AAPSE summer events

The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE) held two events in Savannah, Ga., from July 24 to 28. To kick off the week, the inaugural AAPSE Certification and Training (C&T) Academy welcomed new Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) educators, state lead agency (SLAs) staff, program officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other stakeholders with a deep dive into Pesticide Certification and Training program regulation, education and development.

The 2023 AAPSE National Conference followed, focused on current issues such as the Endangered Species Act; label-mandated training; rodenticide and other product classifications; certification and training plan development and execution; educational program challenges; and collaboration among the sectors.

This a critical time for us all to collaborate on resource development and solutions to the many challenging issues on the horizon. Everyone benefits from honest dialogue and critical evaluation of these challenges. I’m excited to see what new partnerships we can form and how we will transform pesticide safety education going forward. Learn more at https://aapse.org/.

PHOTO: AAPSE, Stephen Vantassel

Certification and training pros
Attendees of the AAPSE’s first-ever C&T Academy pose for a group photo.

PHOTO: AAPSE, Stephen Vantassel

Professionalism honors
Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, was the 2023 recipient of the AAPSE’s Professional Recognition Award. He is a wildlife consultant and the vertebrate pest specialist for the Montana Department of Agriculture in Lewistown.

PHOTO: AAPSE, Stephen Vantassel

Transfer of power
The author, right, “passes the gavel” to, and receives a plaque from, AAPSE’s 2023-24 president, Dr. Amanda Bachmann, an extension pesticide education and urban entomology field specialist for South Dakota State University, Pierre, S.D.

PHOTO: AAPSE, Stephen Vantassel

AAPSE ’23
It’s tradition for AAPSE conference attendees to gather for a group photo.