We have some pretty good Extension specialists in the Dakotas. A month ago, I wrote about the North Dakota State University Extension specialists who won national awards. Now, I have to give a tip of the hat to two South Dakota State University Extension specialists who were recognized by the National Association of County Agriculture Agents (NACAA) during its national conference.

Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension soils field specialist, received the Achievement Award, which is given to agents with 10 years or less of service who have exhibited excellence in Extension education.

Connie L Strunk, SDSU Extension plant pathology field specialist, received the Distinguished Service Award, which honors those with more than 10 years of service.

Fewer than 2% of Extension specialists receive such awards.

Anthony Bly

He lives on the farm that has been in his family for more than 100 years.

“All of my grandparents and great-grandparents were farmers,” he says. “Agriculture is what my family is about.”

Bly found his calling in agronomy and today is passionate about spreading the good news about soil health. Profitability will be the greatest challenge for farmers in the future, Bly says, and soil health will be an important factor in a farm’s success.

Connie Strunk

“I was raised in a diversified crop and livestock farming operation in Minnesota,” Strunk says. “We grew corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, alfalfa, and we raised beef cattle (Angus and Limousine), hogs (Yorkshire, Hampshire, crossbred), chickens, and turkeys. I was active in 4-H (elementary to high school) and in FFA (earned my American Degree, served as Minnesota State Region III president). I developed a love for teaching agriculture and pursued my B.S. in agricultural education at SDSU. I loved learning and talking about agriculture with people who were not as well versed as myself. From there I continued on with my interest in plant pathology. I quickly learned that even though I loved teaching and fully intended to, I enjoyed being out in the field helping people with their crops more. My Extension career allows me to put both my degrees to use — teaching primarily adults but occasional youth about plant diseases and agronomy. I get the best of both worlds!”

Strunk enjoys helping people identify what is happening out in their field. “I get excited about locating and identifying new diseases in the state, especially when we have been watching for them. Also, I love seeing the beautiful symptom expression or textbook symptoms that we may find out in the field; although, if I am doing a site visit, I have to remember to contain myself because if I am excited about the disease (symptoms, severity, etc.) that I am seeing out in the field, it usually means that it is probably not good for the grower.”

Fungicide resistance is the biggest plant pathology challenge facing farmers, Strunk says, and she is eager help them manage their way through it.