Elys recognized as ‘Friends of Extension’

BY HELEN B. FOSTER

Correspondent

Dedicated supporters of Susquehanna County’s Penn State Coopereative Extension, Harold and Frances Ely were honored Saturday at the annual Farm-City Feast by being being named “Friends of Extension.”

Harold and Frances were both born in Susquehanna County and were dairy farmers for 40 years. They have supported agriculture for the 70 years they have been married and while raising a family of five.

Dedicated supporters of Penn State Cooperative Extension, both were early organizers of the Farm City Feast when it began 44 years ago.

Harold has been known to say that Frances was the one who kept the dairy farm running while he was busy attending meetings and traveling to promote the interests of the agriculture industry.

Meetings Harold was attending included Dairylea Cooperative; Susquehanna County Conservation District serving as a charter member of the Chesapeake Bay Committee as well as the Endless Mountains Health Systems. Both also are members of the Grange.

The couple has been recognized for their service to the International Exchange People to People Organization. They have hosted exchange students through this program as well as the 4-H International Youth Exchange Program while giving their time and talents to the United Methodist Church.

Harold has worked tirelessly over the past year to have a book published for Susquehanna County’s Bicentennial.  Harold’s aim was for a companion to the Sesquicentennial book published in 1960. Harold chose the county 4-H program to be the beneficiaries for this endeavor. All profits from the “Rotary on the Green” this past summer have also been added to the 4-H endowment with the Community Foundation.

The 2010 Farm-City committee included Virginia Beeman, Linda Bonham, Joseph Decker Sr., Nancy Decker, Barbara Kelly, LouAnn Kiefer, Bill Lopatofsky, Judy Mitchell, Ted Place, Barb Rozell and Donna Wiilliams.

Jason Miller was Master of Ceremonies for both the banquet and the program that followed. Entertainment was by Rick Pedro at the piano.

Seated at the head table for the dinner were Andrea Beeman, Harford Fair Queen; Olivia Mitchell, Dairy Princess and Alicia Nudo, Maple Queen.

Brian and Debbie Chidester distributed the table gifts donated by farmers, businesses also donated were the monetary contributions and door prizes.