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Agnes Panek

Agnes Panek
Agnes Panek

Eminent Homemaker

County: Lawrence

Agnes Panek, Spearfish, lives by the golden rule. She puts the needs of others ahead of her own and freely gives her time and talents for the benefit of other people.

She and her late husband, Charles, ranched in Meade County for over 20 years. Following his death, Agnes continued to operate the ranch. She also taught school for seven years and built and managed an apartment building.

However, Agnes does not keep her talents for business to herself. She provided advice and financial backing to friends enabling them to enter and remain in agriculture. As an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, she was a member of the building and finance committee that played a large role when the church was being built.

She also used her financial talents as the state treasurer of the Extension Homemakers.  As an Extension Homemaker for 45 years, Agnes has been an unofficial ambassador for our state and nation. She has attended five national Extension Homemaker meetings and the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) triannual in Ireland.

Agnes also is active in other activities in her community including the Republican Women and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. She is a member of the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Hills Training Center Board and the Lookout Memorial Hospital Board. She also is a life member of the South Dakota Cowboy and Western Heritage Hall of Fame.

Dedicated to the beef industry, Agnes is a long-time member of the South Dakota Stockgrower's Association and the Cowbelles. She chaired the high school beef cook-off in Lawrence County, donated beef for a benefit dinner and co-chaired beef promotion in area restaurants.

Other examples of Agnes' willingness to give of herself include teaching several young homemakers to quilt, delivering meals on wheels to the elderly, looking after friends' children, and providing housing for college students.

As a memorial to her son Laroy she funded a rodeo scholarship at SDSU for three years.

Agnes has one daughter, Mary Jo Brady.