State Senator Joan Heckaman (L) received NDSU Extension’s Friend of Extension award. Pictured with Jodi Bruns (R), NDSU leadership and civic engagement specialist and president of Upsilon chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi. Photo: NDSU Extension

FARGO, N.D. (NDSU Extension) – People who have given of their time and talents to North Dakota State University Extension and the NDSU Research Extension Centers were recognized at this year’s fall conference held Nov. 1-3 in Fargo.

NDSU Extension honored Jim Sailer and Senator Joan Heckaman with the Friend of Extension award. The Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota and North Dakota received the Friend of the North Dakota Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences award.

The Friend of Extension award is the highest recognition presented to honor individuals, businesses or organizations for their support and involvement in Extension efforts. The Friend of the North Dakota Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences honors and individual or organization for significant contributions and support of family and consumer sciences programs.

Senator Joan Heckaman of New Rockford has served in the North Dakota State Senate from District 23 since 2007. She has been the senate minority leader since 2016 and has held the position of assistant minority leader. She has been a primary sponsor of multiple bills, a member of multiple legislative committees and has served on the Senate appropriations committee and the appropriations subcommittee that worked on the details of the Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station bills. Senator Heckaman is a retired special education teacher. She has been involved in the East Central Educational Association, where she served as president, the Eagles Auxiliary, Eastern Star and the First Lutheran Church.

“Senator Heckaman serves as an example of a consummate servant leader and shows us the positive impacts that dedicated, engaged citizens can make in their state and community,” says Flage. “Her unwavering support of NDSU Extension as a legislator have made her a true friend of Extension.”