A program that trains Kentucky's timber operators in professionalism, safety, and environmental practices has been named Outstanding Program for 1998 by the Association of Kentucky Extension Specialists. 

The Kentucky Master Logger Program received the award at a statewide conference of agents and specialists of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service held recently in Lexington. Recipients of the award include UK foresters Jeffrey Stringer, Mathew Smidt, and Tim Queary. 

Begun in 1992, the Master Logger Program provides voluntary training to timber harvesting operators. The UK Department of Forestry, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, and Kentucky Division of Forestry jointly sponsor a logging council that plans and schedules the program. To date, more than 1,700 loggers have graduated from KML, which received the Governor's Environmental Excellence award in 1994. In 1998, Kentucky lawmakers passed legislation that now mandates the KML Program for all commercial logging operations in the state. 

In addition to the award for outstanding program, the Extension Specialists also named the UK Wheat Science Group project as the Outstanding Project for 1998, and Sandra Bastin as Outstanding New Specialist. 

The Wheat Science Group of the UK College of Agriculture was established in 1997 to develop a unified systems approach to programs related to production and marketing of wheat. The success of the project has been recognized in several states, and the American Society of Agronomy awarded the group its Outstanding Publication Award. Award recipients include Morris Bitzer, Ellen Brightwell, Dottie Call, Larry Grabau, John Grove, Jim Herbek, Don Hershman, Marilyn Hooks, Doug Johnson, James Martin, Lincoln Martin, Wayne Mattingly, Sam McNeil, Lloyd Murdock, Mike Smith, Lee Townsend, Richard Trimble, Charles Tutt, Dave VanSanford, Rick Yeargan, and Bill Witt. 

Sandra Bastin is a state Extension specialist for foods and nutrition in the UK College of Agriculture. Bastin served on the United States Commission for World Food Day, and was an ambassador for Rotary International as part of a team representing Eastern Kentucky in the Netherlands. She joined the Cooperative Extension Service in 1995.