December 14, 2006

KSU's Marion Simon Wins Prestigious Award

Frankfort, KY. - Dr. Marion Simon was not even going to attend this year's Professional Agricultural Workers Conference at Tuskegee University.

The $450 registration fee seemed too high, and the Kentucky State University state specialist for small farm and part-time farmers was not presenting at the conference. Plus, Simon was working on a grant proposal to help her constituents.

But her colleagues kept telling her to go.

Luckily she did, because Simon became the first Kentuckian on Dec. 5 to be inducted into the George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame. The Scott County resident returned Thursday with three plaques and a $1,000 cash prize.

"I was floored," Simon said about when she found out she won two weeks ago. "I couldn't do anything for the rest of the week. I've been on a two-week high. I'm floating and I can't come down."

The award recognizes those who have worked for or partnered with an 1890 Land Grant institution and made a significant contribution to enhancing the lives of those in rural communities.

Simon never expected to be nominated, let alone win. Past recipients include retired deans, college presidents and "superpowers" such as Thomas T. Williams from Tuskegee and members of the Farm Foundation. Inductees must have at least 30 years of service helping a Land Grant university and she only worked at KSU for 22.

However, her colleagues, who secretly nominated her and filled out all of the necessary information about Simon, included her many years in 4-H coaching state and national horse champions, which totaled more than 30 years.

Simon also has written more than 100 grants that have been funded to help the community KSU serves. She began the Land Grant Program's Third Thursday Thing program, workshops the third Thursday of each month dealing with various topics, all aimed at helping small farmers learn risk management and sustainable agriculture practices.

"The grants were the tie breaker," Simon said. "They really put me over the top."

Plus, Simon is heavily involved in the farming community. She co-chairs the National Small Farm Conference and is on call around the clock for questions from her colleagues at the local, state and national level.

"People kept saying the whole (conference) that I was like a machine," Simon said. "They could call me any time of the day or night to ask questions or get confirmation about something."

It is because Simon cares, said Louie Rivers, director of the land grant program small farms outreach training and technology assistance program. She writes grants, creates programs and visits small farms because she wants all Kentucky farmers to be prosperous.

"Her work here is tireless," Rivers said. "She is very devoted to the small farmers and the state of Kentucky. She is always working to try to improve the lives of those farmers. She doesn't do it for the recognition. She just does it."

Working at KSU has been one of the most rewarding jobs Simon could imagine. She grew up as the daughter of tenant farmers, and now daily helps small and minority farmers find new ways to maintain their farms and prosper and to help stimulate the commonwealth's economy.

Several times, Simon has received a card or letter in the mail thanking her and KSU for the Third Thursday Thing workshops or help and advice from the university.
"It is extremely rewarding to hear someone say they would not be farming now if it had not been for the Third Thursdays," Simon said.

Simon called the award the highlight of her career and one of the most prestigious awards given in her field. It is particularly meaningful to her because Carver was "one of the greatest public servants and researchers ever."

Now that Simon is the first Kentuckian and one of only 36 people nationwide to receive the honor, Simon hopes KSU will receive more well-deserved recognition.