Mark Nelson
Mark Nelson, Beaver County Extension Agent for Utah State University, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. Mark has worked in Extension for 21 years, four in Salt Lake County and the past 17 in Beaver County. This prestigious award is voted on by Mark’s peers and awarded at the National Association Meetings and Professional Improvement Conference held this year in Portland, Oregon, in September.Mark has emphasized water quality education, and, for the past 13 years, has held a water quality tour to highlight different watershed and waste management projects in Beaver County. Because of these tours over 40 producers have developed projects that have improved the Beaver River Watershed.
For the last 11 years, Mark has held an annual Beaver River Watershed Day. Each year more than 150 high school students, dedicated hunters and other volunteers spend the day planting trees, cutting weeds and making other improvements to the watershed. These projects have helped improve the watershed and also encouraged youths to volunteer and improve the environment.
For the past 5 years, Mark has conducted range grass trials, testing 88 different grasses and legumes to determine their adaptability and productivity in Beaver County. He has conducted several tours so the producers can see the trials firsthand and then determine which grasses could be planted and used on their own fields.
Mark also works with alfalfa producers to help them sample their fields before spraying for Weevil Control. By conducting Alfalfa Weevil Trials, he has been able to help some farmers save money in spraying costs.
Mark has served as President of Utah Association of County Agricultural Agents and the National Chair of the Early Career Development Committee for the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.