Jody Johnson of Dwight, Kans. is the recipient of the 2024 Geary County Extension Appreciation Award.
Jody is an active volunteer for Geary County K-State Research and Extension, serving as a Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) counselor for the past three years. During that time, she and FCS agents have saved Geary County residents over $200,000 in savings each year for necessary medicine and health expenses. Jody’s passion for helping others through the complicated healthcare system came from a background in animal health, customer service and volunteerism.
Graduating from Kansas State University in 1976 and 1981 with degrees in veterinary medicine and pathology, Jody would work in pathology before serving as the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Alumni Affairs for the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. She then entered industry and worked in customer services for Hills Pet Nutrition, while continuing her involvement in the American Veterinary Medicine Association, focusing on healthcare insurance initiatives for independent veterinarians across the United States.
In addition to her 15 years of volunteerism as SHICK counselor in the local area, Jody volunteers as a member of the Marion Hill Lutheran Church of White City, Little Huskies Daycare, an election board volunteer as well as being a lifetime member of the K-State Alumni Association and the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA).
Today, Jody and her husband Gary, along with two of their children, operate their farm and ranch in Dwight. The couple have four adult children and nine grandchildren. Jody shared that her love of assisting others stems from her mother and her many years in customer service.
The award was created in 1983 so that an individual, family or business, that goes above and beyond in their support of Extension in a county can be recognized.