Brent Young, a regional extension specialist in agriculture and business management at Colorado State University Extension, is the recipient of a top honor given by one of the nation’s leaders in strengthening women’s roles in modern farm and ranch enterprises.

Annie’s Project – Education for Farm Women (APEFW) has selected Young as the recipient of the Annie’s Project Women In Ag Educator Award presented in memory of the late Bob Wells, a farm management field specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach who was a strong advocate of Annie’s Project.

“I am honored to receive the Annie’s Project Women in Ag Educator Award,” Young said. “This recognition would not be possible without the support and encouragement of the CSU Extension administration and the hard work and dedication of Annie’s Project Facilitators throughout Colorado.”

Young, who joined CSU Extension in 2014, works in cooperation with Extension agents and specialists, university faculty and researchers, and industry and community partners to meet the priority needs of producers.

Young has been instrumental in the initiation and exponential growth of Annie’s Project courses in Colorado.

Through his ability to develop a strong team and inspire action, nearly 300 Colorado farm and ranch women have benefited from his team’s effort in a little over two years.

“This recognition would not be possible without the support and encouragement of the CSU Extension administration and the hard work and dedication of Annie’s Project Facilitators throughout Colorado.”

— Brent Young, CSU Extension agriculture and business management specialist

His extensive efforts include training a diverse team of 55 facilitators. His foresight — in including not only extension personnel but also industry partners in agriculture from lending to production and associations — has proven to be extremely successful.

With extensive experience in education, both teaching and writing, as well as organizational leadership, Young also operates an irrigated family farm in partnership with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. The farm produces cattle, corn, soybeans and sugar beets.

APEFW offers classes on women in the modern farm enterprise in 30 states. Annie’s Project fosters problem-solving, record keeping and decision-making skills in farm and ranch women.