Frayne Olson, NDSU Extension Service crops economist/marketing specialist and assistant professor of agribusiness and applied economics, was named 2014 Communicator of the Year by the North Dakota chapter of the Association for Communication Excellence and NDSU Agriculture Communication.
He received the award at the recent joint NDSU Extension-Research Extension Center conference in Fargo.
The honor recognizes exceptional expertise and professionalism in delivering educational programs and information to the public through several types of media.
Olson shares Extension information in several ways, including publications, news releases and interviews with news media from throughout North Dakota, as well as national media such as Successful Farming, Farm Journal, Bloomberg News, Reuters and The New York Times.
He is a regular contributor to “Market Journal,” the University of Nebraska- Lincoln's agricultural business TV program, and has been the presenter for several of NDSU Extension's Sound Ag Advice programs. He also has developed Excel spreadsheets and provided educational material for several websites to help producers make informed decisions. He has been a presenter at 70 to 90 meetings in the region each year.
Olson earned his bachelor’s and master's degrees in agricultural economics from NDSU and his doctorate in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation’s top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.