Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The annual extension meeting for Kosciusko County was held Monday at Center Lake Pavilion.
Business activities included the election of new board members and officers, updates from the fair board and various aspects of Extension and presentation of the 2006 Friends of Extension award to Kay and Bob Tusing.
The speaker was Dr. Fred Whitford, coordinator of Purdue Pesticide Programs of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, who spoke on "Effective Communication Leads to Real Impacts." Whitford, who has been in Extension work for 15 years, used humor to demonstrate communication and its impacts.
Dick Reel, LaPorte County, formerly with Kosciusko County Extension, presented a brief history of Extension, starting with the establishment of Purdue as the land grant university in Indiana. He finished by saying, "One role that will not change is the role of volunteers," and introducing Kay and Bob Tusing as the 2006 recipients of the Friends of Extension award. The Tusings, Leesburg, are dairy farmers who have been very active in all aspects of Extension for more than 28 years. In addition to dairy, their activities included 4-H and FFA and Kay's involvement with consumer and family arts.
Randy Shepherd, president of the Kosciusko County 4-H Community Fair board, announced the theme for this year's fair, July 17-22, "90 Years of the Tradition Continues." He also provided an update on improvements to the buildings at the fairgrounds and changes planned to improve the overall flow at the fair.
Joan Younce, county Extension director, presented a certificate to Beth Lamb for serving as president of the board. Younce also recognized Gary Bailey as the other retiring board member.
Sonja Hesser, Bret Wolf and Carolyn Zimmerman were elected to a second term on the board, and Lissa Krull and Fred Lechlitner were elected to a first term. New officers are: Doug Shock, president; Craig Hurley, vice president; and Louise Powell, secretary. Other returning board members are: Dennis Darr, Jane Greene, Steve Johnson, Pam Brumbaugh, Jon Roberts, Edith Rohrer and Pat VanDeWater.
In addition to Younce, who also is the Extension educator for leadership and community development and consumer and family science, food and nutrition, Extension educators are: Kelly Easterday, agriculture and natural resources; Christy Blomeke, 4-H/youth development; and Sue Hickman, family nutrition program assistant. Support staff are Merdena Lister and Chris Thompson.
Sponsors for the event were: 1st Source Bank, Big R Stores Inc., Clunette Elevator Co. Inc., Kosciusko County Pork Producers, Creighton Brothers, Farmer's State Bank, Lake City Bank, Mutual Federal Savings Bank, National City Bank and Polk Equipment Inc. The dinner was catered by Classic Catering, Pierceton.
For more information on Kosciusko County Extension, call 574-372-2340 or visit www.ces.purdue.edu/kosciusko
