Joe Orwig said his dad, Lester, once told him a man is not only supposed to raise good kids…his job is to raise his kids to be good men and women.
Orwig of Toulon and a 1984 graduate of Black Hawk College East Campus, extended his father’s philosophy to his alma mater in accepting the Black Hawk East Agri-Business Club Alumni’s 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award at its annual Aggie Weekend dinner held Saturday night at Midland Golf Club.
“Black Hawk East does the same thing,” he said. “Not only does Black Hawk turn out good students, but it produces outstanding people.”
Orwig became an auctioneer the year he graduated from Toulon-LaFayette High School, and turned it into a full-time occupation in 2003. Along with his auctioneering business he sells real estate and is a certified appraiser. He served 12 years on the Stark County School Board, is a past president of the ABCA, and served as chair of the Black Hawk College East Foundation which is affiliated with the alumni organization.
Named 2024 Friends of the Alumni were Compeer Financial and the State Bank of Toulon.
Compeer has been a longtime supporter of ag programs at the East Campus recently supporting an initiative on workforce development which correlated to five years of scholarships and a grant to provide precision ag equipment to the college.
The State Bank of Toulon, with branches in Kewanee and Galva, has contributed more than $40,000 to the Black Hawk College East Foundation over the last 30 years and has provided scholarship and support to every ag-related program at the East Campus.
Two special awards were presented by the ABCA Board.
Tami Rouse, board vice chair and fundraising chairman, was recognized for her efforts to raise funds from a broad range of partners in the community in support of scholarships, programs, and ABCA activities such as this year’s Aggie Weekend which, in addition to the dinner, included a social Friday night at Cerno’s and a golf outing Sunday at Midland.
Danielle Williams, who recently resigned after serving five years as executive director of the Black Hawk College East Foundation to take a position with the Susan G. Women Foundation, was named an Honorary Member of the ABCA for her work in helping the ABCA to update its bylaws and her efforts in support of scholarships and other support for BHE students. Only one other person has received the distinction, the late Eldon “Bud” Aupperle, founder of the ag program at BHE.
The ABCA’s Freshman Spirit Scholarship was awarded to Kailey Smith of Wyoming, and the Future Alumnus Scholarship went to Jonwyn Ayres of Medford, OR.
The following 2024-25 ABCA scholarship recipients were announced:
Alumni Legacy Scholarship — Dane Hennenfent
Incoming Freshman Scholarship — Wyatt Storms
ABCA Vet Tech Scholarship — Jazmine Ralston
Ag Transfer Scholarship — Chloe Barnes
ABCA Equine Scholarship — Gabrielle Olson
ABCA Skilled Trades Scholarship — Ty Robinson
Ag Business/Production Scholarship — Jaycee Halsema
