Alan Neese and Tim and Vickie Robbins were honored at the Greene County Farm Bureau member appreciation picnic last Monday at Clover Hall on the Greene County Fairgrounds in Jefferson.
Neese was presented with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award.
Neese is an East Greene graduate who started working for a local farmer when he was 15 and then at Rueter’s Red Power in Grand Junction.
He started Neese Inc in Grand Junction in 1991 with two employees. The business now employees 36 and provides a wide array of products and services for the agriculture, construction, lawn and garden industries. He has held leadership positions in many ag-related organizations, said Greene County Farm Bureau vice president James Holz in making the presentation.
The Robbins were honored for their 23 years of hosting the county’s annual farm tour for all fourth graders in the county. During a half-day on the Robbins’ farm, students have learned about topics like cover crops and water quality, and have seen the birth of a new calf, pet a sheep, dug for earthworms, and more.
“Tim and Vickie have shared their passion and knowledge of agriculture with over 3,000 students during their tenure of hosting the farm tour,” Farm Bureau board member Bill Sutton said in presenting the Robbins a plaque. “Their goal has always been for students to take with them the knowledge that in some way, a farmer touches their life each day by what they eat, wear, and play with.”
Approximately 95 persons attended the member appreciation picnic. Door prizes were won by Glen Carstensen, Pat Goughnour, Corrine Bancroft, Ann Grace Krieger, Ron Lehman, Ronald Wright, Leora Davis, Randy Freeman and Nancy Wessling.
