Greene County ISU Extension Council recently earned the 2021 Distinguished Service Award.

The award is given to a county extension council’s commitment to the mission of ISU Extension and Outreach of providing research-based or evidence-based programming. The nine-member elected council was nominated by Greene County Extension staff. 

The nomination noted the Council’s handling of the unexpected pandemic, drought and derecho from last year. They supported distributing free face masks, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) kits for kids from April-May; along with collaborating with Thomas Jefferson Gardens for a free tree program following the derecho storm. Additionally, the Greene County Educational Fund increased over the past year to more than $48,000 and the Greene County 4-H Foundation generated $31,000 to support local programming. 

The 2020 Council consisted of Chair Shari Minnehan, Vice Chair Bruce Bahnson, Secretary Jessi Riley, Treasurer Pam Olerich, along with members Tom Heater, Kyle Niles, Jill Rassmussen, Doug Rieder and Bob Smith.