Extension board members shown in front, from left, are John Gardner, Debbie George, Tracy Byler and Penny Stroup. In the second row are Brett Whitehead and Cynthia Adam. In back are Matt Kritzman, Andy Gall, John Leer, Terry Shewmaker, Gary Kauffman and Bill Mattern. Not shown are Rebecca Cooper, Margaret Weybright and Kent Yoder. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

ELKHART COUNTY — “I am honored to be chosen as a Friend of Extension,” said David Hess. “I guess over the years I’ve never thought much about being a friend of extension. It’s just what you do … been in positions where I can urge people to, in my opinion, do the right thing.”

Mary Ann Lienhart Cross, county extension director, left, and Terry Shewmaker, extension board president, left, presented the 2016 Friend of Extension Award to David Hess, center.

Hess was named the 2016 Friend of Extension at the Elkhart County Extension board annual meeting Tuesday, Nov. 15. Hess along with five current board members were recognized during the meeting. The highlight of the meeting was a report from the four extension educators on programs and projects during the past year and what the next year will bring.

“I am surprised we have not recognized this individual before,” said Mary Ann Lienhart Cross, county extension director. She gave the qualities of the recipients of this award — Frank, but a journey to frankness, fantastic individual who has been there for extension; resourceful and respectful to everyone; interest in lots of areas, more important than people realize in telling the extension story and have a very high integrity; entertaining, enthusiastic; nurtures and a natural at being a leader.

Lienhart Cross stated: “Tonight’s recipient has a long history of being a friend of extension. He served in county government beginning in 1985, as county commissioner serving until 1994, was hired as the county administrator, was elected auditor and took office in 2004. He then ran for county council, where he began serving in 2011 and still serves in that position. We are grateful and benefit a great deal because of that. He has served Purdue Extension Elkhart County as a liaison in government, making sure elected officials … understand the value extension brings to the county when it comes to education, agriculture, health and human sciences, 4-H development and community development.”

Matt Morehouse, current vice-president of the board, who has served six years on the board and Paul Miles, who has served four years as a board member were recognized for their service and are retiring from the board. Recognized for three years of service were Debbie George, Penny Stroup and Gary Kauffman, who were re-elected to a second term. Elected to their first term were Cynthia Adam and John Gardner.

There were 89 people in attendance to celebrate the accomplishments of Purdue Extension Elkhart County. Recognition was giving to retiring office manager, Beth A. Yoder, for 19 years of service with the Purdue Extension Elkhart County office.

Jeff Burbrink, ag and natural resources educator, briefly spoke about the invasive species control demonstration and plant diagnostics during the past year and touched on plans for 2017. Those plans included working with local foods growers to improve networking, organizing tree fruit and small growers meeting, educational classes for master gardeners and continued classes for farmers.

Lienhart Cross focused on health and human sciences, its missions, extension homemakers, foods and nutrition and food safety, community development with the quilt garden and noting for the 10th anniversary efforts will be made to have a quilt garden in New Paris. For 2017 she noted work on the signature programs and family resource management programs.

Robert Kelly, 4-H youth and livestock educator, touched on the National 4-H Council program “4-H Grows Here” promotion, the dairy food team, growing volunteers, growing leaders today for tomorrow and work with the Junior Livestock Leadership Board.

Sthele Greybar, 4-H Youth development educator, spoke of his program Creating Champions with Goshen Community Schools, working with male sixth-graders, participation in the North Central Indiana 4-H Camp and the start of a mentor program.