PULLMAN – Daniel L. Fagerlie, Ferry County director for WSU Extension and the Colville Reservation federally recognized Extension Program, will accept the Award for Excellence in Extension from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities on Nov. 14. This is the third consecutive year that a WSU Extension educator has received the award. He will accept the award at the APLU annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
The award is presented annually to individuals who excel at extension programming, make a positive impact on constituents served and provide visionary leadership for the system. Fagerlie receives the award for the western region, which is comprised of 16 states and territories. WSU Extension educators Marcie Ostrom and Don Meehan won the same honor in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
“WSU Extension’s track record of excellence continues,” said Linda Kirk Fox, associate director of WSU Extension. “Dan is a passionate leader whose positive, practical approach and creativity attracts state, national and international acclaim. His positive outlook and can-do attitude are both legendary and contagious, inspiring volunteers and program participants alike to dream bigger and reach higher.”
Fagerlie was the only extension educator in Ferry County, located in northeastern Washington, for over 28 years. He also serves the Colville Reservation Extension, so he works in two locations, supervising a full-time staff and hourly employees.
Fagerlie created a local invasive weed control program that brought together more than 50 groups and agencies to eradicate invasive weeds. This award-winning program attracted international attention, creating a new program called Weeds Cross Borders. Fagerlie is a leader in the first international Coordinated Weed Management Area along the U.S.-Canadian border.
He also has had great success with a project created with the Colville Confederate Tribes. Tribal members pledged their own resources to help Fagerlie’s vision become a success. He brought over $5 million in funded projects working either for, or with, the Colville Indian Reservation since the project began. More than 13,500 tribal and non-tribal youth have benefited from Fagerlie’s efforts through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Youth at Risk 4-H Challenge program since 1991.
Fagerlie and his programs have received numerous awards for innovation and effectiveness. He was the first recipient of the “Big Cat” award, which is the highest honor bestowed by WSU Extension for program impact and collaboration.
“I believe Dan Fagerlie is one of the most creative and productive Extension faculty I’ve had the privilege to know,” said Vickie Parker-Clark, director for WSU Extension’s Eastern District.
