Southwind Extension District Agents Christopher Petty and Carla Nemecek presented Ally Turvey, Tourism Manager for Fort Scott Convention & Tourism Bureau with the 2019 Extension Appreciation Award.

The Bureau is a strong supporter of all things Fort Scott, including the Southwind Extension District of K-State Research and Extension.

Former tourism manager Larry Gazaway, and current tourism manager Ally Turvey have been valuable partners of extension. The two organizations partnered on the Kansas Humanities Water Ways project, focusing on the importance of water to the development of the Fort Scott area of Bourbon County.

Joint partnerships with organizations like the Fort Scott Convention and Visitors Bureau strengthen the reach of the Southwind Extension District.

The Bureau was also helpful in lining up a location, keynote speakers, and other community partners for a very successful Aging with Attitude Regional Event and Family Community Educators (FCE) State conference in 2019 with a record number of attendees.

The K-State Research and Extension Appreciation Award was authorized by the Extension administrative staff in 1977. Its purpose is to honor a person, business or organization who has made outstanding contributions to extension programs in a county or district.

The Southwind District Extension Board and Agents want to express their sincere gratitude to the Fort Scott Convention & Tourism Bureau for their support for Extension in Bourbon County and look forward for partnerships yet to come.