A former Mesa County commissioner and state legislator has received recognition for his contributions to the Colorado State University Extension.

Steve Acquafresca was presented with the inaugural Extension Distinguished Service Award during a ceremony on the CSU campus in Fort Collins.

C.J. Mucklow, western regional director for the CSU Extension, nominated Acquafresca for the award.

“Steve has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Extension at Colorado State University through his commitment to agriculture and fruit growers in Western Colorado,” Mucklow said. “He champions the work we do on the Western Slope of Colorado and continues to share his expert opinion of how we can best serve our communities even long after his commissioner terms have ended.”

Acquafresca served as a Mesa County Commissioner from 2007 to 2015. He represented House District 58 in the Colorado Legislature from 1991 to 1997. He also served two terms on the Colorado Extension Advisory Council and continues to serve on the Colorado River District Board.

During his tenure as county commissioner, Acquafresca worked with the Tri River Area Extension to secure funding, set program priorities and develop a staffing model. As a state legislator, he focused on issues related to agriculture, economic development, public education funding and water law.

The CSU Extension provides a range of research-based information and resources. For additional information, visit https://extension.colostate.edu.