Mercado this year's Homemakers Unsung Hero

WORLAND - The Washakie County Homemakers announced their 2022 Unsung Hero last week, right before National Homemakers Week.

Worland business owner and community volunteer Kathy Mercado is being honored as the Washakie County Homemakers 2022 Unsung Hero. She will receive a plaque and be honored at the group's fall meeting. All county Unsung Heroes around the state will be recognized at the state convention next month.

In her nomination of Mercado, Homemaker member Linda Abell wrote, "A true entrepreneur, Kathy is the owner of Kings Carpet One. Previously she has owned several businesses, including Ricker Pharmacy; Vista Trucking; and Black KAT Trucking."

She also is a substitute pharmacist at Banner Health.

Abell added, "These diversified businesses, have employed many workers and provided much needed services in Washakie County. She has currently expanded her carpet business to include full-service home design and remodeling of your current home."

Under her leadership, Kings Carpet One was chosen as the Worland/Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

But, it is not just her entrepreneurial spirit that the Homemakers recognized, but also her community spirit.

"She volunteers as a chief cook and bottle washer at the Elk's Lodge and is the Secretary of the Lodge and the Lodge's Foundation," Abell wrote in the nomination.

Mercado and her family also help organize, cook and serve up the Eagles No. 3096 community Christmas dinner for the community.

She serves on the board of the Washakie Museum & Cultural Center, and gives generously to non-profits in Worland and Ten Sleep.

She also volunteers at the Worland Senior Center with the home-delivered meals program.

When she purchased Kings Carpet One she also got a sandwich board for the outside and she displays different inspirational messages throughout the month.

She said the messages are a collaboration between all of the employees. Sometimes it is quotes that have stuck with someone, a motivational message and sometimes they search the internet for a short inspirational message to share with the community and drivers passing by.

"When I drive, I like to find quick little notes that put a smile on your face," Mercado said.

Regarding her community service, she said, "It's how we were raised, to help the community, to help others. When we go out of town, we will pickup trash (in a park or somewhere)."

She added that it is important to take care of others. "It's easy when you live in a small community. Everyone knows everyone. It's a natural thing to do."

As for being honored as an "Unsung Hero," Mercado said it was unexpected and that she was honored.

Mercado was born and raised in Worland, graduating from Worland High School. She holds degrees in pharmacy from the University of Wyoming and a business management degree from Parks Business College.

"Today, Kathy enjoys learning more and more about the carpet industry, while managing her current business with her life partner, Don. She has two children. When not working long hours, the couple enjoys golfing, boating, camping, and fishing. They treasure their annual vacations to Maui," Abell wrote.

Club member Bonnie Schreibeis said that the Unsung Hero is just one of many ways the club works to give to the community. She said, "There's a lot of people who do a lot for the community, some are in the background where no one pays attention."

HOMEMAKERS

HISTORY

At this time the Washakie County Homemakers consists of one club, the Town and Country Homemakers. In 1923 the Washakie County Homemakers, originally called the Washakie County Extension Homemakers, began with the South Flat Homemakers. In 1924 the East Side Homemakers joined and in 1925 the Ten Sleep Community Club and the Colter Club also joined.

According Schreibeis, in an article in 2017, Other clubs that joined in the years from 1949 through 1998 were Newcomers Extension Club (later named Better Homes Extension), Worland Homemakers, Today's Homemakers, Washakie 10, Rairden Club Friends and Neighbors, Friendly Homemakers, Lucky 13th, Modern Homemakers, Mess Makers, Crafty Gals, Mothers Night Out and Town and Country.

The creed of the Colter Club summed up the attitude behind the clubs. "It is not what we have, but what we give; it is not where we are, but how we do it that makes this club worth going to."

The homemakers mission statement is: "To promote the importance of strong home and family values by providing leadership, education, skill building, fellowship, and self-esteem opportunities to members, their families and communities."

The clubs were started to help ranch women improve their homes through better food and better furnishings with the help of Extension educators, but expanded to include other women. "In later years they started to include women from cities and towns in the state, and they became known as Home Demonstration Clubs. Usually one or two members from a club would go to programs presented by the Home Demonstration Agent [now known as university Extension educator] to learn new or better ways to handle things that might "crop up" in their homes. These members would then go back to their Home Demonstration Club and present the information to the other members," Schreibeis said.

Worland Mayor Jim Gill proclaimed May 1-7 as Washakie County Homemakers Week during the April 19 council meeting. This year's theme is "Bloom Where You Are Planted."

According to the proclamation, "the objectives of Washakie County Homemakers is to provide an opportunity for members to work together toward continuous improvement in family and community living."