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Farm City Banquet One Month Away, Nomination Deadline for ‘Outstanding People’ Awards Friday Oct. 19

Mike Campbell and Jane Coffey Campbell are the first recipients of the Agriculture in Arts Award presented by Watauga Arts Council Executive Director Cherry Johnson (right).

By Jesse Wood

Oct. 8, 2012. The Boone United Methodist Church hosts the 57th annual Watauga County Farm City Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 6:00 p.m.

“Local Farms Feed Local Families” is the theme for the 2012 Farm City Banquet, which is a celebration of locally produced farm products and farmers, food, entrepreneurs and supporters of local farms by the Watauga County Cooperative Extension Center and the community.  

The guest speaker at the event is Denise Cerreta, the founder of the One World Everybody Eats Café movement, which inspired and helped spawn the F.A.R.M. Café on King Street.

Following a local food supper catered by Bandana’s, individuals will be recognized for their contributions and support of our local agricultural economy. Door prizes will be given out at the end of the celebration – one of which includes a print by renowned local artist Richard Tumbleston, who will finish the piece at the event.

Completed applications can be mailed or dropped off to the Extension Center or e-mailed to Kathy_Lee@ncsu.edu by Friday, Oct. 19, 2012.

Watauga County Cooperative Extension Director Jim Hamilton (right) presents the Youth in Agriculture Award to Jacqueline Walczak and Jazmyne Maxwell. The two revived the 4-H Horse Show this year.

You may purchase tickets for this event at Watauga Extension Office after October 1st-November 7th. Adult tickets are $10 and children 6 to 12 are $5. Children five and under are free. Tickets will not be sold after November 7. The extension requests a canned food item to donate to area food banks.

For more information, call 828-264-3061.

While the banquet is a month away, the Extension, in the mean time, asks members of the public to nominate outstanding people that have made a positive impact on youth, agriculture and the surrounding community.

Awards

Friend of Agriculture: Individual or business that has made significant contributions (financial or otherwise) to local agriculture

Woman in Agriculture: Woman who has made significant contributions (financial or otherwise) to local agriculture

Youth in Agriculture: Youth who has made significant contributions (financial or otherwise) to local agricultural

Agri-tourism Award: In honor of Pauline and Constantine Alimanestiano. Agri-tourism is tourism based on attracting visitors to farm operations such as pick-your-own, wineries, Christmas tree farms, herb farms greenhouses and farm stands.

Community Volunteer Award: Individual who has exemplified the spirit of volunteerism in the community

Farm and Food Steward Award: This award is given by the High Country Chapter of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association to an individual or organization in recognition of their contributions to maintaining Southern Appalachia’s tradition of food independence and to building a local food system through economic, environmental and socially-sustainable agricultural practices.

L.E. Tuckwiller Award: Recognizing a town or community for the outstanding efforts in “community development.” Sponsored by the Boone Area Chamber

Agriculture in Arts Award: Recognizing a local artist or arts organization that captures the spirit of agriculture in our county. Sponsored by the Watauga Arts Council

Spirit of Farm City Award: A special award recognizing an individual or organization whose actions embody the spirit of agriculture in the county as well as the mission of the Farm City Banquet

The application form can be downloaded from the Watauga Extension website at http://watauga.ces.ncsu.edu, picked up from the Extension office at 971 West King Street in Boone or click here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByzgP0ncl9RxaFI0bmJOVEN2c0E/edit

Farm City Banquet Sponsors

The organizing committee would like to thank sponsors for their gracious support of the 57th Annual Farm City Banquet as of this printing including: Watauga County Farm Bureau, Carolina Farm Credit, Mountain Kubota, Hollar and Greene Produce, PHARMN, the Watauga County Farmers Market, the Watauga County Christmas Tree Association, B. Park Terrell Agency, the Sustainable Development Department at ASU, Bare Essentials Market, Life Store Bank, and Mountainkeepers. Additional sponsors from community partners are welcome!