Lora Lee Howard, UK Cooperative Extension agent in Clay County, gets national award for her work in nutrition and health

Lora Lee Howard
photo: Matt Barton

Lora Lee Howard, a University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension agent in Clay County, has received the 2015 Family and Consumer Sciences Professional of the Year award, Aimee Nielson reports for UK.

Howard received her award Nov. 5 at the National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences annual meeting in West Virginia. The award "recognizes individuals who have demonstrated successful interdisciplinary teamwork and partnerships across program areas for program excellence throughout a significant part of their extension career," Nielson writes.

“I was very humbled to receive this honor,” she told Nielson. “I share this award with the businesses, organizations and individuals that work cooperatively and volunteer their time to provide successful programs to improve the well-being of families in Clay County.”

Since 1981, Howard has spearheaded many programs and services, many of them supporting women's health and nutrition, and she has held many officer positions in professional development organizations. She’s also won numerous awards throughout her tenure in Cooperative Extension, Nielson reports.

“Every educational program that Lora Lee presents is focused on improving not only the life of the individual participant, but the family as a whole,” Louise Moore, UK Cooperative Extension District 2 director, told Nielson. “Whether it is teaching about nutrition, the importance of taking care of your health, increasing your physical activity or making handmade gifts, her programs provide tips on including the family in the activity, saving the family dollars or increasing family communication.”