Osburn gets Farm-City honor
Published: December 2, 2009
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Ray Osburn is shown accepting his award while Joann Kowalski looks on.
Ray Osburn, a parenting class teacher with Susquehanna County Children and Youth and co-founder of Leadership 2020 was honored as a ‘Friend of Extension’ at the annual Farm-City Feast on Saturday (Nov. 21) at Mountain View High School.
Osburn has worked closely with Penn State Cooperative Extension to expand parent education programming in the county.
According to a recommendation by Jan Cohen, Osburn consistently recruits families, child care providers and other youth service workers to register for the Extension's classes and workshops.
Osburn's energy and enthusiasm for Penn State Cooperative Extension programs and his dedication to integrating the Extension's efforts into the greater community is a testament to his philosophy that all human beings have worth and strengths, even in the most difficult circumstances, Cohen said.
Osburn's nomination for the ‘Friend’ award was submitted by Joann Kowalski.
Osburn and Kowalski are co-founders of Leadership 2020, a community leadership program available to all residents and employees in Susquehanna County through the Cooperative Extension office.
Kowalski noted that Osburn had been an integral part of the program since its inception and has been involved with all aspects of the program.
She especially noted that "The great leaders are also the greatest servants."
In her position as Economic & Community Development Educator, Kowalski has conducted seminars on the Marcellus Shale development in the county which were described as very informative. For her efforts to keep those involved with the exploration and drilling for natural gas informed, she also received an award from Extension Board President Dave Taylor.
During the program, Virginia Beeman presented a "Remembrance of Cliff Tinklepaugh, Al Rozel and George Hill.”
Others serving on the planning committee are: Linda Bonham, Joseph Decker, Sr., Nancy Decker, Barbara Kelly, LouAnn Kiefer, Bill Lopatofsky, Judy Mitchell, Ted Place, Barb Roszel and Donna Williams.
Masters of Ceremony Rick and Dana Empet introduced the 2009 Harford Fair Queen Carol Small who led the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem. The invocation was given by the Rev. Donald Littleton of the Great Bend United Methodist Church.
The milk toast was given by Dairy Princess Daisy Matulevich and then dinner was served by the Willing Workers of the First Congregational Church, UCC of Harford with the help of many from the community needed to serve the 500 who attend the dinner. Table gifts distributed by Jerry and Kathy Prusack were contributed by Susquehanna County farmers and businesses and reflected local products; apples, cheese, milk, maple syrup, honey, eggs and butter.
Musical entertainment by the Lathrop Street Select Choir of Montrose was presented under the direction of Nino Bennici.
N. Alan Bair, Director of Dairy Industry Relations in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, was guest speaker and share information on his three trips to Africa to promote agricultural development.
According to Bair, a dairy in these counties usually consists of two cows. There is little transportation, no electricity and therefore no refrigeration. What is produced is consumed within 24 hours. Due to the lack of sanitary conditions the only foods eaten by the visitors were bananas, nuts and tea.
"It is important to teach others how to produce food,” Bair said.
