Photo of Boyd Kitchen LOGAN — Boyd Kitchen, Utah State University Extension county agent for Uintah and Daggett  counties, was recently named Utah’s Distinguished Service Award winner by the National  Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). Kitchen will receive his award in July at the  organization’s national annual meetings and professional improvement conference in Sioux Falls,  S.D. 
 
 The Distinguished Service Award is given to those who have worked in Extension for at least 10  years, have conducted outstanding programs and are held in high esteem by their peers.
 
 Kitchen provides Extension education in the areas of agriculture and natural resources and 4-H and youth programs. His focus is on soil fertility and crop production.
 
According to Jerry Goodspeed, USU Extension horticulturist and state chair for NACAA recognition and awards, Kitchen is well respected for his work and is very deserving of the peer-driven award.
 
“Boyd has worked for USU Extension in Uintah County for 22 years and runs a number of quality programs in agriculture, youth development and horticulture,” said Goodspeed. “He also collaborates with other neighboring states and has research projects that have improved the profitability and quality of farming in Utah.”
 
Kitchen said he is flattered at being chosen for this award and said he loves Extension’s role of linking the knowledge and research of USU with real life situations faced by farmers and ranchers.
 
“The county agent is the key link between the two,” he said. “I find great fulfillment in being able to connect researchers, specialists and other county agents with local farmers who have problems and whose economic situations can be improved with the solutions. It is my quest to serve the citizens of Uintah and Daggett counties and Utah State University well by helping make those connections.”
 
Kitchen received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota and his B.S. degree from Brigham Young University.
 

By: Unkown - Feb. 13, 2015