(08/15/25) BATON ROUGE, La. — On July 1, the National Association County Agricultural Agents presented LSU AgCenter extension specialist Ashley Edwards the award for Excellence in Livestock Production in 2025. Edwards received the award on behalf of a team of AgCenter beef cattle agents after a selection process that looked at extension agents from around the country.

The team won the award for its work teaching producers about reproductive efficiency in two annual programs. The team includes agents Jason Holmes, Randall Mallette, Joshua Salley, John Terrell and Lee Faulk.

One of the two programs is a three-day class called the Louisiana Producer Artificial Insemination School, or the AI School, which began in 2015 to give producers an immersive experience in artificial insemination.

The second is the Cattle Pregnancy Determination Clinic, a one-day workshop that began in 2019 to help producers make the best decisions for their operations and to improve reproductive efficiency.

Through surveys given after each class, Edwards determined that the classes were effective and impactful on the students and made a difference on the cattle operations in Louisiana. While these programs are similar to those in other states, the national award shows how this team and the AgCenter have excelled in this field.

“It's just very rewarding, very fulfilling that we can do that. And it takes so much of us to do it,” Edwards said.

The Louisiana State 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program also was recognized as a top-four finalist in the NACAA award for 4-H programming. This program is led by Hannah Devall with help from Edwards, Tyler Braud and Tyler Barlow.

Ashley Edwards, center, with the award, posing alongside Niki Ellis, the executive director of the Kentucky Pork Production Board, left, and Linda McLanahan, who served as chair for the Search for Excellence Committee for NACAA, right. Photo provided by Ashley Edwards