The Purdue Extension Board welcomes new members Kylene Crabb, left, and Zack Tucker.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko Purdue Extension held its annual dinner at Creighton Crazy Eggs Cafe Monday, March 5.

The annual meeting is a time where Extension educators get to share what they’ve accomplished over the year, say thanks to volunteers, welcome new employees and say goodbye to those that have served their term and are retiring.

The evening started with Tyler Bouse and Fabiola Holsclaw naming the following people as Extension All-Stars for their service with Extension: Ceri Banet, Debbie Coleman, Mikaela Conley, Jeff Helfers, Peggy Parzygnot, June Thomas, Naomi Stouder and Peg Zimmerman.

Two new members are filling the spots of three retiring members. Kylene Crabb and Zach Tucker were welcomed to the board, with President Steve Trump, board member Mindy Truex and secretary Kassi Rowland retiring. Board positions are limited to two three-year terms.

4-H Youth Development Educator Mindy Wise presented a new welding project that was started this past year. The program impacts kids as young as third grade and introduces them to welding and shows them the business opportunities available with welding skills. Twelve students participated in the first year, most of them girls. In all the 4-H programs were able to reach 1,033 youth this past year.

Health and Human Science Educator Jackie Franks introduced Julia Frush, Extension Homemakers president. Frush gave a background on the Homemakers, which started in 1910. By 1919 there were 10 clubs, one being Kosciusko’s own Tippecanoe Township. The Homemakers’ mission statement is: “To strengthen families through continuous education, leadership involvement and voluntary community sport.”

Franks started working with Purdue Extension in Dec. 2015. She is ServSafe certified and holds ServSafe food safety certification classes, certifying 40 people in her first year. She also connects with seniors in the community, pairing with Kosciusko Senior Services Center. “It’s fun for me to get to know them while educating them,” says Franks.

Franks has also started programs in Enchanted Hills in the Cromwell area. She partners with Bowen Center in the area to teach adult cooking and food safety classes, as well as teaches a Girl Power class with local girls. “Kudos, you’re doing an awesome job out there,” later commented Trump.

Kelly Heckaman gave a brief welcome to her new staff, including Megan Teel, nutrition education program assistant, Anne Wilson, health and human services and agriculture and natural resources secretary, Stephanie Stephenson, 4-H office manager, and Mikaela Conley, special projects manager.

One of Conley’s current projects is pairing fourth grade classes with farmers for an entire year. It is hoped the project will be launched in August with two or three classrooms. If you are a farmer interested in pairing with a classroom, contact (574) 372-2340.

The night’s special speaker was Suzie Light, executive director Kosciusko Community Foundation, who spoke of the Foundation’s relationship with the agricultural community. After communicating with the agricultural community about their needs and desires, Light says, “[the Foundation] now [has] the ability to accept donations of grain, livestock and farmland.”

The Foundation has set up an Ag Cares Fund that grants to projects that the agricultural community has deemed important. These projects include feeding the hungry in the local community, supporting youth programs and agricultural education.

Speaking of volunteering time and resources, Light says, “What is your legacy going to be?”