Six Nominees Seeking Spots On County’s Extension Council
Elections for representatives to serve on the University of Missouri Extension Council are taking place from January 19 through January 25.
Any county resident over the age of 18 is eligible to vote in the election. There are six nominees running for seats on the council.
County Extension councils, in accordance with state law, work with University of Missouri Extension faculty and staff in planning and carrying out local Extension programs. The council has three primary responsibilities: assist in planning and carrying out extension programs in the county; oversee the finances; and recruiting and training council members.
The University of Missouri Extension provides research-based educational programs, assistance and resources that address subjects of interest to Missourians in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, business development, community development, and youth development (4-H).
The Ste. Genevieve County Extension Council is comprised of 11 elected county representatives and six appointed positions. Terms are for two years, a person may be re-elected once, after which they must be off the council for at least one year before being elected again.
This year’s candidates are:
— Jason Blum, who was born and raised in Ste. Genevieve and is happy to be back in the community after attending Southeast Missouri State University. While at Southeast, he played baseball and obtained his bachelor’s degree in finance as well as his master’s in general management. He works at HSB Advisors as a tax and financial advisor. His other commitments include vice president of the Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce and coaching the Ste. Genevieve American Legion and RiverDogs baseball programs.
— Jessica Filer, a Ste. Genevieve High School graduate who went on to study sports medicine at Southeast Missouri State University. She has returned to the area and is working as an athletic trainer at Mineral Area College, overseeing all the medical needs of the school’s student-athletes. When she is not at work, Filer enjoys helping at Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship in Old Appleton. She said she grew up participating in 4-H and knows firsthand what the University of Missouri Extension does for the community.
— Samuel Fischer, a graduate of Ste. Genevieve High school currently attending Mineral Area College. He is employed by Fischer Brothers Quarry and Hauling and has experience driving heavy equipment. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and riding horses because he loves to be outdoors. Fischer said he wants serve on the council because he cares about Missouri and Ste. Genevieve County.
— Brian Keim, who is originally from southern Illinois and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He made the decision years ago that Ste. Genevieve is where he and his wife would like to raise a family, Keim currently is the assistant vice president of Bloomsdale Bank. He has experience as a former treasurer, vice president and president of the Ste. Genevieve Rotary Club. Currently, he sits on the Ste. Genevieve County Community Center Foundation Board.
— Donna Ringwald, a lifelong resident of Ste. Genevieve. She is married with two adult children that also live in Ste. Genevieve. She and her husband live on a family farm. She grew up participating in 4-H and was a club leader when her children were in 4-H. She has served on the council in the past. She said the University of Missouri Extension is an invaluable resource that should be supported and utilized to its greatest potential.
— Micah A. Rousey, who moved to Ste. Genevieve five years ago with his wife in order to provide the best place they knew to raise their family. He graduated from Bellevue University with a bachelor’s degree in business information systems and from Western Governors University with a master’s in information technology management. He works as a technology consultant, advising companies for software development. He is a member of the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve and the Ste. Genevieve Lions Club. Rousey said his past experiences as a 4-H member as well as attending California State Extension classes make him understand and value the impact of the University of Missouri Extension in Ste. Genevieve.
From January 19 through January 25, a ballot box for the Extension Council election will be at the Extension Office, 1300 Progress Parkway, or Ste. Genevieve County residents may also choose to vote online and see bios of the candidates by visiting: extension.missouri.edu/stegenevieve.
The election results will be certified by the Extension Council on Thursday, January 30, and released on Friday, January 31.
(Information in a release from the University of Missouri Extension’s Ste. Genevieve County office.)
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