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Mocks to receive ACE award

Longtime volunteers lauded

Jack and Peggy Mock of Williamsburg are the 2019 winners of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce ACE Award. Photo for the Mirror by Linda Stotler

Peggy Mock grew up on a farm outside of Williamsburg. Her husband, Jack, grew up in Roaring Spring.

“I was a city slicker,” he said jokingly.

The Mocks, longtime volunteers with the Blair County 4-H program, will receive the Blair County Chamber of Commerce’s Agricultural Community Excellence Award tonight at the chamber’s annual Farm-City Dinner at the Freedom Township Fire Hall.

Started as a continuation and expansion of the chamber’s successful Farm Family of the Year Award that was initiated in 1970, the award is an effort by the chamber to recognize all facets that make agriculture a primary industry in the county.

The Mocks, who live in Woodbury Township, weren’t expecting to receive such an award.

“We were surprised. We never thought we would get it,” Peggy Mock said.

“We were shocked,” Jack Mock said.

The Mocks are worthy recipients, said Joseph Diamond, chairman of the chamber’s Farm-City Committee.

“The Mocks have been volunteers with the Blair County 4-H program for over 24 years. They have spent countless hours working with 4-H members in both Blair County Junior Livestock Program and the Blair County Lamb Chops 4-H Club,” Diamond said. “Their involvement and enthusiasm with the lamb club has encouraged both 4-H and FFA members to exhibit lambs at our county show.”

“They are wonderful contributors to our community, all of their time is volunteer and they would be excellent ACE Award recipients,” wrote committee member David Hileman, one of those who nominated the Mocks for the award.

Peggy Mock has been involved with 4-H since she was 10 years old.

“I showed horses and beef for 10 years, My dad (Eli Rhodes) was a 4-H leader for about 35 years. My sister, Janet, was in 4-H before I was able to join,” Peggy Mock said.

Jack became involved with 4-H through their son, Jeremy.

“He was in for 12 years and was an FFA member at Williamsburg. Jack lived it through him,” Peggy Mock said.

The Mocks started their 4-H volunteer work in 1995 when they were asked to take over the Lamb Chops 4-H Club.

“We didn’t know much about showing sheep; we learned from the kids. We are still the leaders today, starting our 25th year. We have had 105 members go through since we were leaders, a lot of great kids,” Peggy Mock said. “I wanted to pass on what was done for me, by my dad and other great leaders.”

The Mocks play a major role with the Blair County Junior Livestock Show and Sale, held each August in Martinsburg. Jack serves as president, and Peggy serves as treasurer.

“Their selfless dedication to the annual event is obvious. Peggy spends hours contacting buyers and sponsors, keeping accurate financial records, and organizing much of the show and sale. Jack provides leadership as president and works behind the scenes to make sure the show and sale operate smoothly,” Jerry Bechtel, a member of the Blair County Junior Livestock Association, and Tom Ritchey, Central High School agriculture teacher and secretary of Blair County Junior Livestock Association, wrote in their nomination letter.

The Mocks were always able to find time for volunteer work despite holding full-time jobs.

Peggy spent 41 years at Nason Hospital as a medical secretary and phlebotomist before retiring in 2012. Jack continues to work as a machine room oiler at Appvion, where he has worked for more than 40 years.

They also have been involved with production agriculture over the years, raising cattle, sheep and horses.

“Today we have 10 beef cattle, 30 ewes and four horses. We have downsized. We were up to 300 ewes at one time,” Peggy Mock said.

Both said the volunteer work with 4-H is rewarding. “It makes you feel good when you see the kids mature, how they have come out of their shell. When they go into the ring the first time, they are timid. They learn to become more competitive as they go to more shows,” Peggy Mock said.

“It is rewarding to see the kids retain what was taught to them that they can use later in life,” Jack Mock said.

The Mocks have no immediate plans to stop volunteering.

“We are still going. Jeremy was done in 2012, but we are still doing it seven years later,” Peggy Mock said.

David Grazier, vice president/general manager of the Tyrone Kunzler Division, will be the guest speaker at tonight’s event.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.

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