DALLAS, Texas — Richard Brzozowski, University of Maine Cooperative Extension professor emeritus from New Gloucester, was awarded the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Hall of Fame Award in July at the 109th Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference held in Dallas, Texas. This prestigious honor recognizes Extension educators for a lifetime of exemplary work where they have demonstrated commitment, dedication and effective leadership.
Now retired, Brzozowski’s commitment to the mission of Extension was evident throughout his career in the impact he made through his educational programs, statewide leadership and his success in securing over $1.9 million in grant funding for diverse research and educational initiatives. His influence spans from county-based educational programs supporting sustainable agriculture and home horticulture to statewide responsibilities as a small ruminant and poultry specialist, illustrating his dedication to collaborative efforts with a variety of agricultural producers.
“Dick has always demonstrated a forward-thinking approach, identifying challenges and opportunities facing UMaine Extension and finding creative strategies to address them,” said Hannah Carter, dean of UMaine Extension. “His proactive engagement with the state’s agricultural community resulted in many programs that continue to be enormously popular today.”
During his time at Extension, Brzozowski was committed to addressing the unique and underserved needs of his clients and collaborators, developing programs like beekeeping, sheep shearing, Maine Garden Day, Maine Shepherd School, Small Farm Field Day, and the Maine Tree Club. His leadership in safety and wellness was exemplified in his Farm Tractor Safety courses and his support of the Maine AgrAbility program, which serves farmers, forest workers and fishermen with physical limitations. Brzozowski was instrumental in bringing the Maine Master Gardener Volunteer program out of dormancy in 1988. The MGV program is now one of Extension’s most popular educational programs with nearly 1,000 volunteers serving communities across the state.
In 2015, Brzozowski took on a leadership role in Extension, serving as the state program leader for the Maine Food System. In this capacity, he oversaw several county offices, supervised dozens of faculty and staff and served as the director of the Maine Food and Agriculture Center. Brzozowski retired in 2022 after more than 35 years with UMaine Extension.
“Through his passion for both people and programs, dedication to family and to service, and his profound love of agriculture, Dick has left a lasting impact on agriculture in Maine,” added Carter. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dick for this meaningful recognition.”
