PERRYVILLE – Missouri state statutes create county extension councils to work with University of Missouri Extension. The publicly elected (and appointed) council members assist in planning and carrying out extension programs in their county, providing local extension governance and representing the diversity of the county’s changing population.
Extension offers research-based programming in categories such as agriculture and the environment, business and community development, nutrition and health, and youth and family education. Extension Council members also administer a local budget that helps support these educational efforts in the county.
Any person aged 18 or older who resides in Perry County may vote in the Perry County Extension Council Election.
Voting will take place January 23-27, 2023. You may vote in person at the Perry County Extension Office (321 N Main Street) or on-line by going to the Perry County Extension Web page at: https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/perry
If you have any questions, call the Extension office at 573-547-4504.
Candidates
- Shannon Allison lives in Brazeau with her husband Will and children Abby, Riley and Harlee. She is a Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Agent. Shannon and her family attend Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altenburg. She is a member of Perry County Young Farmers, Missouri Farm Bureau, a Perryville FFA Alumni, serves on the Missouri Young Farmers State Advisory Committee and the Perryville Career Center Advisory Council as a representative for the Ag Department and is a 4-H parent. Shannon’s children have been active with 4-H for several years and she would like to give back to the community that helped shape her and her children. She wants to help ensure that the programs that are offered by Extension continue to grow and thrive so others can expand their knowledge. By serving on the Perryville Career Center Advisory Council, she has experience with meeting community needs while keeping a balanced budget in mind. She feels that her background in education, business, and the love of Perry County would be a great asset to the Extension Council.
- Dana Christisen lives south of Perryville off of B Road with her husband Bob. She has two daughters; Emily Weibrecht and Elle Christisen, and three sons; Shane Christisen, Jake Christisen and Rocky Huber. She is a proud grandmother to nine grandchildren. Dana is a Naturopath. She is a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and serves as President of the DMC Essential Education Association. She has served on the executive board of the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce and has an understanding of community organizations. Dana feels that her business experience will be an asset as she gives back to the community by serving on the Perry County Extension Council.
- Hannah Fritsche-Donze lives on a farm west of Brewer. She is married to Dustin Donze and has two sons, Dresden age nine and Canton age four. Hannah has been an agricultural education teacher for the past 15 years. Currently she teaches and is an FFA Advisor at Ste. Genevieve High School. Hannah and Dustin own and operate a livestock farm consisting of a cow-calf operation as well as raising meat goats. Hannah is a member of Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association (MVATA), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Southeast District Vice President for MVATA, Past President of the Area 15 MVATA, Farrar Hawthorne 4-H Club Volunteer, Small Animals 4-H Leader (Ste. Genevieve County), a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar, and a Missouri Farm Bureau Member.
As a professional in agriculture education, Hannah enjoys working with University of Missouri Extension to provide quality education programs to both youth and adults. She feels she would be able to provide feedback to the Extension Council since she works with both FFA and 4-H youth programs. Hannah was a member of 4-H in Perry County for 10 years when she was younger and now her son is a member of Perry County 4-H and she knows first-hand the enormous benefits Perry County 4-H provides to our youth and their future.
Hannah wants to continue supporting and giving back to programs like 4-H by becoming a member of the Extension Council. She wants to help make sure 4-H stays a quality program for our Perry County youth for many years to come. She always tells her students that learning does not stop after high school; they need to be lifelong learners. University of Missouri Extension not only teaches our youth life skills but also teaches adults many life skills including healthy lifestyles, horticulture, soil and water, food preservation, small business management and much more. Her hope as an Extension Council member is to help these programs continue to grow and prosper so that lifelong learning continues.
- Jennifer Janet, lives in the northern part of Perry County and is the Broker-Owner of Coldwell Banker Professional Associates. She is married to Nic and has two sons: Samuel and Alex. Jennifer is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and serves as the President of Ladies Aid. She also serves as a board member for the Perry County Community Foundation and is President of the REALTORS Land Institute, Missouri Chapter. Additionally, she is a panel member for the Missouri Association of REALTORS Grievance Committee and Perry County Board of Equalization. Since being a member of the Perry County Extension Council the last 2 years, Jennifer has enjoyed learning about all the services the Extension office offers and helping spread the word throughout our community. It is vital to rural communities to know all the resources that are available through MU Extension.
- David Lohmann lives in Farrar and is a dairy farmer. He has three children: Courtney, Clayton and Dalton. David serves on the MFA Board in Perryville, is a member of Perry County Young Farmers, and a member of Salem Lutheran Church. David’s children are members of the Farrar Hawthorne 4-H club and Perryville FFA, so you will find him volunteering with both organizations. David would like to serve on the Perry County Extension Council to show support for the 4-H Youth Program.
- Kim Lohmann lives in Farrar and is a Special Education Teacher/School Psychological Examiner at Altenburg Public School. She is married to Patrick and has a daughter, Engel and two sons Henry and George. She is a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Farrar, the Athletic Director for the East Perry County Wildcats and Farrar Hawthorne 4-H Club parent volunteer. Kim would like to serve on the council to ensure that council money is being spent on extension expenses that benefit our citizens, especially children in the community.
- Kristyna Meier, lives in Altenburg and is a Middle School Teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School in Perryville. She is married to Adam and has two daughters: Eme and Magnolia. Kristyna is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She is a Farrar Hawthorne 4-H and Farrar Clover Kids parent and volunteer. She is also the Scholar Bowl Coach. Kristyna would like to serve on the Extension Council because she believes that it is important to represent our kids’ needs in the community. She truly feels called to help nurture the programs offered and assist others who are already a part of these programs.
- Angela (Brewer) Mezo lives in Perryville. She has one son, Evan. Angela is director of Human Relations for Colaberry (a Data Science Consulting Firm). Angela has been a member of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1998, AMVETS Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, and a member of St Vincent DePaul Parish.
Angela wants to serve on the Extension Council to learn as much as possible about the programs and services the Extension Council provides so she can help share this information in the community. She feels she can be a great voice to our community. Angela was a member of the Sereno 4-H Club many years ago and loves the skills and values 4-H taught her as a young woman.
- Reine Vernon, lives in the Friedenberg area and is self-employed on her own farm and orchard. She is married to Derik and they are proud parents to twins Reagyn and Domanik. Reine currently attends Cape County Cowboy Church. She is a 4-H parent and volunteer. Reine is looking forward to being on the Extension Council as part of a community that encourages each other. She is happy to help in any way that could better the strong connection we all have. Reine enjoys listening to and seeing what could be changed and improved in order to make our community the most inviting place it can be. Growing up in Perry County has been a wonderful experience for Reine and she enjoys seeing all the changes and growth and she wants to become a part of what our future has to offer.