Each year the Executive Board selects someone who has dedicated a significant amount of time to Extension educational programs in Barton County to receive the Extension Appreciation Award. This year the honoree named was Karen Kramp from Ellinwood.
Karen and her family have been active in the 4-H program for many years. The most significant accomplishment over the last few years has been Karen’s support of the Labo/Lex Japanese Exchange program.
In 2005, Karen Kramp and Marian DeWerff were asked if they would coordinate the program. They agreed and their first task was to attend training at Rock Springs Ranch. The next step was to recruit interested families, visit their homes and conduct a family interview with all family members present. They also had to make sure all the proper paperwork was filled out and sent on the state exchange coordinator. They planned a “half way” party and other activities while the visitors were here to make sure everyone was doing ok and not getting homesick.
In 2005, Barton County was host to seven Japanese children age 12-14.  In 2006, we hosted four and Pawnee County hosted three.  Of the students who stayed for the three week exchange, two returned and with their host family for a full year of high school in Barton county.
In 2011, Karen was asked again if she would help and she again said “Yes”. Last year, five Japanese students stayed with Barton County families and two with Pawnee County 4-H families.
In 2005, Karen hosted the adult chaperone, Keiko.  In 2006, she hosted Ryoko and in 2011 she hosted Tomiko. We know that Karen was a great host because Tomiko returned to Kansas in November to visit Karen.
The Barton County Extension Board would like to thank Karen for her dedication to the 4-H and youth program of Barton County. The Japanese exchange program would not have happened without her hard work.