Awards and Honors

These awards recognize and honor the professional contributions and achievements of agricultural information professionals.

USAIN awards include:

• Service to the Profession
• Special Achievement Award
• Honorary Memberships
• Conference Scholarships
• USAIN Research Fellow Award
  

Additionally, we are proud of our USAIN members who have received awards from other organizations.

The call for award nominations is currently available for the 2026 awards.

Each award has different criteria. Please see the criteria for each category below. 

The Honoree will be notified by January 15, 2026. The award will be presented at the 2026 USAIN conference, May 31-June 6, 2026 hosted by Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA where they will be honored.

Please send nominations, no later than December 5, via email to: Livia Olsen, Chair of the USAIN Awards Committee livia@ksu.edu 

Criteria for the USAIN Service to the Profession Award

• Demonstrated leadership in advancing the field of agricultural information

• Established new directions or visions for the field of agricultural information

• Contributed to the development, application or utilization of new or improved methods or techniques in the organization or delivery of agricultural information

• Conducted significant studies/research in agricultural information

• Honoree must be a current or past member of USAIN

If you would like to nominate someone or yourself for this award, please submit the nomination in accordance with the procedure outlined below:

I/we submit the name of ___________________________in nomination for the USAIN Service to the Profession Award.

In the form of a letter, provide a brief biographical sketch of the nominee, e-mail address, and a brief description of activities and accomplishments (including dates whenever possible) that support your nomination for this award based on the criteria described above.

Nomination deadline is December 5, 2025.

Criteria for the USAIN HONORARY MEMBERSHIP AWARD

 Honorary members shall be individuals who are not members of the United States Agricultural Information Network, but who have been either outstanding individuals in the field of agricultural information or who have provided outstanding service or support to USAIN.

 Honorary Member award recipients will be given a lifetime membership in USAIN.  Awards may be given to persons outside the field of agricultural information. Criteria for nominees include:

• Leadership in advancing the field of agricultural information 

• Outstanding support of USAIN activities and directions

• Honoree must not be a current nor past member of USAIN

 To submit a nomination, send a detailed letter to the Awards Committee describing the potential recipient’s contributions in the area(s) listed above.

Nomination deadline is December 5, 2026.

Please send nominations, no later than December 5, via email to: Livia Olsen, Chair of the USAIN Awards Committee livia@ksu.edu

Mary Ochs receives the 2020 Special Achievement Award.