Sonia Earp, center, was named the Extension Supporter of the Year, at Thursday night's Texas AgriLife Extension
Program Banquet in the Civic Center.

 

Extension Banquet Sites Individuals and
Gives Scope of Local Programs

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

"Barnstorming, West Texas Gal," Nancy Robinson Masters, the author of numerous
books, delighted the crowd with her wit and wisdom about being reared on a cotton farm,
as the keynote speaker.

 

"If you can read and write and live in the United States of America, you're far richer than the majority of the people in this world!" declared Nancy Robinson Masters, as she began her keynote address to a large crowd of Texas AgriLife Extension volunteers, assembled in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, on Thursday night. "I have a number of my books for sale following the program and I take cash, good checks, and home-cooked meals in payment!"

Nancy Robinson Masters, a pilot, an author, and most importantly, a native of a West Texas cotton farm, full of wit and wisdom, entertained the crowd with her "home spun" knowledge about being reared during the drouth of the 1950's, when it "didn't rain a drop on our farm for six years." She related her mother moving from Georgia to West Texas and taking her first teaching assignment on the historic Pitchfork Ranch. "She met met my father, a long tall cowboy, and he promised her he'd take her up in this world, and make her a cotton plantation queen!" related Masters. "And, she believed him! They soon were on a 160-acre dry-land cotton farm, in the middle of nowhere, and that's where I was born, her third child, in 1949!"

 

 

 

"Quickly, I took to looking at those vast, West Texas skies, and making up my mind, that the only way I was going to escape, was to learn how to fly!" continued Masters, with loads of humor. "So, you see, I've flown a long, long ways! I now live right outside Abilene, Texas!"

 

   

"The Throttle"                                                                                       "The Ignition"

 

   

"The Pistons"                                                                               "The Propeller"

 

 

The most humorous "episode" in Master's presentation, was when she solicited the help of "key" members from the audience to participate in a group exercise. She called these chosen people forward and had them to take the positions of the throttle, "spark ignition," the pistons, the propeller, the "tail," and the wings of an airplane, as she demonstrated with humor, how it takes teamwork to accomplish anything, worthwhile. And, the audience learned that County Ag Extension Agent, Dr. Mario Villarino, "makes a pretty good tail!" They also learned that County Commissioner Beth Wisenbaker can "pump those pistons!"

 

       

"The Twisting Tail!"

 

"And, finally, the two wings, lift-off!!!"

 

 

 

Following Master's delightful and heartwarming presentation, Agents Mario Villarino and Johanna Hicks, presented an overview of the many projects that the local Extension Program is involved in, from soybean demonstrations, dairy and beef plans, environmental issues, re-cycling, county 4-H programs, and of course, Hick's "pet" project of diabetes.

"I was extremely worried about the meal," quipped one of the longtime extension program volunteers. "I was afraid that Johanna had planned a "starch and sugar-free" meal, but to my delight it was delicious baked potatoes and peach cobbler, with Bluebell ice cream, so maybe she's trying to make diabetics out of all of us, so she can keep doing the same programs! But, it's certainly a wonderful way to go!"

The next item on the agenda was the recognition of key volunteers that have supported the Extension Program "above and beyond" in the past year. Hicks recognized three of her "Master Wellness" volunteers for completing their certification, as Julie Walter, Doris Counts, and Bernadette McKinzie.

 

 

Master Wellness Volunteers, Doris Counts, left, and Julie Walter, right, were recognized by Hicks, at Thursday
night's banquet, along with Bernadette McKenzie, who was not present.

 

 

 

 

Then, Hicks and Villarino joined forces to name the Extension Supporter of the Year. "She's the first person you think of, when you need something done in a 4-H project or a horticulture demonstration, and she's been involved in foods, clothing, photography, and even entomology," expressed the agents. "Of course, she's Sonia Earp, who is involved with her children in the local 4-H Program, has a passion for horticulture, and is a tireless volunteer for many, many programs."

Earp graciously accepted the award and related that "it's great to be rewarded for doing what you love and enjoy!"

The final "event" of the night was when Villarino introduced approximately 50 volunteers to the "Turning Point" technology of evaluating the evening's program. "You know that at every extension program we have an evaluation. Well, I'm going to present you with a new and fun way of recording your answers," expressed Villarino, as he passed out electronic devices to record the answers to a number of questions about the night's program.

The audience quickly "caught on" and soon were recording some answers that had Villarino "mystified!"

Following the program, many in the audience purchased books from keynote speaker, Nancy Robinson Masters, and enjoyed visiting with her.

 

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