WSDA director’s citation recognizes WSU Extension Centennial

PROSSER, Wash. – Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Bud Hover today recognized the 2014 Centennial of the Washington State University Extension Service by presenting the department’s Director’s Citation Award to WSU Plant Pathologist Gary Grove at the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser.

“I offer my congratulations. I appreciate the achievements WSU Extension has had in promoting agriculture and supporting our state’s agrarian lifestyle these past 100 years,” Hover wrote in a letter accompanying the citation.

WSDA Director Bud Hover (l) congratulates WSU's Gary Grove on a century of service by WSU Extension.
WSDA Director Bud Hover (l) congratulates WSU’s Gary Grove on a century of service by WSU Extension.

WSU and land-grant universities across the U.S. this year are celebrating the centennial of the Smith-Lever Act, signed by President Wilson in 1914, which created the Cooperative Extension Service.

Hover said the WSDA has benefitted greatly from its partnership with WSU Extension, working together in supporting many of the same efforts.

“For example, WSU Extension’s Pesticide Education Program has been an invaluable partner to WSDA’s Pesticide Licensing and Compliance programs, providing high quality training, study manuals and collaborating on meetings to provide pesticide users, consultants and dealers with up-to-date information ensuring safe, legal and judicious use of pesticides,” he said.

“Over the past century, WSU Extension has come to stand for credibility, innovation and exceptional quality,” said Hover. “I am confident WSU Extension will continue to be a key partner to WSDA and a champion of Washington agriculture for decades to come.”

Contact:

Robert Strenge, WSU News, 509-335-3583, rstrenge@wsu.edu