SHERRARD, Ill. – Former Sherrard teacher Ramona McMeekan was honored recently for 20 years of volunteer service with Ag in the Classroom, an initiative through the Mercer County Farm Bureau that teaches children about agriculture, according to a news release.
Ag in the Classroom volunteer Connie Lord surprised Ms. McMeekan with a plaque at Sherrard Elementary, one of the schools where McMeekan formerly taught. Throughout her 40 years in the Sherrard School District, she also taught at Coyne Center.
Ms. McMeekan thought she was attending an Ag in the Classroom session for fun when Principal Casey Wyant introduced her to students and Ms. Lord told the group about Ms. McMeekan’s accomplishments. Ms. McMeekan’s family members were in attendance, too, to witness the special moment.
Ag in the Classroom got its start in 1981 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the release. Locally, Ms. McMeekan started helping with Ag in the Classroom in 2003 following her retirement.
“Twenty years is a long time to commit to anything,” Mr. Wyant said in the release. “Ramona has committed over 60 years of her life to share her appreciation for education, nature and everything they have to offer with our future generations. Her contributions to the education of our youth in the Sherrard School District is immeasurable, and the impacts will surely be felt for generations to come as these students pass that love onto others.”
