|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregonian Woman Receives Highest AAW Honor
Billings, Montana: Arlene Kovash, President of Oregon Women for Agriculture (OWA) received American Agri-Women's (AAW) LEAVEN Award, the highest award the national organization annually gives to one of it"s members.
During the banquet at the AAW national convention here, Kovash was described as "a woman who gives "sweet rewards" of encouragement and shares her creative talents, enthusiasm and energy as a tireless advocate for American Agriculture," when the award was presented.
Her unique contribution to encouraging members to get involved in public issues advocacy is to give out candy bars to any OWA member who has called state or national legislators to discuss important agricultural policy matters, according to AAW president, Carol Marx, of Rickreall, Oregon.
Kovash grew up in Arizona and married Paul, an ag teacher at Corvallis High School, now retired. They have raised two daughters, and have two grandsons and two granddaughters. The Kovashes have a farm outside of Monmouth, Oregon where they have grown beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, alfalfa, wheat, Christmas trees and hogs. She volunteered for years as a 4-H leader and now has her own business writing newsletters for businesses and organizations which includes the Benton County Farm Bureau and the AAW "Voice".
Kovash was nominated by her state organization, OWA. "Arlene is a tireless advocate for AAW and for OWA," according to the nomination and she has been one of OWA"s most active presidents. In addition to her sterling leadership qualities, the nomination noted "she is not timid and challenges Legislators in their positions."
As editor of both the state and national ag women"s newsletters for many years she has forged a vital link between the public and members. She also contributed to OWA"s annual fundraising auction by automating donation tracking.
AAW presents the LEAVEN award to persons who, to an outstanding degree, have acted as "leaven", a truly feminine concept since the word "lady" stems from Old English and means "kneader of bread." To AAW, the L stands for loyalty, E for enthusiasm, A for anticipatory, V for valiant, E for effectiveness, and N for nurturing.
AAW leaders chose the image of Leaven to name their award since it is another word for "yeast"- a small element that can interact and influence everything around it. As it permeates and raises the elements with which it is mixed, leaven multiplies its effectiveness for good.
American Agri-Women is a national coalition of women"s farm, ranch, and agri-business organizations united to communicate with one another and other consumers to promote agriculture for the benefit of the American people and the world.
For further information contact American Agri-Women at info@americanagriwomen.org