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Ag Hall Of Fame Inductees Include Teacher, Pilot





Receiving honors at the annual Fulton County Agriculture Hall of Fame banquet were, from left: Jeanne Purkey Howison, Galion, and Marilyn Purkey Neason, Athens, accepting on behalf of their late father, D. R. Purkey, former Wauseon High School vo-ag teacher; Roger Snyder, rural Delta; Dick Tedrow, Denton, Texas; and Cliff Shelt, Delta.- photo by David Pugh

Receiving honors at the annual Fulton County Agriculture Hall of Fame banquet were, from left: Jeanne Purkey Howison, Galion, and Marilyn Purkey Neason, Athens, accepting on behalf of their late father, D. R. Purkey, former Wauseon High School vo-ag teacher; Roger Snyder, rural Delta; Dick Tedrow, Denton, Texas; and Cliff Shelt, Delta.- photo by David Pugh

The four men inducted into the Fulton County Agriculture Hall of Fame for 2007 include a teacher, pilot, past Soil & Water Conservation president, and a man active in Delta civic organizations.

Posthumously inducted Monday night, Aug. 20, was D. R. Purkey, former vocational agriculture teacher.

Purkey, known as Purk, taught vocational agriculture for 11 years at Wauseon High School, and at Old Fort and Bloomdale. He worked with the Ohio Department of Education Division of Vocational Agriculture.

He motivated students to be active in the community, and encouraged 33 WHS students to earn state farmer degrees.

He was active in Farm Bureau, Grange, the Masonic Lodge, and church.

He gave time to many organizations, including Ohio Vocational Teacher Association, where he was president. He was a board member of the Ohio FFA Foundation, was active with the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association, and fulfilled roles on the Ohio Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the Ohio Grain and Feed Dealer Association.

He had an ability to simplify, and was comfortable working with legislators and dignitaries.

Tedrow

Even though Richard “Dick” Tedrow lived most of his life in Texas, the Delta native is no stranger in Fulton County.

A former airline pilot, Tedrow has contributed to Fulton County agriculture through the Fulton County Fair.

He maintains a love of agriculture that goes back to his Fulton County roots. He was a rancher in Texas over 40 years, raising registered cattle.

Tedrow was involved with youth and served on his county zoning commission and committees to study and make recommendations on airline safety.

He frequently returns to Fulton County at fair time.

“I live near Denton, Texas, which hosts the North Texas State Fair, but I went to that fair only one time in 40 years,” he said.

“It just did not compare to the Fulton County Fair.”

He assisted the Fulton County Fair in purchasing land west of the fairgrounds for future growth.

Snyder

Roger Snyder, rural Delta, has been a leader by promoting no-till and conservation in Fulton County and Ohio.

He was recognized in 1997 as No-Till Farmer of the Year.

In the late 1970s through the early 1980s, he was an active Farm Bureau member, serving in several leadership roles.

He became active again in 1997, and served as Farm Bureau president for five years. He was the membership chairman, and attended state annual meetings.

Snyder was a member of the Fulton County Soil & Water Conservation District board from 1989 to 1998. He is a past president.

He was trustee of the regional Conservation Action Project.

Snyder is a member of the Ohio Wheat Growers, Ohio Soybean Association, and the Ohio Corn Growers Association.

He has great leadership skills.

Shelt

Clifford Shelt, Delta, has given many years to agriculture, as a farmer and agri-businessman in eastern Fulton County. He was devoted to organizations in the Delta area.

Shelt was active with Delta Young Farmers and the county Soil & Water Conservation District board. He was an advisor for Pike XL 4-H Club.

He volunteered hours to the Aetna Grange over 57 years, served as master and as a delegate to the state meeting. He is on the executive committee.

Shelt served Delta Rotary for 37 years, and was an officer and Paul Harris Fellow.

He served on many committees, promoting interaction between farmers and businessmen.

He was on Delta School Board for 12 years, was president, and was on Fulton County United Way Board.

Shelt worked on service projects, such as the Delta Park and Swimming Pool, and a benefit for a young cancer patient that raised over $35,000.

He promoted preservation of the environment and made the rural community a safer, healthier place.

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