GOSHEN — Three women representing different phases of a homemaker’s life were chosen as Elkhart County Extension Homemakers of the Year Monday night.

Theo Outman of York Extension was chosen as Senior Homemaker, Linda Miller from Friends and Neighbors Extension of Middlebury was Intermediate Homemaker and Kris Peterson of SELF Extension, Elkhart, was Young Homemaker.

The annual Achievement Night, themed “One Step at a Time,” took place in the Elkhart County Community Center on the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen.

The three categories for Homemaker are divided by age. “Young Homemaker” is for people age 39 or younger, “Intermediate Homemaker” from 40 to 59 years of age and “Senior Homemaker” age 60 and over. This year, there were 14 applicants — five entering the young homemaker category, three entering intermediate and six entering senior.

New officers

The newly elected county officers for the 2012-2013 club year were installed by Alice Moy, Goshen, IEHA Michigan City District Representative. They are: President, Debra George, Wakarusa; vice president, Jennifer Chupp, Goshen; secretary, Sally Kyle, Goshen; treasurer, Janet Ryman, Goshen; assistant treasurer Debra Pepple, Elkhart; and adviser, Lisa Honey, Goshen.

Outstanding Clubs

The Outstanding Clubs of the Year were recognized and presented certificates for the gold, silver, bronze and standard club level. This year, 20 clubs participated in the recognition system. The traveling gavel was presented to the Club of the Year, Middlebury Extension Homemaker’s President, Dian Wilkey, Middlebury. A special plaque with the club’s name hangs in the Home and Family Arts Building.

The only club earning the Gold Award was Middlebury Homemakers. Its president is Dian Wilkey.

Clubs earning the Silver Award and their presidents were: Hex Rural — Donna Hibschman; Jefferson Homemakers — Janet Yoder; Homemakers of Today — Teresa Riegsecker; and Fairfield Homemakers — Fern Mast.

Clubs earning the Bronze Award and their presidents were: Busy Homemakers — Carol S. Kauffman; Modern Homemakers — JoAnn Kehr; Friends & Neighbors — Jenny Chupp; York Homemakers — Marian Kline; Creative Homemakers — Cinda Beggs; and Zion — Beth Phillips.

Standard clubs and their presidents were: Bound-4-Knowledge — Joellen Allison; Four Seasons — Vicki Burnett; Busy Bee — Vi Kuhns and Tonda Cripe; Creative Circle — Peggy Johnson; SELF — Stephanie Young and Kristina Peterson; Clinton Clique — Mabel Wortinger; and Helping Hands — Rose Martin. Also participating was the club Jimtown Gems, president JoAnn Barnes.

County president Lisa Honey and Extension educator Mary Ann Lienhart Cross presented certificates to the following members who served as chairpersons of county committees: Joan Bailey; Ruth F. Clouse; Debra George; Gerry Geyer, Elkhart; Lucille Groves; Nancy Hawkins, Middlebury; Lisa Honey; Ramona Huber, Goshen; Peggy Judson, Middlebury; Carol L. Kauffman, Millersburg; Fern Mast, Goshen; Alice Moy; Diana Rohrer, Bristol; Martha Weirich, Goshen; and Maryann Zerbe, Elkhart.

Memorial

A special memorial service was conducted for deceased members by Joan Bailey.

Longtime members

Special recognition was given to members with 50 years Extension Homemaker membership. Those members were: Homemakers of Today member, Eleanor Hawkins, Middlebury; Jefferson Homemakers member, Patricia Miller, Goshen; and Zion Homemakers member, Mary Jane Monteith, Bristol.

Twenty-five-year members were recognized on stage and certificates were presented to the following members: Busy Bees Tonda Cripe and Jean Miller of Goshen.

Long-term Extension Homemakers were recognized for those whose membership has gone beyond 50 years. Members are recognized at the platinum level beginning at 70 years membership; gold level, beginning at 65 years membership; silver level, beginning at 60 years membership; and bronze level, beginning at 55 years membership.

Members recognized at the silver level were: Busy Homemakers — Barbara Jewett, Goshen, and Clinton Classics — Amanda Thomas, Goshen.

Extension Homemakers belonging to a club for 45 years through five years had their names printed in the program and were asked to stand for recognition.

Committee

The committee for the Achievement Night event were co-chairs Ruth F. Clouse and Lucille Groves of Goshen, Debi Cogswell, Lisa Honey, Shirley Hoover, Helen Koller, Tammy Shidler, Vicky Stroman, Elnora Weaver, Dian Wilkey, adviser Joan Bailey and Mary Ann Lienhart-Cross.