Stone County Extension Council to Hold Election
December 24, 2020
Nine Stone County residents are running for election this month on the ballot of the Stone County Extension Council. All county citizens of voting age are eligible to vote in the election for nominees who reside in their district of the county.
Certified ballots and secure affidavit envelopes are available in the Stone County University of Missouri Extension office from Friday, January 15 to Friday, January 22 from 8:00-4:00 pm (the courthouse is closed 1/18/2021 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day) for residents to cast their vote in a ballot box. The MU Extension office is located in Galena on the second floor of the county courthouse. If residents would like to receive a ballot by mail they may request one to be sent to them in advance. Returned ballots must be postmarked by January 22, 2021 in order to be counted. A secure on-line voting system will also be an option for voters and will be available. Residents may vote at http://extension.missouri.edu/stone under the County Council tab.
New elected council members will begin their duties March 1 and serve a two-year term. The County Extension Council works with University of Missouri Extension staff and provides for the county educational programs, manages the county-appropriated finances for local extension operations and provides personnel to carry out MU Extension programs.
In 2021, the Stone County MU Extension Council will be composed of 17 members. Twelve are elected and three are appointed from the county commission, Farm Bureau, and a designated city in the county. This year the city representation will be from Reeds Spring. Two additional appointees are non-voting youth representatives. Youth between the ages of 15-17, residing in Stone County, who are interested in serving on the MU Extension Council should send a letter of intent to Stoneco@missouri.edu to be considered.
For more information and a biography of the candidates, contact the Extension office at 417-357-6812 or visit the local Extension web page at http://extension.missouri.edu/stone/.
Candidate Biographies
District 1
Brian Cutbirth resides north of Crane on a family farm with his wife, Carol. He is retired from Ozark Electric Cooperative. Brian has been farming and raising cattle in the Crane area since 1985 and is a life-long resident of the Crane and Clever area. Brian has served on the Extension Council in the past. Brian’s family was the 2020 Stone County Farm Family.
Brad McCain and his wife, Alexandra, live in the Northwest part of Stone County. Brad is a retired fire captain and has been running a cow/calf operation on over 600 acres for the last 13 years. Brad has served on the Stone County Extension Council in the past and served as vice-chairperson. Brad’s family was the 2018 Stone County Farm Family. He and Ali have 6 children and 13 grandchildren (with another due in January).
Greg Rogers lives off highway AA north of Galena and has lived in Stone County for eight years. He and his wife Kathie live on a small farm. They have a large vegetable garden and sell produce. Greg is an active member of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks chapter and participates in community garden projects such as the Stone County courthouse and Stone County library flower beds. He provides for the Crane food pantry and local assisted-living facilities with homegrown fresh fruit and vegetables. Greg served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years and both he and his wife Kathie have retired from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
District 2
Thomas “Parker” Blubaugh has resided in Stone County for 16 years and now lives in the Branson West area. Parker served as a youth representative for Stone County MU Extension in 2020. He assists in running a registered angus ranch in Stone County and is interested in pursuing a career in Agriculture.
Kathryn Kufahl lives at Reeds Spring with her husband Erv and has resided in the county since 2005. Since that time, she has served as president of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks chapter and has served on numerous committees. She is an active member of the chapter’s speaker’s bureau, presenting educational gardening programs to various groups in the area. Kathryn currently serves as MU Extension Council chairperson. She also volunteers at the Kimberling Area Library.
Deana Wolfe lives in the Reeds Spring area with her husband, Eddie Wolf. She works as a full-time realtor for Reece Nichols Real Estate in Branson West. She is owner of Oliver Station Mini-Storage in Branson West and Molly Moo Farm at Reeds Spring. Deana has participated in extension programs in the past including attending a grazing management school. Deana has lived in the county for 14 years.
District 3
Joanne Anderson resides in Schooner Bay Landing and has lived in the county for 17 years. She has been an active member of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks chapter, serving as treasurer and vice-chair. She has also served on the MU Extension council for two years. Joanne has been retired for seven years after working in accounting at manufacturing companies, a hotel, and a school. She is a front-desk volunteer at Kimberling Area Library. Joanne has transplanted to Stone County from the Chicago area and enjoys living here.
John Davidson has been a 22-year resident of Stone County and resides in the Blue Eye area. John has served on the MU Extension Council for two years. He is also an active member of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks, Masonic Lodge United 5 of Springfield, and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine in Springfield. He retired in 1999 from Ozark Technical College after serving as Division Chair of the Construction Technology Department. John indicates that he hopes to be a help to improve our community in southern Stone County.
Scott Fleetwood and his wife, Patricia, live in the Kimberling City area and have resided in Stone County for about 10 years. Now mostly retired, Scott’s career was concentrated in the agricultural arena working in various disciplines including research, technical service support, marketing and management. He currently works as a scuba diving instructor and has worked with vets associated with the Wounded Warrior Project as well as local boy scout troops. Scott serves as a board member for the Lakes Area Child Advocacy Center and the Stonebridge Property Owners Association. He is a big advocate for agriculture and food systems.
Certified ballots and secure affidavit envelopes are available in the Stone County University of Missouri Extension office from Friday, January 15 to Friday, January 22 from 8:00-4:00 pm (the courthouse is closed 1/18/2021 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day) for residents to cast their vote in a ballot box. The MU Extension office is located in Galena on the second floor of the county courthouse. If residents would like to receive a ballot by mail they may request one to be sent to them in advance. Returned ballots must be postmarked by January 22, 2021 in order to be counted. A secure on-line voting system will also be an option for voters and will be available. Residents may vote at http://extension.missouri.edu/stone under the County Council tab.
New elected council members will begin their duties March 1 and serve a two-year term. The County Extension Council works with University of Missouri Extension staff and provides for the county educational programs, manages the county-appropriated finances for local extension operations and provides personnel to carry out MU Extension programs.
In 2021, the Stone County MU Extension Council will be composed of 17 members. Twelve are elected and three are appointed from the county commission, Farm Bureau, and a designated city in the county. This year the city representation will be from Reeds Spring. Two additional appointees are non-voting youth representatives. Youth between the ages of 15-17, residing in Stone County, who are interested in serving on the MU Extension Council should send a letter of intent to Stoneco@missouri.edu to be considered.
For more information and a biography of the candidates, contact the Extension office at 417-357-6812 or visit the local Extension web page at http://extension.missouri.edu/stone/.
Candidate Biographies
District 1
Brian Cutbirth resides north of Crane on a family farm with his wife, Carol. He is retired from Ozark Electric Cooperative. Brian has been farming and raising cattle in the Crane area since 1985 and is a life-long resident of the Crane and Clever area. Brian has served on the Extension Council in the past. Brian’s family was the 2020 Stone County Farm Family.
Brad McCain and his wife, Alexandra, live in the Northwest part of Stone County. Brad is a retired fire captain and has been running a cow/calf operation on over 600 acres for the last 13 years. Brad has served on the Stone County Extension Council in the past and served as vice-chairperson. Brad’s family was the 2018 Stone County Farm Family. He and Ali have 6 children and 13 grandchildren (with another due in January).
Greg Rogers lives off highway AA north of Galena and has lived in Stone County for eight years. He and his wife Kathie live on a small farm. They have a large vegetable garden and sell produce. Greg is an active member of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks chapter and participates in community garden projects such as the Stone County courthouse and Stone County library flower beds. He provides for the Crane food pantry and local assisted-living facilities with homegrown fresh fruit and vegetables. Greg served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 21 years and both he and his wife Kathie have retired from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
District 2
Thomas “Parker” Blubaugh has resided in Stone County for 16 years and now lives in the Branson West area. Parker served as a youth representative for Stone County MU Extension in 2020. He assists in running a registered angus ranch in Stone County and is interested in pursuing a career in Agriculture.
Kathryn Kufahl lives at Reeds Spring with her husband Erv and has resided in the county since 2005. Since that time, she has served as president of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks chapter and has served on numerous committees. She is an active member of the chapter’s speaker’s bureau, presenting educational gardening programs to various groups in the area. Kathryn currently serves as MU Extension Council chairperson. She also volunteers at the Kimberling Area Library.
Deana Wolfe lives in the Reeds Spring area with her husband, Eddie Wolf. She works as a full-time realtor for Reece Nichols Real Estate in Branson West. She is owner of Oliver Station Mini-Storage in Branson West and Molly Moo Farm at Reeds Spring. Deana has participated in extension programs in the past including attending a grazing management school. Deana has lived in the county for 14 years.
District 3
Joanne Anderson resides in Schooner Bay Landing and has lived in the county for 17 years. She has been an active member of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks chapter, serving as treasurer and vice-chair. She has also served on the MU Extension council for two years. Joanne has been retired for seven years after working in accounting at manufacturing companies, a hotel, and a school. She is a front-desk volunteer at Kimberling Area Library. Joanne has transplanted to Stone County from the Chicago area and enjoys living here.
John Davidson has been a 22-year resident of Stone County and resides in the Blue Eye area. John has served on the MU Extension Council for two years. He is also an active member of the Master Gardeners of the Ozarks, Masonic Lodge United 5 of Springfield, and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine in Springfield. He retired in 1999 from Ozark Technical College after serving as Division Chair of the Construction Technology Department. John indicates that he hopes to be a help to improve our community in southern Stone County.
Scott Fleetwood and his wife, Patricia, live in the Kimberling City area and have resided in Stone County for about 10 years. Now mostly retired, Scott’s career was concentrated in the agricultural arena working in various disciplines including research, technical service support, marketing and management. He currently works as a scuba diving instructor and has worked with vets associated with the Wounded Warrior Project as well as local boy scout troops. Scott serves as a board member for the Lakes Area Child Advocacy Center and the Stonebridge Property Owners Association. He is a big advocate for agriculture and food systems.