David Kessel’s family accepted the OPEDA Unsung Hero award on his behalf. Pictured l to r: OPEDA President Louis Iacoletti, Miranda Kessel (David’s daughter), Zeb Kessel (David’s son), Tammy Kessel (David’s wife) and Kimble Hayes, W. Va. farm loan chief.
David Kessel, a farm loan manager with the West Virginia Farm Service Agency, was honored posthumously last week as an unsung hero by the Organization of Professional Employees of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
For 24 years, David helped farmers in ways that far exceeded the normal duties of a farm loan manager by assisting with vaccination of cow herds, helping feed livestock and attending meetings on his own time to discuss FSA programs that could help local farmers.
“He always saw the good in people and if there was something that could be done to help a producer, David would point them in the right direction,” said Kimble Hayes, farm loan chief in the W. Va. Farm Service Agency.
In July 2010, Kessel was on duty traveling to a dairy farm to service a loan when a car crossed the center line and hit the motorcycle he was riding.
The OPEDA Unsung Hero Awards are given annually to USDA employees who have demonstrated extraordinary effort in performing tasks, unselfishly shared time and expertise, and consistently and willingly extended a helping hand.
