Dr. Nelson T. Daniels, associate administrator of the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University, was presented with the 2008 Mid-Career Service Award during the 2009 Texas A&M AgriLife Conference held Jan. 12-16 at Texas A&M University.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recognizes individuals for outstanding performance in various categories.
The Alpha Zeta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, a national organization for extension professionals, presented him with the award. Daniels was the only individual to receive the award in his particular category.
“I was honored and excited to be nominated for this award,” Daniels said. “It is open to all extension employees across the state of Texas who have been working between 10 and 20 years, and it’s based on the work you do to assist others. You have to be a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi.”
He found out early January about his nomination and was asked to send further information about himself. The information included the educational programs he has conducted, the number of grant funds he has brought to Prairie View, and how the funds were used to develop other extension employees.
Some of his educational programs include farm management where small farmers are assisted to obtain funds for their farming operations, and leadership programs to help others grow and develop to their next level of opportunity.
He is the principal investigator on several grant funded projects for which he has received over $1.4 million in external funds.
“The money was used to send agents and farmers to national conferences, to support youth leadership labs, and to organize state level programs,” Daniels said.
Some of the state level programs include beef cattle short course, small farmer field day, pesticide training, water quality education, and forest management.
Prior to his position as an associate administrator, he held the position of program leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources. He has also been a program specialist – Agriculture and Natural Resources with emphasis on small farms.
“I have been an employee with Prairie View and in extension for over 18 years,” Daniels said.
Other extension positions Daniels has held include extension agent positions with both the Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University and Texas AgriLife Extension. He has also been an appendage agricultural sciences instructor at Houston Community College.
His program interests are in the areas of sustainable agriculture, agricultural diversification and survival of small family farms. He enjoys working one-on-one with small scale, beginning and limited resource agricultural producers. He also has a passion for multicultural education, human resource development and youth leadership development. His long-term career goals involve being around what he has a passion for.
“My long-term goal is to retire from agriculture,” Daniels said.