BUTLER TWP — Farmers from across the county celebrated the presentation of the 2019 Bullshipper Award and several other awards during the annual Farm to Table Dinner Monday.

The event is cosponsored by AgChoice Farm Credit, Butler County Farm Bureau, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, Butler County Conservation District and Penn State Extension. The dinner was held at the General Butler Vagabond Center.

George Dean, who owns a Jersey cow farm outside of Chicora, was presented with the Bullshipper Award by 2018 winner Ron Fodor.

The award is presented to people or businesses that promote agriculture in their work and community, and help to foster positive relationships between farm producers and consumers.

“It was a surprise,” Dean said after the dinner. “It's a nice award for anybody who gets it.”

Fodor said Dean has been a 4-H leader for 37 years and served on the boards, including terms as president, of the Butler County Conservation District and the Butler Farm Show. He is a member of the county's Dairy Promotion Team.

He is the president and has served as district and state director of the Pennsylvania State Jersey Cattle Association and won the organization's Distinguished Service Award last year.

“I can't think of anybody else who deserves it more,” Fodor said of Dean.

Dean, 78, said he's been farming most of his life, and his son, daughter and granddaughter help him on the farm.

He said he is not planning to retire anytime soon.

“When my 10 toes are point up,” Dean said.

In addition, the Educator of the Year Award was presented to Bob Stephenson, who teaches students at St. Wendolin School about wildlife and conservation.

The Cooperator of the Year Award recipients are Rebecca Finch and Ben Klugh for building a multilayer riparian buffer to protect Little Connoquenessing Creek and Yellow Creek, which border their property, from runoff and erosion.

The Farmer of the Year Award was presented to John Geibel of Clearfield Township for chlorophyll testing to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer entering creeks.

The speaker was William Thiele of Thiele Dairy Farm in Cabot, who talked about using drones in farming.

“The photo quality of drones and cameras has improved dramatically,” Thiele said.

A crop field can appear lush and green while looking at it from the ground, but drones reveal the real picture, he said.

Drone photos and video can be used to find out how well rain runoff drains from fields, where manure was spread, how test plots are growing and where trees fell on crop fields during storms. They can also inspect silos and check on grazing cattle.

He said he started a 4-H drone club last summer and three drones were donated to the program.

Anyone considering buying one should look into the rules and restrictions for drone use.

“I just like doing it. It's unique. Some people are afraid of it,” Thiele said.