By MARY ANN LIENHART CROSS
County Extension Director, Purdue Extension Elkhart County

Mary Ann Lienhart Cross

“Gratitude is an Attitude” was the theme of the annual Achievement Night for Elkhart County Extension Homemakers, Monday, April 18. The evening took place on the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen.

The newly elected County Officers for the 2016-2017 club year were installed by Extension Educator Mary Ann Lienhart Cross. They are: President Michelle Blough, Goshen, Four Seasons; Vice President Janet Ryman, Goshen, Busy Homemakers; Secretary Denise Goveia, Goshen, Friends & Neighbors; Treasurer Shirley Hershberger, Bristol, York Homemakers; Assistant Treasurer Kathy Stoltzfus, Goshen, Creative Circle; and Advisor Tena Jakubowicz, Middlebury, Homemakers of Today.

Immediate past President, Donna Hibschman, Syracuse, Hex Rural was honored with a silver tray.

Outstanding Clubs of the Year were presented certificates for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Club level. This year 16 clubs participated in the recognition system. The traveling gavel was presented to the Club of the Year club president Jeannine Talley, Middlebury, of Middlebury Extension Homemakers.

Clubs earning the Gold Award: Busy Homemakers, Goshen; Clinton Classics, Goshen; Faithful Friends,Goshen; Four Seasons, Goshen; Syracuse, Hex Rural; Homemakers of Today,  Middlebury; and York Homemakers, Bristol.

Clubs earning the Silver Award: Clinton Clique, Goshen; Jefferson Homemakers, Bristol ; Bristol; Modern Homemakers, Goshen; and Zion Homemakers,Bristol.

The Bronze Award was presented to: Bound-4-Knowledge, Goshen; Creative Circle, Goshen; and Fairfield Homemakers, Goshen.

Jakubowicz and Lienhart Cross presented certificates to the following members who served as chairpersons of county committees: Jennifer Chupp, Hershberger, Hibschman, Mariann Hollopeter, Jenny Huffman, Jakubowicz, Barbara Jewett, Kristina Peterson, LuAnn Sassaman, Linda Weltz, Linda Weybright, Margaret Weybright and Maryann Zerbe.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Homemaker of the Year winners. The Extension Homemaker clubs may nominate one member for each of the three age categories.

“Young Homemaker” age 44 or younger; “Intermediate Homemaker” from 45 to 64 years of age; and “Senior Homemaker” age 65 and over.

The winner in the senior category was Ramona Huber, a 29-year member currently with the Busy Homemakers club. She and her husband, Roy, enjoy spending time at the campgrounds with their 19-year old blue and gold macaw, Maverick.

Huber has served as chairperson of multiple committees, Director of the Home and Family Arts department, held all capacities of office within her club and served as the Michigan City District Representative.

Brenda Mestach, winner of the Intermediate category, is a 4-year member of the Friends and Neighbors Extension Homemaker Club. She and her husband, Tim, have six children and 12 grandchildren, 11 who live in Elkhart County.

Young Homemaker of the Year, Ashley Witmer, Goshen, is a member of the Friends & Neighbors Extension Homemaker Club. Witmer and her husband Dustin have four children.

Special recognition was given to members with 50 years Extension Homemaker membership: Roanne Prough, Goshen, Be-Y’s Extension Homemakers and Beth Noaker, Wakarusa, Progressive Homemakers.

Twenty-five-year member certificates were presented to Holly Leeper, Goshen of Busy Homemakers and Fern Mast, Goshen of Fairfield Homemakers.

LaVeta Neff, Goshen, New Paris Homemakers was recognized at the platinum leve at over 70 years of membership. Members recognized at the gold level for over 65 years of membership were Delores Garber and Irene Kauffman, both of Goshen and Clinton Classics Extension Homemaker club. Beverly Miller, Middlebury, of Middlebury Homemakers was recognized at the bronze level at 55 years of membership.

2016-17 Extension Homemakers Board Members are, from left, County President Michelle Blough;Vice President Janet Ryman; Secretary Denise Goveia; Treasurer Shirley Hershberger; Asst. Treasurer Kathy Stoltzfus; and County Advisor Tena Jakubowicz.

Homemaker Of the Year Winners, are, from left, Senior Homemaker of the Year Ramona Huber; Intermediate Homemaker of the Year Brenda Mestach;, and Young Homemaker of the Year Ashley Witmer.