The Vermilion County Farm Bureau handed out awards at its annual meeting that was held earlier this month, and also announced its board of directors for 2021.
Farm Bureau Spokesman Tom Fricke says that Mark Willard of Rossville was given the Distinguished Service Award for 2020. Willard served on the bureau’s board of directors for 17 years, including being chairman of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees. Willard has been active in the Ag in the Classroom program and has helped with the Douglas Discovery Garden in Danville.
Joan Dale, a teacher at Schlarman Academy, was named as the Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Dale has been a teacher in Vermilion County for more than 25 years, including 20 years previously with District 118. She has utilized the Ag in the Classroom curriculum for many years now, and incorporated virtual lessons in her classes when schools went virtual in the spring.
Curt Elmore of Allerton was given the Spokesperson of the Year Award. Elmore farms in the Allerton and Sidell areas and writes farming columns for the Sidell Reporter.
Directors re-elected to the Vermilion County Farm Bureau board during the meeting include Elmore, Cole Acton of Danville, Andy Gernand of Potomac, Daniel Wagoner of Danville and Jay Winland of Georgetown.
