:

• First place in Communications Programs and Campaigns > Public Service Program or Campaign for 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Program.

Mary Hightower, chief communications officer, U of A System Division of Agriculture:

• Honorable Mention in Writing > Specialty Articles > Obituary for "Hope, Don Bragg Remembered for Their Love of Science, Learning."
• Honorable Mention in Writing > Feature Story > Online publication for "55 Years Later, Earliest African-American Undergraduate of UA's College of Agriculture Receives Overdue Honors."
• Third place in Writing > Specialty Articles > Obituary for "Claude Kennedy, Retired Cotton Station Director, Former ASCS Regional Director, Passes Away at 82."
• Third place in Writing > Feature Story > Online publication for Daddy Long Legs Goes on a Police 'ride-along,' Extension Entomologist Tapped to Debunk Venom Myth.
• Third place in Writing > Specialty Articles > Food for "Fraud Leaves a Bitter Taste in Honey Industry."
• Second place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special Interest Video for Ag is Big.
• Second place in Writing > Feature Story > Online publication for Lightning Bugs: The Story Behind Summer's Tiny Fireworks Show.
• Second place in Web and Social Media > Podcast for UADA Today.
• First place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special Interest Video for Tusk VI:  Ag is Big in Arkansas.
• First place in Writing > Headlines for 'Cicadapocalypse Now' as emergence begins in Arkansas; Lightning bugs: The story behind summer's tiny fireworks show; Fraud leaves bitter taste in honey industry.
• First place in Writing > Feature Story > Online publication for Quapaw Quarter Association Annual Tour Highlights Home of First African American Extension Workers, Little Rock Nine member Gloria Ray.
• First place in Writing > Specialty Articles > Agriculture for "Norsworthy Honored with Rice Industry Award."
• First place in Web and Social Media > Electronic Newsletter > Nonprofit, government or educational for ONE Division.

Paden Johnson, video producer, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station:

• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special Interest Video for Ag is Big.
• Co-entrant: First place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special Interest Video for Tusk VI: Ag is Big in Arkansas.

 Nick Kordsmeier, director of communications, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station:

• Co-entrant: First place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special Interest Video for Tusk VI: Ag is Big in Arkansas.

Chris Meux, design specialist and print shop manager, Cooperative Extension Service:

• Co-entrant: First place in Communications Programs and Campaigns > Public Service Program or Campaign for 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Program.

Andrea Price, software and business enablement coordinator, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service:

• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Podcast for UADA Today.

Kerry Rodtnick, extension videographer, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service:

• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special Interest Video for Ag is Big.
• Co-entrant: Second place in Web and Social Media > Podcast for UADA Today.
• Co-entrant: First place in Communications Programs and Campaigns > Public Service Program or Campaign for 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Program.
• Co-entrant: First place in Web and Social Media > Video for Web > Special-interest video for Tusk VI: Ag is Big in Arkansas.

Julie Thompson, design/support specialist, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service:

• Co-entrant: First place in Communications Programs and Campaigns > Public Service Program or Campaign for 2024 Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Program.

See the full list of winners online. 

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.