Month: November 2010

John Bedford – MDA Honors Outstanding Employee

John Bedford (1983), Pest Response Program Manager in the Michigan Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, received the Department’s 2010 Front Line Ambassador Award in a ceremony in Lansing on October 15, 2010.
Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto today honored several department employees for their outstanding commitment to teamwork, leadership, and excellence during its annual employee awards ceremony. Winners were both nominated and selected by their fellow MDA colleagues. “Even as we work to weather this economic crisis with less staffing resources, MDA employees step up to the plate every day to make sure their fellow Michiganians are receiving top-notch customer service from the grocery store to the gas pump to agricultural job creation,” said Koivisto. “I count it both a blessing and a privilege to count this high caliber group of state employees among my colleagues.”
Front Line Ambassador Award: John Bedford of Coopersville
The “Front Line Ambassador Award” is given to an employee who is regularly put in precarious and difficult situations, all the while demonstrating a positive attitude, identifying creative options for resolution, and following through with the constituent. The award is not given for a singular achievement or activity, but rather reflects a continuing commitment to the mission and values of MDA.

Firewood and Christmas Tree Fundraiser

The Forestry Club and Xi Sigma Pi is hosting a firewood and Christmas tree fundrasier. Seasoned firewood will be available for $65 per face cord and will be available for pick-up or delivery (extra charge).

Christmas trees must be ordered in advance by 5 p.m., Friday, November 26, 2010. Tree pick up will be from noon to 7 p.m., Friday, December 10, or from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, December 11, 2010 in the parking lot behind the U.J. Noblet Forestry Building off of Seventh Avenue. Tree Delivery is available for $7.

For more information, or to order Christmas trees, contact Keri Deneau at kadeneau@mtu.edu

In the News – Blair Orr

Professor Blair Orr

Blair Orr , director of Michigan Tech’s Peace Corps Master’s International program, was featured on an agroinnovations.com podcast, talking about the Peace Corps Master’s program at Tech, as well as changes and patterns in Third World agriculture, land tenure, low input mixed systems, increasing connectivity and migration in developing countries, the future of Haiti and strategies for promoting development in tropical agriculture. Hear the podcast at Blair Orr .