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Daviess County farmer wins Member of the Year
December 02, 2011
Joe Elliott of Philpot
DAVIESS COUNTY, Ky. — Joe Elliott jokes about his retirement.
“I’m retired,” he says. “I’m only working six days a week.”
Elliott, a well-known Daviess County farmer, helped found the Rural Life Celebration, an annual dinner that feeds up to 400 people from all walks of life. He serves on numerous boards throughout the county, and he's active on Kenergy's Member Resource Committee.
In the past, Elliott earned the Employer Achievement Award from a state agency for his dogged determination to hire legal migrant workers and provide them with adequate housing and medical care.
For those reasons — and more — a panel of Kenergy judges selected Elliott as the co-op’s first Member of the Year. Kenergy started the program in 2011 to honor a member and his or her volunteer efforts.
“(Elliott) is an encourager, who loves people and always has something positive to say,” Wayne Mattingly reported in his application to nominate Elliott. “He sees ways to be of help, understands hard work and is respected. … He helps people and is a leader in his community.”
In honor of Elliott’s volunteerism, the co-op donated $1,000 to the Rural Life Celebration at an annual Member Resource Committee meeting on Thursday, Dec. 1.
In all, 21 members were nominated for Member of the Year. In October, a panel of judges selected three finalists — Ruth Bunch of Henderson, Terri LaHugh of Owensboro and Elliott of Philpot.
Bunch, who fears needles, has given 22 gallons of O negative blood to the Cardinal Chapter of the American Red Cross since 1977. For 12 years, LaHugh has been the non-salaried director of Birthright, which provides support to women who face unplanned pregnancies.
Other nominees included Christina O’Bryan, Owensboro; Gertrude Jones, Fredonia; Lou Morris, Greenville; Deborah Stinnett, Owensboro; Shellie Utley, Dixon; Carolyn Guy, Calhoun; Samantha Howard, Philpot; Joan Baker, Lewisport; Robin Long, Sacramento; Dawn Wheeler, Henderson; Betty Croft, Marion; Dr. William Tyler, Owensboro; Rebecca Baughn, Owensboro; Wanda Jacob, Whitesville; Rachel Phelps, Owensboro; Mike Maloney, Owensboro; Cindy Hudson, Owensboro; and Rick Kamuf, Owensboro.
Kenergy CEO Sandy Novick congratulated everyone involved. “Our members and their dedication to the communities in which they live never cease to amaze me,” Novick said of all nominees. “We applaud Joe, Ruth and Terri, along with hundreds of other members throughout our service territory who work tirelessly to make this region a better place.”
