Heavner to take reins at Orr Center as JWCC Ag Director
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Jody Heavner
John Wood Community College (JWCC) has announced the appointment of Jody Heavner as the new Director of Agricultural Education. Heavner will succeed long-time JWCC Ag Center Director and Instructor, Mike Tenhouse who will retire next month after 25 years of service.
Heavner has served as an agriculture instructor and FFA Advisor for Pikeland Unit 10 schools since 2008. She has been an adjunct professor at JWCC, managed Pea Ridge Elk Ranch, and served as an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor for Union High School in Biggsville.
The Pikeland School Board accepted her resignation at their May meeting.
Heavner holds a master’s degree in animal science from the University of Illinois and was honored as the 2022 Illinois Association Career and Technical Educators state winner of the Carl Perkins award and a national finalist for the Carl Perkins Community Service Award in 2023.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jody to John Wood Community College,” said Dr. Bryan Renfro, JWCC President. “Her passion for agricultural education and proven track record of success make her an ideal fit for this important role. We look forward to the innovative ideas and leadership she will bring to our agricultural education programs.”
Heavner will be responsible for overseeing the College’s agricultural education programs and Ag Sciences Complex effective August 2024.
Heavner replaces Mike Tenhouse who is retiring after 25 years with the school.
Tenhouse expressed confidence in Heavner’s ability to fill the role and move the JWCC ag program forward, because she is an experienced educator and has strong ties to area high schools.
“Jodi will do a great job continuing to build the ag program at John Wood,” Tenhouse said. “She has a great deal of experience teaching at the high school level and has done some teaching for us in the past as well. She’s an ideal fit for the job.”
“She’ll keep the program growing and moving in the right direction.”
JWCC Trustees recognize Livestock Judging Team
By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Submitted photo
During its regular board meeting on Wednesday, May 22, John Wood Community College’s (JWCC’s) Board of Trustees recognized students and faculty from JWCC’s Livestock Evaluation Team. Team members included Emma Taylor (Murrayville, Ill.), Laila Beck (Arenzvile, Ill.), Grayson Tedrow (Payson, Ill.), Marcus Perry (Mt. Sterling, Ill.), Abe Welbourne (Pittsfield, Ill.), Beau Shaffer (Mendon, Ill.), Sophia Ludwig (Quincy, Ill.), Wade Allen (Quincy, Ill.), and Luke Jacquot (Carthage, Ill.).
During its regular board meeting on Wednesday, May 22, John Wood Community College’s (JWCC’s) Board of Trustees recognized students and faculty from JWCC’s Livestock Evaluation Team.
The team captured first place in the Livestock Management two-year college category at the 2024 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Judging Conference in Twin Falls, Idaho.
The same team earned fourth place honors for NACTA’s Knowledge Bowl competition and livestock judging. Team members included Emma Taylor (Murrayville, IL), Laila Beck (Arenzvile, IL), Grayson Tedrow (Payson, IL), Marcus Perry (Mt. Sterling, IL), Abe Welbourne (Pittsfield, IL), Beau Shaffer (Mendon, IL), Sophia Ludwig (Quincy, IL), Wade Allen (Quincy, IL), and Luke Jacquot (Carthage, IL). JWCC’s Livestock Judging program is directed by Mike Tenhouse, Justin Lewis, and Bethany Beeler.
In addition, Trustee Larry Fischer – and former Ag Director – was recognized for his induction into the JWCC Agriculture Hall of Fame and Mike Tenhouse was honored for his retirement after 25 years of service to the College.
Submitted photo
Trustee Larry Fischer, who is a past director of the JWCC Ag Program – was recognized for his induction into the JWCC Agriculture Hall of Fame and Mike Tenhouse was honored for his retirement after 25 years of service to the College.
Trustees also received an update on the College’s Workforce Development Center (WDC) Expansion project. The 14,000 square foot expansion was supported by a $3 million Federal Economic Adjustment Assistance Program grant awarded to JCC in June of 2021.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion is set for Wednesday, May 29, at 8:30 a.m.
“This has been a collaboration among business, industry, and community leaders to leverage Federal dollars to ensure this region has a state-of-the-art training facility, “JWCC President Dr. Bryan Renfro said. “The expansion will help us build on our efforts to keep pace with the evolving technical skills needed to meet the region’s workforce needs. This means providing customized training to area businesses, upskilling existing workers, and continuing to build a pipeline of students to sustain and grow our region’s industries.”
JWCC’s WDC facility is located at North 42nd street in Quincy and additions will include a new Truck Driver Training addition, new physical building entrance, HVAC lab, and business and industry training classrooms. A remodel of the current interior of the building includes expanded space for welding, mixed/virtual reality learning, industrial maintenance, robotics, automation, and flexible use space for new programs.
Trustees also In other business, Trustees:
• Approved submission of a $100,000 grant to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for a grant for an automatic door lock security project.
• Adopted a taxing body resolution to add territory to the Quincy, Adams, Brown County Enterprise Zone and extend benefits allowed by the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act amending the boundary to include a 40-acre United Alloy property.
• Accepted the lowest bid of $96,562 from Blick’s Construction in Quincy for gravel and grading of the Workforce Development Center truck driving range and road course.
• Approved employment contract for Dr. Bryan Renfro from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028.
• Approved a resolution adopting the 2024 Adams County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. at the JWCC Quincy campus.
