Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner James Comer traveled to Pittsburgh this week to be awarded the National Friend of Extension honors by the cooperative extension organization Epsilon Sigma Phi. This is the highest award presented by an Epsilon Sigma Phi chapter to a non-Extension person, and is designed to recognize truly outstanding support and personal involvement in Extension efforts.
Epsilon Sigma Phi is dedicated to fostering standards of excellence in the Extension system and developing the Extension profession and professional. Comer is accepting the award at the National Extension Agents Galaxy Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. He is one of four 2013 National Friend of Extension recipients and the only one of the four who is an elected official.
The Kentucky chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, made up of Kentucky county Extension agents, nominated Comer for the award. Comer was nominated for helping Kentucky 4-H (as well as Kentucky FFA and Kentucky Proud) find new revenue by encouraging farmers to make voluntary $10 donations when they renew their farm license plates. The “Ag Tag” donations generated $160,895.06 for each organization this year.
James Comer has had a lifelong commitment to 4-H. As a youth, Comer was active in the 4-H communications project and 4-H beef project. As a state representative, Comer helped secure funding for a career ladder incentive program for county agents, he was influential in securing $2 million for infrastructure improvements for Kentucky’s four 4-H camps and played a significant role in starting the “4-H: A Capitol Experience” program that enables 4-H members to visit the state Capitol and meet their legislators.
Here at the Foundation we know the tremendous impact Commissioner Comer has had on Kentucky Agriculture, the Cooperative Extension Service, and 4-H programming and we are glad he is getting national recognition for it. We are truly thankful for his support of Kentucky 4-H! Congratulations Commissioner Comer- you deserve it!
