Though she may not have been able to study the subject in college, Dortha Strack fulfilled her dream of becoming a home economist through on-the-job training.

In September, the Harold and Dortha Strack family of Cape Girardeau County was recognized as the Outstanding Family and Community Education (FCE) Family in Missouri at the State FCE Conference in Columbia, Mo. Earlier this year, the Strack family was honored as second Outstanding FCE Family in the Nation at the National FCE Conference in St. Louis.

"I always wanted to be a home economist, but after high school my sister and I went back to live with our mother and grandparents to help them on the farm," Dortha said. "I feel like through the club, though, I have been able to do everything I wanted."

Dortha is referring to the Kage Family and Community Education (FCE) Club of Cape Girardeau County. As an affiliate of the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension, the Kage group is one of seven such clubs in the county.

Within the FCE organization, four to five counties make up a district and each district can submit one nominee for the Outstanding FCE Family award. Inez Statler of Cape Girardeau nominated the Strack family.

Community people

"I thought they deserved to be recognized because of all the things Dortha has participated in, and Harold also gets involved and serves on a lot of boards," Statler said. "They are a community people. They volunteer for everything that comes along."

Dortha is a 50-year member of the Kage FCE Club. She served as club president for over 39 years. Club programs all deal with children and the family as they relate to literacy, advocacy, non-violence and similar topics.

The club donates Golden Books to the Cape Girardeau Public Health Children's Clinic each month and is involved in the Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship program that benefits special needs children.

"I enjoy helping people and I don't need much sleep. I'm a night person. I can stay up and work through the night," Dortha said.

Harold and Dortha have three sons, born in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Alan and Lisa live in Florida with their son Andrew. Jay is an Air Force lieutenant colonel stationed in Okinawa, Japan, with his wife Nancy and daughters Nicole and Ashley. Jo Wayne and Bonnie reside nearby, with the youngest grandchildren, 4-year-old Belinda and 2-year-old Anthony.

4-H leadership

The Stracks live on the farm where Dortha was born and raised. Each Sunday will find Dortha ringing the Grace United Methodist Church bell that was donated by her great-great-grandparents and teaching Sunday School.

Dortha works part time at Sunny Hill Garden and Florist Center in Cape Girardeau. She also hosts a radio talk show on gardening. In 2001, Dortha was selected as the Heart of FCE winner in the state.

The entire Strack family has been involved with 4-H. They were recently recognized as a 4-H Century Family Farm.

Dortha served as SEMO District Fair 4-H director for 30 years, and all the Strack boys were state 4-H winners in their day. In 1999, Dortha organized an afternoon camp for kids age 5-7, which this year was officially named Dortha's Clover Kid Camp.

Dortha was a 4-H leader before she married. She said becoming involved was important to her because she didn't have organizational opportunities as a child. The death of her father when she was 5 and her sister 6 made it even more difficult to get to town or join in such activities.

When asked where she gets all her ideas, Dortha said, "I'm not much of a reader, can't say I get them that way. I just talk to people and figure out what they need."

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133