Ft. Belknap Extension Agent Elizabeth Werk Wins Community Impact Award
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Front Row: Tahlia Walker, Jazlyn Flansburg, Kataya Flansburg, and Treyten Stiffarm-a few Lucky Charms 4-H Club members-capture memories at the Fort Belknap 4-H Fair in Lodge Pole in August 2019 with (back row) Jennifer Perez-Cole, the Lucky Charms 4-H Club Leader, and Liz Werk, Fort Belknap Extension Ag Agent.
Elizabeth Werk, Agriculture Agent at Fort Belknap Extension, was recently named the recipient of the inaugural Montana Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (MACDEP) Community Impact Award.
The award was announced at the annual MACDEP association meeting held during the 2019 Extension annual conference.
In an award letter, MACDEP President Ashley Kent wrote: "Your past work with Extension has been exemplary. Implementing a 4-H Fair in an area where none previously existed is a daunting task. MACDEP would like to recognize your efforts and the value they bring to building capacity, resiliency, and connections in your local community."
MACDEP is the state affiliate of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). MACDEP's mission, according to their web page, is "to encourage excellence in community development educational programs, processes, research, and technical assistance through the exchange of ideas and methods, collaboration, and professional development of members to benefit communities."
About winning the award, Werk was exceptionally humble, saying: "This is a team effort. I didn't win this award without the support of Hillary Maxwell, Ramona King, and Jennifer Perez Cole, the leader of the Lucky Charms 4-H Club at Dodson. We're a team, so this award is for everyone, not just for me."
Kent's letter of commendation went on to wish Werk the best of luck in growing the 4-H program in Fort Belknap.
Werk reports that, by fair time in August, she is expecting participation from three 4-H Clubs in the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC): Lucky Charms at Dodson, Wildhorse at the Agency, and Little Rockies at Hays.
"We have two new clubs with about 50 total youth and twelve parent volunteers, so this is all wonderful progress," Werk stated. "About 15 of the youth will be raising steers and another 15 will raise swine. We also have youth engaged with many other projects, from photography to sewing and baking. Given all this enthusiasm for 4-H, we'll have some facility issues to resolve, but the FBIC has been so supportive so far, I'm sure they'll come together for this, as well," she added.
Werk also reported that the Nakoda-Aaniiih Credit Agency is working on a Junior Ag Loan Program that would enable the 4-H youth to secure the finances needed to purchase, feed, and raise their livestock.
Other projects at Fort Belknap Extension include their Food Sovereignty Gardens. In the last few years, a movement has grown to improve nutrition on Fort Belknap by spearheading projects like community gardens. In the past two years, Maxwell, the local MSU extension Fort Belknap family and consumer science agent, has hosted many meetings that keep the community involved in food sovereignty efforts.
According to Werk, Maxwell's advocacy has encouraged people, who have adopted these efforts as their own, contributing to the sustainability of the project. "The community garden projects continue to grow and develop," she said.
