By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County honored the cream of its crop Sunday afternoon, with six local residents being presented with Spirit of Wood County Awards.
They were honored for stepping up to serve their communities, for bringing decades of music to many, for convincing others to try land conservation practices, for planting seeds of learning in the next generation of farmers, and for making practical sense out of local government law.
The Wood County Commissioners presented the awards for the 36th year. Recognized this year were Lee Sundermeier, Michael Shertzer, Mike Marsh, Sharon Bitter, Judy Ennis and Kris Swartz. Following is information on each recipient.
Agricultural leadership
Lee Sundermeier, who has spread his love of the land, pheasants and chestnut trees was recognized with the Agricultural Leadership Award.
He was raised on his family’s Webster Township farm, which he and his siblings continue to farm today. Sundermeier grew up on the traditional livestock and crop farm, then went on to earn a degree in agronomy from OSU, spending his professional career in the ag-chemical and fertilizer business.
Sundermeier has served on the Wood Soil and Water Conservation District, encouraging conservation farming practices. He is a supporter of Pheasants Forever, guiding many youth in pheasant hunts and helping to establish natural habitats that will benefit the area for years to come.
He is also a member of the American Chestnut Foundation, a group trying to develop a blight-resistant American chestnut tree species to ultimately bring it back from near extinction in North America. In addition to growing many of his own trees, Sundermeier has also gifted many American Chestnut seedlings to others in the area.
“These characteristics represent an individual that sees the value in leading by example and cares about strengthening agriculture and conservation,” SWCD board members stated in their nomination of Sundermeier.
Sundermeier has worked to pass on his love of agriculture to future generations through youth conservation programs and friendships, according to Rob Spicer, another nominator.
“Starting at a very young age, Lee has had my boys out to his family’s farm to walk the land, see the animals, ride in the combine and help with the harvest,” Spicer stated. Sundermeier has given the Spicers chestnut trees to plant, and shared his knowledge and love of pheasants.
“I have witnessed Lee’s agricultural leadership among other farmers in our community,” Spicer said. “I have often been part of conversations in which other farmers consult with Lee for his insight and opinions on a wide variety of agricultural matters.”
“Yes, I do like the outdoors,” Sundermeier said as he accepted his award.
Education for Civic Responsibility
Mike Shertzer, who fostered future farmers as a teacher and continues to do so in his retirement, was recognized with the Education for Civic Responsibility Award.
He served as the agricultural education teacher and FFA adviser at Bowling Green High School for 41 years.
“He dedicated his life to educating thousands of youth in the industries of agriculture, food and natural resources,” Stacie Wenig Anderson said in her nomination. “Shertzer grew the BG FFA into the largest chapter in Wood County while creating an agricultural education department that was looked to as an innovative leader in the field.”
During his tenure, the FFA earned several honors. After retirement, he continues to serve as a member of the BG FFA Alumni and Friends Group.
Shertzer’s impact was felt beyond the classroom, with his 35-year investment in 4-H, and his founding of the Northwest Ohio Woodworkers Guild.
“It is one of the extreme fortunes of my life to be counted in the roll of Mr. Shertzer’s students,” Wenig Anderson stated. “I can think of no other educator with as profound an impact on my life, my development, and my success.”
Jayne Roth, a retired 4-H educator with OSU Extension, shared her support for Shertzer to be honored.
“I had a bird’s eye view of his dedicated service to the Bowling Green area, and later to the ‘Shertzer ripple effect,’ which went well beyond the school district lines.”
“Mike worked tirelessly to provide a comprehensive curriculum of agricultural topics not only to ‘farm kids,’ but his classes were highly regarded and sought by kids of all walks of life,” Roth said. “He was an energetic ‘hands-on guy,’ and his love of agriculture was truly infectious.”
Shertzer’s success can be seen in the number of graduates in prominent agricultural professional positions in Wood County and the nation, Wenig Anderson said.
In accepting his award, Shertzer said he continues to teach today – through Kiwanis, at the senior center, and working with grandchildren. The reward has always been the look of understanding when a student fully grasps a subject.
“Learning never stops,” he said.
Liberty through Law Award
Mike Marsh, the “dean” of municipal attorneys, was recognized with the Liberty through Law/Human Freedom Award.
Marsh was nominated by three men who have served as Bowling Green mayors – current Mayor Mike Aspacher and former mayors Dick Edwards and John Quinn.
Throughout his career specializing in municipal law, Marsh served as Bowling Green’s city attorney for 36 years, and at one time he represented a total of 14 towns and cities in Wood County.
“Marsh’s career in law and his contributions to the betterment of the City of Bowling Green and the citizens of Wood County have been extraordinary, and in our view, richly deserving of his high honor,” the mayors stated in their nomination.
Given his career and universal respect for his legal knowledge and his practical approach to problem solving, Marsh deserves the title of “dean” of municipal attorneys throughout the state, the nomination read.
“We have all benefited immeasurably from his deeply rooted knowledge of municipal law, his wise counsel, his calming demeanor and his wonderful ability to put issues and concerns in perspective from a citizen point of view.”
“Marsh’s services on behalf of the citizens of Bowling Green and Wood County have been conducted in a totally selfless manner with only one primary objective – community betterment and enrichment linked to the practical, timely and well-reasoned applications of the law and indeed his incredibly generous heart.”
In accepting his award, Marsh shared the credit, saying he was just one member of the team. And he gave a nod to his ancestors, pointing to the neighboring old county jail and explaining his father grew up in the jail with Mike’s grandfather being the county sheriff.
Religion and Liberty Award
Sharon Bitter, who has shared the gift of music at her church and with students, was honored with the Religion and Liberty Award.
A lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stony Ridge, she has made a 60-plus-year commitment to her church and the surrounding communities.
“She has been known to say that God has blessed her with these talents and she wants to use it for the good of others,” Sheri Bretz stated in her nomination.
Bitter began as a substitute organist at St. John’s at the age of 16 and has been the organist there for more than 60 years. She has also been the director of the adult and the children’s choirs for more than 20 years.
She plays for wedding and funerals for her own church congregation, and for several area churches and funeral homes in surrounding communities.
“She has been known to cancel vacations and other special plans to fulfill her commitment to helping others,” her nominators stated.
During Covid, Bitter made a weekly commitment to continue providing music for online services, when in-person worship was halted.
She has taught piano and organ lessons for many years, with her students being “her kids.” She often accompanies students for competitions or recitals and tries to attend their school programs when possible. One of her protegees is now a church organist himself.
Bitter has served her church in other ways, working on committees, performing in church musicals, helping with Vacation Bible School and Christmas programs, providing communion and visitation for church members unable to leave their homes, and being part of the women’s Bible circle.
In accepting the award, Bitter said it has been a privilege to serve many churches in the area and to see the talents of young students blossom.
Self Government Award
Judy Ennis, who has bettered her community by serving many roles in local government and non-profit agencies, was honored with the Self-Government Award.
“Judy has truly dedicated herself to not only individuals, but to the Bowling Green community and Wood County as a whole,” said her nominator Colleen Smith.
Ennis serves on the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, previously as board chairperson. She spent 10 years working with Big Sisters, where she proved herself to be an active mentor and support person for other women.
She has served as board president of the Wood County Historical Society, and strongly promoted its accessibility fundraising. And she has served the Downtown Bowling Green Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Resale Shop, and as vice chair of the Private Industry Council of Northwest Ohio.
Ennis was appointed to the Bowling Green Zoning Board of Appeals in 1992 and again in 2013. She has served as the zoning board’s representative to the city planning commission since 2016.
“Her knowledge and background is simply invaluable to the future growth and development in the city,” Smith stated.
While working with Owens Community College, Ennis was the executive director of the Findlay campus. She sought out opportunities to partner with community organizations and led marketing efforts for a statewide initiative that provided awareness of training opportunities offered at colleges, which benefited the workforce by increasing skills.
While employed at Northwest State Community College, Ennis served as the director of Workforce Development and later as dean of Corporate Community Outreach.
Now working with the University of Toledo Technical Prep, she works with schools to align curriculum to improve success and encourage students to consider careers in technical education.
“Judy is an ongoing cheerleader and advocate for Bowling Green, including Wood County, and continues to involve herself in many organizations for the betterment of our community and council,” Smith stated.
In accepting her award, Ennis said she first came to Bowling Green when Lasalle’s department store decided a woman might be able to handle the role of store manager. She was welcomed by then mayor Alvie Perkins, Colleen Smith, Mike Marsh, the county commissioners and more leaders, who quickly became her heroes. She quickly learned about cooperation, the “Wood County way,” and emulated that in her roles in the community.
Lyle R. Fletcher Good Citizenship Award
Kris Swartz, a champion of land conservation, was honored with the Lyle R. Fletcher Good Citizenship Award.
Swartz is a fifth generation Wood County farmer, working nearly 2,000 acres of land in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
“It must be recognized that Kris’ leadership extends beyond the boundaries of Wood County, including regional and national settings as well,” Jackie Huffman said in her nomination of Swartz. “Kris is well known for his example and education of others in innovative agricultural best practices for the conservation of soil and water.”
In 1995, Swartz was elected as a supervisor to the Wood County Soil and Water Conservation District – and he continues today as the longest serving member on record. The mission of the district is to care for the environment through responsible land and water policies, conservation practices, development, oversight and environmental education.
“Kris’ farming practices mirror this mission throughout his career,” Huffman stated. “Kris Swartz is the face of Northwest Ohio Soil and Water Conservation and a name well known and respected regionally as well as nationally.”
Swartz currently serves as a regional chairperson of the National Association of Conservation Districts, giving a regional voice to national efforts. He also serves as chairman of the Ohio Agricultural Conservation Initiative, originally created to educate and adopt best farming practices for continuous conservation and improvement in water quality.
That organization has assisted more than 2,000 farmers in 14 Northwest Ohio counties participate in the state’s H2Ohio Initiative – which Swartz is involved in and wholeheartedly believes in, Huffman said.
Swartz has hosted U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Gov. Mike DeWine and Gov. John Kasich at his farm to discuss water quality and the H2Ohio Initiative.
“His leadership and innovative best farming practices are unmatched by any other,” Huffman said. “Wood County is a better place for his work and efforts in leading forward water and soil conservation.”
In accepting his award, Swartz said, “I’m not all that special.” He credited others with sharing their knowledge about conservation practices.
