NASDA ANNOUNCES 2009 HONOR AWARD RECIPIENTS.

News Date September 29, 2009

NASDA members gave recognition to three industry professionals who have demonstrated excellence to the agricultural industry.  The 2009 Annual was held in Montgomery, Alabama.  The awards were presented to Van  Harris for his contribution to the Georgia Department of Agriculture; Tom Womack from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Jeff M. Witte from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

Harris, who is currently the Agricultural Manager/Retail Program Director, began his career as a Sanitarian in 1977. He has held several positions in the department and is one of the principal founders of the Georgia Public Health Team, currently named the Georgia Food Safety and Defense Task Force.  The organization is one of the first defense task force groups in the country.  Deputy Commissioner Terry Coleman, who presented the Award, commended Harris on his dedication to the Department as well as his community involvement.  Harris thanked the NASDA members and longtime Commissioner Tommy Irvin for giving him the opportunity to serve with the department.

Bob Ehart, NASDA’s Director of Public Policy presented Tom Womack with the NASDA Communications Award. Womack who was a former President of COSDA, (Communications Officers of the State Departments of Agriculture) has been recognized for his work with Tennessee’s Public Affairs Office. He also assists the Governor’s office and was recently recognized for his work on farmland preservation.  Ehart commented on the recipient’s calm demeanor during times of crisis and noted his “interviews” on his front lawn during the BSE crisis in 2003.  Womack also volunteers at Tennessee’s Emergency Management Agency where he participates in many of the emergency drills and is often selected to serve in leadership roles in those drills.

The award for Outstanding Service in Agriculture, recently named the James A Graham award, was presented to Jeff M. Witte of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and New Mexico State University (NMSU).  Since 2003 Witte has been the Director of Agricultural Biosecurity.  In this position, Witte’s responsibilities include strategic planning with a special emphasis in risk assessment and coordination among the agricultural industry, tribal entities, and federal/state agencies.  His focus is in securing a safe food supply and infrastructure for New Mexico and is active in the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agrosecurity trainings. The colleague and instructor with NMSU   is also the co-director and co- founder of the Southwest Boarder Food Safety and Defense Center.   Witte thanked both Director/Secretary Miley Gonzalez and his wife for their support in his endeavors.  (Contact: Gillian Woodward)