Ohio Northern University alumnae Madelyn Lowery, a life-long Hardin County resident, is one of five inductees in this year’s Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame, according to Mark Badertscher of the extension office.
She joins Dean and Barbara Dulin, Fred Rarey and Mark Watkins in the 17th annual hall of fame recognition banquet, held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3, at St. John’s Evangelical Church, Kenton.
Madelyn Lowery
She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from ONU and was a kindergarten teacher for 35 years at Kenton City Schools.
Along with her late husband, Steve, the couple raised lambs, pigs, steers, ducks and chickens on the family farm over the past 50 years. Crops raised have included soybeans, corn, wheat and hay.
She has had many school children visit her farm educating them about farm life. In addition, her farm has also been the local for Forestry Field Day. She served as a 4-H advisor for over 15 years and currently raises feeder lambs to sell to area 4-H and FFA members.
“She has always been willing to help-out these members with their lamb projects inside or outside Hardin County,” said Badertscher.
“She travels with friends and family to local county banquets and to other counties to support agriculture. Besides, helping individuals with lamb projects, she has also helped judge lamb contests in various counties.”
Lowery has also served on committees to organize annual sheep tours throughout the state for many years.
She has participated in sheep and agriculture tours across the United States and around the world. She has been active in an educational program called “Women of the Land” sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District.
She has served as president and vice president of the United Way of Hardin County as well as the University Club. She has represented Kenton City Schools teachers as president of the Kenton Education Association and has served as a board member for Hardin County Farm Bureau, member of Hardin County Sheep Improvement Association and the Hardin County Retired Teachers.
She has been active in Keep Hardin County Beautiful, served her church as a Vacation Bible School teacher and as a member of the church social committee. In addition, she has volunteered at the Hardin Northern Schools reading program.
"Madelyn is always willing to help and is not afraid to lead a discussion or step up to organize an event," said Badertscher.
According to her children, “she loves to see kids succeed and learn life through their projects.”
Dec. 3 banquet speaker
Gene McCluer is this year’s banquet speaker. He served as an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent in Hardin County from 1988 until his retirement in 2013. For 17 years he and his family had operated a 50-cow dairy farm in Allen County, near Harrod. Today they operate the small family farm as a grain operation. He has served on the Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative board in Kenton for 35 years, and is chairman of the board of the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives in Columbus.
Tickets
Tickets must be purchased in advance through Nov. 25. Tickets are $12 and can be reserved by calling the Hardin County Extension office (419-674-2297) or purchased from the committee members: Genny Haun, Bob McBride, Ruth Oates, Kerry Oberlitner, Gary Harpster, Steve Poling, Amanda Murphy, Bob Wood or Mark Badertscher.
