Kelly Heckaman was honored and speechless at the amount raised and given to the endowment she established to honor her mother for use in agriculture and 4-H programs. From left are Stephanie Overbey, Kosciusko Community Foundation CEO; Heckaman; and Kassi Rowland, auction chairman. Photos by Deb Patterson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Kelly Heckaman is not one who likes to be in the limelight. But today, Friday, July 15, at the Kosciusko County 4-H Fair Auction, she didn’t have a choice. She was honored and recognized by Kosciusko County’s 4-H youth, extension board, 4-H council, 4-H dairy committee, cattlemen’s association, 4-H and extension volunteers, community leaders and businesses.

Recently Heckaman was reassigned by Purdue Extension to a neighboring county after serving as Kosciusko County’s Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator for 26 years.

The recognition took place between the Sale of Champions and Auction.

Kelly Heckaman was surprised, shocked and honored with the recognition she was given.

Heckaman, who was present at the auction, was called down to the auction stand where Kassi Rowland, auction chairman; Tyler Bouse, 4-H council president, ag and natural resource and 4-H youth educator; and Kay Tusing, dairy judging coach and dairy lease program director, spoke tributes to the former “captain of the ship” in Kosciusko County 4-H. She was even made an honorary member of the dairy committee.

Special comments were made by Dr. Jason Henderson, director of extension, Purdue University Extension. He spoke of when he first met Heckaman and noted she epitomizes what Purdue wants in an extension educator — passion. Henderson stated last year when help was needed as an area director, Heckaman stepped up, and recently he asked her to step out of Kosciusko County. “It wasn’t fair, but a job needed to be done. If there is a job that needs doing, she does it.” He added she did ask, “Some day can I come back (to Kosciusko County)?”

The biggest surprise was the presentation of an $11,750 check by Stephanie Overbey, Kosciusko Community Foundation CEO, for the Sonja Easterday Endowment Fund, which was raised by numerous individuals, organizations and businesses in the county, in her honor. Heckaman had established the endowment fund in her mother’s honor to provide support for 4-H and FFA youth educational and development activities focused on agriculture.

Wiping away tears of gratitude, surprise and joy, Heckaman stated she thought something was up when her husband, John, said he wanted to come to the auction. “I thought that was strange,” she stated. “A wise person told me once, just say thank you. It was not easy to leave here, but I had a blast this week.The generosity … beyond words.” The fund in her mother’s honor will go toward the 4-H Dairy program, Wawasee and Rochester FFA Chapters.

Heckaman was presented with a bouquet of flowers from not only Henderson and Casey Mull, Purdue Extension assistant director and program leader for 4-H youth development, but also from local groups. Following the presentation, all 4-H members present gathered together for a photo with Heckaman.

Heckaman’s list of accomplishments in the ANR program development are immense. Those involved in livestock, forages, crops, horticulture or any topic related to agriculture most likely have been invited to join her in a workshop, forum, training, program or zoom.

Dr. Jason Henderson, director of extension, Purdue University Extension, expressed his admiration and the qualities of Kelly Heckaman.

Historically, Keckaman’s ‘job’ doubled and even tripled. During absences of educators, she became a 4-H and youth educator. Her responsibilities grew to include 4-H pre-fair and fair judging and all the events associated with 4-H. For 26 years, she took the lead as the organizer, promoter and facilitator of the 4-H Livestock Auction. Kelly has a passion for the dairy industry, particularly Guernseys. She took this passion into volunteerism by leading the dairy judging team and taking a vital role in the development of the 4-H Dairy Lease program.

There were times volunteers and committees unintentionally failed to complete jobs. Regardless of the area of volunteerism, she quietly and diligently covered those “fails.” Many times it was never known she finished crossing all the “t’s” and dotting every “i.” Most importantly, the 4-H’ers never suffered the consequences of mistakes.

Additionally, Heckaman is the co-chair of the Women in Agriculture Team and a vital member of the Purdue Farm Stress Team and Succession Planning Team. The ANR programming in the county she oversaw included Kosciusko County Ag Days, pesticide private applicator recertification and joint collaborations with the Kosciusko County Master Gardeners, Kosciusko County Cattlemen and the Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers.

The show arena full of supporters gave her not only a resounding applause of appreciation, but also a standing ovation.