(Chelsea Update would like to thank Kathy Siler for the information and photo in this story.)
The Washtenaw County Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture award recognizes someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to our local agriculture.
This year’s Outstanding Service to Agriculture recipient is Else Heller.
Else has dedicated a lifetime of volunteerism and passion to serving our community. Let’s take a deeper look at just a few of her roles. Else has been involved in 4-H for over 40 years. Imagine all the hours donated and lives she has touched in that incredible amount of time.
Early in her 4-H volunteer days, she helped lead the Terrific Tailors 4-H Sewing Club. Most recently, she has been an integral and active member in the Service Club, filling a variety of officer positions, including president for many years. Throughout the years, she could often be found volunteering in the Service Club 4-H kitchen during county Youth Show.
She has also been involved in the Chelsea and Saline Community Fairs as a canning judge. She was even the baking superintendent at the Chelsea fair for a number of years. Nowadays, during the Chelsea Fair, you may find her volunteering in the kitchen.
Else also ran the diner at the Manchester stockyards when it was first opened.
Over the years, her husband Bob hosted a field day in the fall for his seed corn customers, and Else could be found making friends amongst the attendees, hosting the event and serving a homemade meal for them all.
Additionally, Else has been involved in our county’s Project Rural Education Days since it began in 1991. You could find her serving lunch for the 100+ volunteers, and always with a smiling face and friendly demeanor. Else knows that a good meal can act as a foundation for building a community.
Else’s passion for agriculture and lasting legacy is tangible throughout our community, and will be for many years to come as well. This year’s recipient is more than deserving of this award, and it is just a small token of appreciation for the lifetime of service she has given to us all.
