A lifetime commitment to youths and agriculture U.F. resident helped found local 4-H clubs and Horse Park of N.J. BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer Mary Kossatz, of Upper Freehold, is being recognized as one of this year's People Who Make a Difference in the community for her contributions to the local Horse Park of New Jersey and 4-H clubs. UPPER FREEHOLD - Although she never had a horse, she helped found the Horse Park of New Jersey (HPNJ) and to this day remains on its board of trustees. Although she did not have children of her own, she influenced a generation of local youngsters as a 4-H leader. For her tireless efforts toward helping young people and the community, Mary Kossatz is a person whomakes a difference. Mary and her husband, Fred, moved to the township in the early 1960s and raised purebred polled Hereford cattle. She recalled that learning to drive a tractor was difficult for her. "I was told I could find every groundhog hole in the fields, but I didn't give up," she said. Not long after she moved into the township, Mary was introduced to a 4-H leader who insisted that she become a 4-H Baby Beef leader. Kossatz soon became the leader of the 4-HMale Club in aNew Egypt school. Having a female leader for themale club was unusual at that time, she said. Eventually, boys and girls in Upper Freehold formed a co-ed 4-H Club, and the Kossatzes served as the club's leaders. The club, which consisted of 10-12 members, met at their home.Among its projects were diversified sewing, welding, gardening, and raising sheep and cattle. "We were fortunate to get leaders to guide themembers in the various projects," she said, adding that she derived great satisfaction from her 4-H work. "I liked providing [youngsters] with information that they need to make the best better," she said. "4-H is a great place for children to be involved." Her community activities expandedwell beyond 4-H. She served on the Ocean County Board of Agriculture for over a quarter of a century, and was also the secretary/ treasurer of the Ocean County Fair and the president of the Agricultural Fair Association. She noted that all of the fairs included horses. Mary's dedication has been recognized over the years. She has received the gold medallion for distinguished service fromthe New Jersey Agricultural Society, the Governor's Trophy for Horseperson of the Year from the Equine Advisory Board, Ocean County's 4-HLeader of theYear award, and the Friends of 4-Haward fromtheNewJerseyAssociation of 4-HAgents, among other honors. New Egypt's Richard Search, amember of Kossatz's 4-H group called the Beefers at Heart, recalled his years in 4-H "as a very good part of growing up forme."He said the Kossatzes taught respect and values and were concerned about pointing kids in the right direction. KarynMalinowski, Ph.D., director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center, said, "In all of the time I have known Mary, she has always put the welfare of young people and animals first." She related that Kossatz was a foundingmember and treasurer of theNew Jersey 4-H Development Fund, which raises funds for 4-Hyouth development programs. "She is one of the true ladies of agriculture still with us, and she should be recognized for her contributions to all of agriculture," said Malinowski. Nancy Hutcheson, president of the HPNJ, said that Kossatz was the longtime secretary of the HPNJ and also served as the facility's chief of operations. "She really managed the horse park for many years," Hutcheson said. "She's very organized." Just as the 4-H Club had, the HPNJ trustees met at the Kossatzes' home when they first started out. When asked why she got involved with the HPNJ and the Equine Advisory Board even though she never owned a horse, Kossatz replied that horses are part of agriculture and that they consume feed, hay and straw just as cows do. "InNewJersey, especiallywith the racetracks, I thought they were just as important as cattle," she said. Kossatz was the first woman to sit on the township's Planning Board, where she served from 1985 to 1995. Her 102-acre property was one of the earliest tracts in town to go into the farmland preservation program. "I put it in farmland preservation because I thought this was a beautiful place and this is what we wanted," she said. "We wanted to slow down development." Today, Bill and Bret Search raise soybeans, hay and straw on her land, and David Meirs keeps some of his standardbred horses there. Kossatz has enjoyed her life in Upper Freehold. "I've enjoyed the people I've met, and I've enjoyed doing things that produce things beneficial to thousands of people, like the HPNJ," she said.