By Jay Mosco, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce intern
The 15th annual Nacogdoches County Agriculture Appreciation and Awareness Banquet is Tuesday evening, Apr. 7 at the Nacogdoches County Exposition & Civic Center, 3805 NW Stallings Dr.
“The banquet is an annual event to honor those who have dedicated their lives to agriculture in our community. We hope to raise awareness of the vital role that agriculture plays in the local economy and how it also contributes to our quality of life,” said Angela Shannon, Vice President of Texas Farm Credit, and the chairman of this year’s banquet.
Keynote speaker is Sid Miller, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture.
“We are excited to have Sid Miller speak at this year’s banquet. Since he is new to the office, Nacogdoches will be one of the first communities to receive his insight into the state of agriculture in Texas,” Shannon said.
The 2015 agriculture award recipients are:
· The Buck Lee Family will receive the Farm Family of the Year Award sponsored by Tipton Ford.
· The Kenneth Sutton Family will receive the Pete Smith Agricultural Pioneer Award sponsored by Heritage Land Bank.
· The Nacogdoches Farmers Market will receive the Agribusiness of the Year Award sponsored by First Bank & Trust East Texas.
· Jackie Risner will receive the Agriculture Educator of the Year award sponsored by Citizens 1st Bank.
Scholarship funds will be awarded to deserving youth who are attending the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at SFA, and this year’s award recipients will be honored.
The banquet begins with a meet and greet at 6 p.m. Dinner service will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $28 each or $300 for a table of eight and are available now at the Nacogdoches County Chamber, 2516 North St. and from committee members. Businesses are welcome to sponsor tables to provide complimentary admission for youth ag groups.
Call the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, 560-5533 for ticket and table reservations, or download a registration form from nacogdoches.org.
“The committee sends a warm invitation to all members of the community to attend this event. The evening will consist of good food, including a ribeye steak dinner, fellowship and an opportunity to learn about the agriculture industry in Nacogdoches County,” Shannon said.
The Nacogdoches Agriculture Committee consists of representatives from Nacogdoches County Farm Bureau, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, Nacogdoches Economic Development Corp., Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Cooperative Extension Program, Pineywoods RC&D, Stephen F. Austin State University – Agriculture Department and the Texas Forest Service are proud to co-sponsor the Agriculture Banquet honoring the Agriculture Industry in Nacogdoches County.
