September 17, 2008

Purdue Extension professionals honored at annual banquet

* Tom Jordan, former assistant director and agriculture and natural resources program leader, and Peggy Titus, assistant director, received the Lynn Busse Administrative Leadership Award. Chuck Hibberd, associate dean of agriculture, said Jordan has exhibited leadership, professionalism and enthusiasm for Extension programs and people throughout his 30-year career. A professor of botany and plant pathology, Hibberd said Jordan was "a great researcher, avid promoter of education and caring administrator." Titus began her Purdue Extension career directly out of college, starting as a youth agent in Shelby County, then consumer and family sciences educator and county Extension director. She moved to administration in 2000, providing leadership for staff development and reporting. She coordinates a comprehensive professional development and core competency system for Extension staff, focusing on orientation of new educators and county directors.

* Janet Bechman, Purdue Extension plan of work and accountability coordinator, and Roger Scherer, Extension educator in Wells County, were honored with the Distinguished Service Award. Bechman has been in her current position since 2004. Prior to that, she was a family resource management specialist and began her Extension career as a county educator in family resource management. Bechman also helps with selection, training and coordination of summer interns and works with Extension graduate assistants. Scherer has been a Purdue Extension educator for more than 20 years. He has served as a 4-H youth educator and county Extension director in Wells County. Scherer has strived to build community coalitions and develop leadership skills in both youth and adults, Hibberd said.

* The Continued Excellence Award went to Renee McKee, assistant director/program leader of 4-H youth development. Hibberd said McKee strives to make the Indiana 4-H program the best it can be by setting an example for her colleagues and 4-H members. She is well respected and works to promote all Purdue Extension programs, Hibberd said. She received the Epsilon Sigma Phi Distinguished Service Award in 2000 and has continued to serve Epsilon Sigma Phi and Extension in leadership roles.

* The Mid-Career Award recipients were Wells County Extension educator Judi Merkel and 4-H Youth Extension specialist Clint Rusk. A 13-year consumer and family science educator in Wells County, Merkel is committed to promoting family strengths and building family/school/community connections, Hibberd said. She writes an award-winning column titled Celebrate the Family for the Bluffton News-Banner. She also wrote and presented a Health Tip of the Week for local radio station WNUY and was an editorial team member for the award-winning "Boomers Come of Age" curriculum. Rusk has worked with Indiana 4-H food-animal projects since 1997. He is the chairman of the state Agriculture Judging Committee and coordinates 13 state 4-H/FFA annual judging contests. He is co-chairman of the Animal Sciences Workshop for Youth, is involved in curriculum development, program planning and various training seminars related to animal projects. Rusk directs the 4-H animal exhibits at the Indiana State Fair and serves on many national 4-H and FFA livestock committees and is known nationally as a livestock judge.

* Cindy Brown, program assistant in Allen County, received the Meritorious Service Award. Though assigned to 4-H, Brown also has a love for agriculture and is a steady force in helping area staff prepare for and host the Purdue Extension display at the Fort Wayne Farm Show, Hibberd said. Participation objectives are to promote Extension, market publications and programs, increase attendee interaction and expose attendees to applied research. Brown and other staff members invest about 25 days annually developing and implementing the display. The number of items distributed has increased from 1,500 to nearly 6,000 during the past 10 years.

* Darrel Thomas, retired Extension educator from Putnam County, was honored with the Retiree Service Award. He was recognized for providing Purdue Extension professionals with important information related to retirement issues. Hibberd said Thomas is a faithful attendee of Epsilon Sigma Phi meetings and functions and keeps Extension professionals informed of legislation pertinent to them. Thomas retired as a 4-H youth educator after serving Purdue Extension and Putnam County.

* Whitley County Extension educator Valynnda Slack received the Visionary Leadership Award. She began Whitley County Learning Services after a needs assessment showed a demand for lifelong learning offerings. The learning services are funded through class fees, grants, county government and Purdue Extension. A fund drive to replace a laptop lab brought together community businesses, the art guild, the community foundation and former students. Since 2002, more than 90 companies and organizations have had employees participate in Whitley County Learning Services courses with more than 2,400 students. In evaluations, 81 percent said the experience would enhance their job skills.

* The Multicultural/Diversity Award was presented to the team of Susan Tharp, Jim Luzar, Susan Plassmeier, Janet Stafford, Amy Nierman and Mike Schutz for "Sharing More Than a Border," a two-day, interactive training in Clinton County with 40 participants. The group was introduced to globalization and they said they felt empowered to return to Indiana and provide training for Extension educators, who are challenged with reaching out to underserved residents and working within communities that may have strong and divided viewpoints about immigration. Shifting demographics in Indiana have made this a critical and sensitive issue, Hibberd said. He said participants left the training with an awareness of and sensitivity to the many obstacles and complexities the immigrant population faces as they try to create a life in the United States.

* Purdue Extension Area 11 Agriculture and Natural Resources educators were the recipients of the Team Recognition Award for their involvement with the Fort Wayne Farm Show since its 1989 inception. The show, which draws farmers and agribusinesses from at least five states, has grown from two days, three speakers and one expo hall to three days, 12 speakers, more than 1,000 booths and 39,000-plus attendees. Agriculture and Natural Resources and Soil and Water Conservation District staff develop seminars and promotional flyers, meet with media representatives and work with the trade show developers. They created an educational program and a three-dimensional display where they give away items, respond to questions and involve university specialists to increase public awareness of Purdue Extension programs.

Writer: Andrea McCann, (812) 798-5335, andreamccnn@yahoo.com

Source: Chuck Hibberd, (765) 494-8489, hibberd@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

Note to Journalists: Photos of the winners will be available starting at noon on Friday (Sept. 19) at https://www.extension.purdue.edu/awards/2008/

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