Awards given at Farm City Banquet
The annual Farm City Banquet was held Monday at Tanglewood Center.
The banquet is sponsored by Rotary Club of Butler, Butler County Conservation District and the Penn State Extension.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of annual awards by the Conservation District, including the Bullshipper Award.
Dave Malarkey, WISR Radio personality, was named the 46th recipient of the Bullshipper Award, which is presented to a person who works to improve agriculture and community relations.Malarkey has been the early morning voice of WISR for more than 30 years. For the past 13 years, he also has been the host of the afternoon interview and talk show, “It's Your Turn,” which has promoted a better understanding of agriculture.Malarkey is a native of Parker. He is a graduate of Penn State University, with a degree in communications and broadcast journalism.Farmer Cooperator of the YearThe Farmer Cooperator of the Year honors a farmer for the implementation of conservation practices.This year the Conservation District honored BGN Farm in Clay Township, which raises beef on its 91 acres.BGN Farm has been implementing an intensive grazing plan. Conservation practices used include a heavy use protection area, fencing and pasture management systems and a nutrient management system.BGN works with the Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency on these efforts.Jeffrey Grazier of BGN accepted the award.Conservation Educator of the YearThe Conservation District recognized Dana Hadley, biology and horticulture teacher at Seneca Valley High School, as Conservation
Hadley has taught at Seneca Valley for 10 years and has been the Envirothon teacher adviser. Her students have won the Butler County Envirothon six times. She is the Biology Club sponsor. The club meets after school to prepare for the Envirothon.Hadley enjoys teaching about Pennsylvania's native wildlife and encouraging her students to become aware of the natural environment.Hadley is working on an outdoor classroom project with the Audubon Society. The outdoor classroom will include a teaching area with benches, native plant gardens, bird feeders and a chimney swift tower.
Honored as Conservationist of the Year was Joe Morris, a recently retired Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission waterways conservation officer.Morris started his career as a teacher at Portersville Christian School. He worked as a park ranger at Moraine State Park for 16 years and worked for the fish commission for the past 20 years.Morris often worked in cooperation with the Conservation District and made protecting Butler County's water resources a priority.
James Kennedy, a lifelong dairy farmer who served four terms as Butler County Commissioner and more than 15 years as a director on the Conservation District board, received the Service Award.Butler County has experienced rapid growth and change bringing with it challenges for agriculture. Kennedy worked to deal with these issues.As an elected official, Kennedy provided support for Conservation District programs and emphasized the importance of the agricultural community. He also supported the Farmland Preservation Program and the county farm tour.Until his recent retirement, Kennedy worked several years for the state Department of Agriculture.• The master of ceremonies for the evening was Stephen Harding, past president of the Butler Rotary.Rick McDeavitt, Rotary president, provided an update on the club.Jack Cohen, executive director of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, and Ron Fodor, Butler County Conservation District manager, recognized the Jones, Har-Lo and Thiele farms for participating in the 2013 farm tour.Jean Kummer provided a 4-H update. 4-H was recognized for its 100-year anniversary.Sarah Wurzbacher, Penn State Extension educator, provided a program on “The New Bio Project.”Ron Fodor is manager of the Butler County Conservation District.
