Walker Receives State Award

Grant County Family and Community Wellness/4-H Extension Agent Monica Walker was recently honored with the Outstanding Extension Agent award. Walker was presented with the honor during the 2025 annual conference October 21.

"I'm pretty humbled by it," Walker said.

During the presentation, officials at the conference had this to say about Walker: "Grant County Family & Community Wellness and 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent Monica Walker exemplifies the Outstanding Extension Agent Award through 13 years of impactful service in Texas and Kansas. An active member and leader in the Nutrition, Food Safety & Health PFT, she addresses the Grand Challenge of Health with programs spanning nutrition, food safety, mental wellness, aging, family resource management, water conservation, and youth development. She engages diverse partners, secures significant grant funding, reaches underserved audiences, and delivers measurable results through consistent evaluation and reporting. Monica’s leadership, professionalism, and dedication to community vitality have left lasting, positive change."

This award is presented for a focused, in-depth program plan with reporting of impact, reaching underserved audiences, and professionalism.

To be named "Outstanding Extension Agent" candidates are chosen based on the following:

•A focused, in-depth program plan related to the Program Focus Team work and at least one of the Grand Challenges (i.e., water and natural resources, health, global food systems, community vitality, developing tomorrow's leaders). In relation to this program, there should also be evidence of:

◦Attendance at professional development event(s).

◦Partners involved.

◦External funding received.

◦Program evaluations and resulting positive changes/impact.

◦Reporting of activities and impact.

◦Reaching underserved audiences.

•Active involvement in a Program Focus Team.

•Engagement of the Program Development Committee in identiflation of need for their program(s).

•Professionalism (e.g., leadership, mentoring, being a good Extension citizen, etc.).