Julie Brixie receives MSU Extension Key Partner Award
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EmailState Representative Julie Brixie received the MSU Extension Key Partner award on October 16 during the organization’s Fall Conference in Grand Rapids.
State Representative Julie Brixie received the MSU Extension Key Partner award on October 16 during the organization’s Fall Conference in Grand Rapids. The award is given annually to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to creating, improving or promoting Extension programs.
Brixie, a long-time supporter of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), was honored for her leadership as chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources.
“Representative Brixie was instrumental in making a $6 million investment in agriculture climate resiliency research and Extension,” Patrick Cudney, the CANR director of government and stakeholder relations said. “By championing this legislation, she gave us the opportunity to hire six new scientists and two educators along with a establishing a competitive grants program to address this important issue.”
Brixie was the first MSU student to earn a master’s degree in environmental toxicology and crop and soil sciences. She said that understanding science is key to making good decisions as a legislator.
“Our farmers are experiencing extreme weather events,” she said. “The agriculture climate resiliency legislation, and the scientists and educators that it helps fund, will help farmers make informed decisions to help them adapt to these weather changes.”
Brixie said she became familiar with MSU Extension as a graduate student in the 1990s, and she continues to see the benefits the organization provides throughout the state.
“I was delighted to be able to come into this role and help guide the policy and resources to the organizations that are best going to help us with agriculture,” she said. “It allows us to capitalize on the assets that MSU Extension already brings to the table and deliver the information that farmers need to manage through change.”
Quentin Tyler, director of MSU Extension, praised Brixie and her legislative colleagues for their thoughtful support of MSU Extension and MSU AgBioResearch.
“Legislative funding is necessary to enable organizations like ours work to with residents, communities and businesses,” he said. “I am pleased that Rep. Brixie continues to invite us into discussions so we can collectively find solutions for the state’s most pressing issue.”
