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CORVALLIS - Duane P. Johnson of Corvallis, a specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service's 4-H Youth Development Education program, has been named the 1996 recipient of the state Extension Association's Dale and Alice Hoecker Award for Continuing Service.

The award was established by the late Dale Hoecker, a retired extension agent, and his wife. Recipients are chosen from among previous winners of the Extension Association's Experienced Faculty awards.

Johnson has worked with the OSU Extension Service for 37 years, as a 4-H county agent, a campus 4-H specialist and a statewide 4-H program leader. He was cited for his contributions to youth and families, including maintaining valued programs during times of sparse resources and creating new, innovative programs in environmental education and risk management education.

Other awards, presented this week in Corvallis, include: JACKSON COUNTY: Philip VanBuskirk, a horticulture agent in the Jackson County Extension Office, received the Alberta B. Johnston Excellence in Extension Education Award. He was cited for outstanding educational programs and research linked to southern Oregon's rapidly changing tree fruit and wine grape industries.

Mike Howell, chair of OSU's Jackson County Extension office, received the Alberta B. Johnston Award for Extension Leadership. Howell was honored for his "ideas and expectations," including establishing the OSU Educational Resource Center at the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford.

MORROW COUNTY: The Extension Association's Classified-Management Staff Award went to Molly Rill of Heppner, office coordinator of the Morrow County Extension office. Rill was praised for her "people skills," for untiring dedication in getting the job done, and for her work in overseeing the expansion of the office's electronic network, which includes computing hardware and software and satellite receivers.

PORTLAND: The association's Educational Program Assistant Award went to Mary Ann Schmidt of OSU's Metro 4-H program in the Portland area. Schmidt was lauded for recruiting new members and leaders from culturally and economically diverse audiences, and for excellent coordination of the efforts of 4-H volunteers.

LANE COUNTY: Receiving the Oscar Hagg Communications Award were 11 agents who work with the Lane County Extension office: Bryan Boe, Suzie Busler, R.C. Hinman, Mike Cloughesy, Mike Gangwer, Lillian Larwood, Margaret Lewis, Mark Mellbye, Nellie Oehler, Ross Penhallegon and Janet Calvert. The award recognizes the agents' work on a public education and outreach program designed to inform local decision makers about Extension programs.

Receiving the association's Experienced Faculty Awards were:

MORROW COUNTY: Bill Broderick, Heppner, a 10-year Extension veteran. Broderick, OSU's 4-H and livestock agent for Morrow County, was cited for many efforts, including a nationally recognized Hispanic Youth Leadership Program conducted in collaboration with Umatilla County. He also was praised for contributions to the resolution of natural resource management issues in the county.

GRANT COUNTY: Elaine Husted, Canyon City, chair of OSU's Grant County Extension office. A home economics and 4-H agent, Husted has worked with the OSU Extension Service since 1976. She was cited for tireless efforts and innovation in reaching a broad range of adult and youth audiences in Grant County.

CENTRAL OREGON: Stephen Fitzgerald, Redmond, Extension forestry agent for central Oregon. Fitzgerald, who has worked for Extension for 12 years, was cited for his teaching and local, needs-based research. Examples included a "Firesafe Landscaping" program he developed following a 1990 fire that destroyed 22 homes on the outskirts of Bend.

BENTON COUNTY: Tammy Skubinna, Corvallis, a 4-H youth development agent in Benton County. Skubinna, who joined OSU Extension in 1983, was described as an "outstanding educator" who has built a large, stable and diverse 4-H program in Benton County and implemented innovative programs that address youth leadership, volunteer development, at-risk youth, and financial and risk management.