UConn Extension Educator to Receive White House Honor

The White House will recognize 12 people from across the country as White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture on Monday, including a University of Connecticut Extension sustainable food educator.

These honorees were selected by the White House for their achievements and will be honored for exemplary leadership and innovation in agricultural production and education. The Champions have helped implement agricultural practices that promote soil health and energy efficiency, improve water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program will feature remarks by United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

The honorees include Jennifer ‘Jiff’ Martin of Storrs, where she is the Sustainable Food System Associate Educator for the University of Connecticut Extension, which is part of the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources.

Martin has worked for more than 12 years on food and agriculture issues in Connecticut, helping residents discover local agriculture, connecting kids to healthy, whole foods, and researching community food security in Connecticut’s 169 towns.

Her recent work includes leading a team of Extension Educators to assist new farmers in production and farmland management; directing two AmeriCorps service learning programs; and educating consumers through BuyCTGrown.com’s 10% Campaign, under which residents and businesses are asked to pledge 10 percent of their food and gardening budget to locally-grown products.

Martin was previously State Director for the American Farmland Trust and Food Policy Director at Hartford Food System.

Photo via UConn Extension.