UNH Extension honors four of its own at annual awards ceremony

UNH Extension honored four of its staff whose creativity, dedication and innovation helped to advance the program’s mission of providing service to the citizens of New Hampshire. The recognition was given at the annual Extension awards ceremony held Aug. 18 at UNH’s Durham campus. 

Honorees included Kendall Kunelius, Jennifer Adie, Heidi Barker and Jeremy DeLisle. 

Kunelius joined Extension as an agricultural business management field specialist for Hillsborough County in 2022. She inherited a grant promoting women in agriculture, which she utilized to provide hands-on training for prospective farmers to become familiar with heavy equipment in a safe, welcoming atmosphere. Kunelius facilitated the acquisition of a teaching tractor that participants could use to practice its maintenance and operation. 

In addition, Kunelius created the “Shared Soil” agricultural podcast, which is up to 15 episodes. She has taken leadership in several other areas, such as in outreach at fairs and expos, and is president of the Merimack County 4-H Foundation. Kunelius received the Exceeding at Extension Award, given to those whose creative and innovative approach to the Extension’s mission of service, paired with an excellent work ethic, serves as an inspiration to their colleagues. 

The Excellence in Support Award, which recognizes Extension employees who maintain a high quality of work and consistently demonstrate characteristics valued by their co-workers, was presented to Jennifer Adie. Adie, who has been the administrative assistant for Extension’s Natural Resources Team since 2019, provides knowledgeable and consistent support which enables her team to perform efficiently and effectively. 

While much of Adie’s work goes unsung, her co-workers describe her as a team member they can depend on to fulfill the range of both short- and long-term administrative tasks. Her work has enabled the implementation of several statewide programs, including the NH Coverts Project workshop, Saving Special Places, the Women Landowner Summit, Blackfly Breakfast, Stump to CLT, and Nature Groupie. 

Heidi Barker first started working with Extension in 1986 and currently holds the position of field specialist with the Health and Well-Being Team. She was given the Excellence in Collaboration & Partnerships Award, reserved for those who have built effective relationships within Extension or with partner organizations, and have leveraged those relationships to strengthen Extension’s outreach. 

Barker, who has held several positions within Extension, is an especially effective collaborator. Her most impressive achievement has been her success in the North Country, where she has worked with legislators and local leaders to support and implement programs to meet pressing food security needs in Grafton, Coös and Carroll counties. 

Another notable initiative is the Grilled Cheese Challenge, which Barker created with collaboration from a 4-H livestock specialist. It has since become embraced by 4-H clubs across the state.  

The Maynard & Audrey Heckel Extension Educator Fellowship Award is used to recognize Extension educators who have involved UNH faculty in meeting the needs of NH citizens, have developed strong local leadership for Extension programming, or have supported low-income families in the state. This year’s recipient of the Heckel Award is Jeremy DeLisle, field specialist on the Fruit and Vegetable team. 

The 2023 season was a difficult one for fruit growers, as a freeze in February and May caused some of the most significant crop losses in decades, then rains made the season the wettest on record for New Hampshire. DeLisle leveraged relationships with partner organizations to develop and implement a survey, which revealed a crop loss of at least $10 million from the freeze and another $3 million from rain and flooding. He also engaged the state’s Congressional delegation, state decision makers and industry groups to advocate for assistance. Thanks in part to this advocacy, 56 New Hampshire farms received $4.65 million in assistance.