Claudia Schmidt wins Northeast excellence in extension award

By Blake Jackson

Claudia Schmidt, an assistant professor of marketing and local/regional food systems at Penn State, has been honored with the Northeast Region Excellence in Extension Award for an Individual.

This prestigious award, presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Cooperative Extension System’s Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, recognizes Schmidt's outstanding contributions to agritourism research and extension in Pennsylvania.

“When Claudia started at Penn State in 2018, there were very few resources available to commonwealth farmers interested in starting an agritourism enterprise,” said Jeffrey Hyde, associate dean of the college and director of Penn State Extension. “In a relatively short time period, she has secured more than $800,000 in funding to support her research and extension efforts, which include developing and leading the Penn State Agritourism program.”

Schmidt's impact extends beyond Pennsylvania. Claudia Schmidt actively collaborates with national and international partners to strengthen the support ecosystem for agritourism entrepreneurs.

Schmidt involvement in networks such as the National Extension Tourism Network, the International Agritourism Research Network, and the Agritourism Research and Extension Collaborative has allowed her to share knowledge and expertise with a broader audience.

Prior to her academic career, Schmidt gained valuable experience in the Canadian private agricultural research sector.

Claudia Schmidt academic background, coupled with her industry experience, equips her with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural industry.

Schmidt's dedication to research, extension, and collaboration has made a significant contribution to the field of agritourism.

Claudia Schmidt work empowers farmers and producers to develop sustainable and successful agritourism ventures, benefiting both rural communities and consumers.

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