MI Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development Honors Its Outstanding Employees For 2014

For immediate release: November 13, 2014 Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724 or holtonj@michigan.gov

LANSING – Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams 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 MDARD colleagues.

"Each day MDARD employees work to foster new opportunities for our growing, dynamic food and agriculture system while providing top-notch customer service. I am humbled by their continual dedication to the people and businesses of Michigan,” said Clover Adams.  “MDARD employees are never satisfied with maintaining the status quo. They are constantly looking for ways to be better and more efficient, all while ensuring food safety and animal and plant health in Michigan and growing the $101.2 billion agri-food economy.”

The 2014 award winners are:

Team Excellence Award: Specialized Meat Processing Team MDARD’s “Specialized Meat Processing Team” was a joint effort among several individuals who worked extensively with the Michigan Meat Association, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, the United States Department of Agriculture and others to create a first in the nation program for specialized meat processors (jerky, hams, and other cured and smoked meat products). This included developing a required food safety plan, as well as cutting edge extended shelf-life criteria. Significant time was spent educating/training the industry and creating web-based materials to facilitate the learning curve. As a result, the program is currently being implemented with approximately 400 Michigan processors to get their food safety plans submitted and approved by March 1, 2015.

Leadership Award: Dr. Jarold Goodrich of Marshall The “Leadership Award” is designed to provide recognition to those staff who are seen as exceptional leaders by their peers, supervisors, or customers.  The award recognizes an MDARD employee that rises to a challenge to lead, inspires others to follow and to act, and seeks opportunities to innovate and improve areas within the department.

Everyday Hero Award: Eric McCumber of Traverse City The “Everyday Hero Award” affirms the value MDARD has in employees who may not be in the spotlight, yet steadily and faithfully get things done every day.  It is given to an employee who consistently demonstrates dependability, diligence, initiative, and teamwork. 

Front Line Ambassador Award: Jan Wilford of Sunfield 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 MDARD.

For more information, please visit the MDARD website at www.michigan.gov/mdard.

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