Extension Trainers Receive State Honors
Two Montana State University Extension trainers have been recognized by the MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program for exceptional efforts educating agricultural producers, land managers and pesticide applicators, as well as promoting the proper use of pesticides to protect public health and the environment.
The MSU Pesticide Education Program presented the 2025 Early Achievement Award to Marley Voll, former Richland County agriculture and horticulture Extension agent, and the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Jane Mangold, MSU rangeland weed specialist. The award recipients were nominated by peers within MSU Extension.
The Early Achievement Award recognizes exceptional efforts and impacts in pesticide education in the first five years of an individual’s employment with MSU Extension. Voll, who has a master’s degree in animal science from MSU, began working with MSU Extension in 2021 as the Rosebud/Treasure County agent before transferring to Sidney in 2022 as the Richland County agricultural and horticulture agent. Voll has since left MSU Extension to pursue other career interests.
Award nominators noted that Voll formed strong partnerships with producers and peers through well-attended and engaging teaching events, including MonDak cropping seminars, MonDak Ag Days and Trade Shows, Northeast annual initial private applicator trainings, and grasshopper management events.
Voll was also known as a reliable expert delivering integrated pest management recommendations to agricultural and urban clientele and for being accessible and useful to producers in eastern Montana. Nominators also said she strengthened local partnerships, increased producer engagement and supported regional events.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual demonstrating exceptional efforts resulting in statewide pesticide education impacts over 15 years. Award recipients have shown excellence through coordinating many types of pesticide education events, grant efforts resulting in positive impacts in pesticide education, or being a regional leader for pesticide education events or trainings. The award is not given annually but is granted only when an acceptable candidate rises to this level.
Mangold, who moved to Montana in 1995, earned a Ph.D. in land resources and environmental sciences from MSU in 2004. Her doctoral work focused on testing how plants compete for limited soil resources and how to use this information to manage weeds. Mangold began working for MSU Extension in 2008 as a rangeland weed specialist. Her weed education efforts, spanning more than 17 years in Montana, have supported producers, applicators and peers through many well-organized training efforts. Those include coordinating noxious weed management workshops as well as delivering a monthly weed post, integrated pest management presentations and numerous other presentations.
Mangold has also supported Montanans by delivering accurate weed management recommendations to thousands of clients throughout her career in a timely manner, while serving as a lead member of the integrated pest management team that provides educational activities across the state.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to work with Extension agents and specialists, the Department of Agriculture, county weed districts, and our stakeholders around the state over my career thus far,” Mangold said. “Judicious pesticide use is very important for ensuring agricultural production and protecting all aspects of the beautiful environment we steward in Montana. I may be the one receiving this award, but credit goes to our entire team of pesticide educators and, additionally, the applicators who put the information we share with them on the ground in careful and conscientious ways.”
Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension Pesticide Education specialist, noted that the program relies on the professional education and interactions of Extension agents and specialists, as well as the enthusiasm of newer employees to promote proper use of pesticides across the state.
“Having Extension agents like Marley Voll and specialists like Jane Mangold boosts the knowledge, expertise and education of pesticide applicators in Montana,” Tharp said.
For more information on the MSU Extension Pesticide Education program, visit www.montana.edu/extension/ pesticides/. Future pesticide education award nominations may be sent to Tharp at ctharp@montana. edu or 406-994-5067.
