By Sara Quam Rock County’s 2004 Employee of the Year was described as friendly, hard working, dedicated and talented. Deb Den Herder accepted the honor by saying, "All employees of Rock County are very deserving, so thank you for this award." Den Herder works in many capacities for the University of Minnesota Extension Service in its Luverne branch office. She works with the Rock and Pipestone County Collaborative, local 4-H programming and even does the Rock County Ag Newsletter, which has received regional recognition for quality. Den Herder has worked for Rock County since 1988. One of Den Herder’s nomination letters said, "Deb is committed to her work and more importantly she is committed to serving county citizens and helping people." Worthington Regional Extension Director Holli Arp said, "She willingly takes on new responsibility and adds practical contributions to the team in order to implement projects successfully. ... Deb seeks out relevant information to provide to citizens. A variety of questions come into the Extension Office and Deb handles them with ease." Arp also pointed out that Den Herder continues her passionate support of 4-H even though her children are grown. Arp said, "I am honored to work with such a respectable and talented individual." Rock County 4-H program coordinator Nancy Sandager also nominated Den Herder for Employee of the Year. Sandager wrote, "She is the first person members of the community have contact with when they call or come in the door, and her welcoming manner is one of the best public relations assets Rock County could have." Den Herder was also nominated by four others, who called her a "stabilizing force" in the changing Extension offices, "extremely helpful," "patient and kind" and an "excellent resource." Other nominees for Employee of the Year were Sherri Kitchenmaster of the Land Records Office, Lee Hamann of the Highway Department, and Wendy DeLaRosa-Gacke of Family Services.