AT NOON TODAY, THE ANNUAL "FRIENDS OF AGRICULTURE" AWARDS WERE PRESENTED ON STAGE AT THE ANNUAL KMAQ FARM AND HOME SHOW.   THE AWARDS WERE PRESENTED BY THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB AND THE MAQUOKETA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.      THE FIRST AWARDS WERE PRESENTED IN 1990 WHEN THEN ROTARY SECRETARY, THE LATE BILL STEWART,  SUGGESTED THE AWARDS BE GIVEN ANNUALLY AND CONVINCED THE ROTARY AND CHAMBER TO SPONSOR THEM DURING THE FARM SHOW.  THE FARM SHOW ACTUALLY STARTED IN 1977.    THEN WE ALSO HAD A SEPARATE HOME SHOW AND YEARS LATER, COMBINED THE TWO.   PHOTOS OF TODAY'S WINNERS BELOW.   CLICK-ON PHOTOS TO
ENLARGE THEM.

THE AGRI-PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD WENT TO STEVE SCHROEDER OF BELLEVUE, AG TEACHER AND FFA ADVISOR AT BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL.
ROTARY PRESIDENT SCOTT WARREN SHAKES  HAND WITH STEVE.
TO THE LEFT, COUNTY AUDITOR JOELLE DELPPE, WHO READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE AUDIENCE.   FAR RIGHT, FROM THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, SCOTT GENT.

THE AGRI-BUSINESS AWARD  WENT TO TERRY AND NANCY KIEFFER OF PRESTON, FARMERS, AND OWNERS OF THE "PLASTICS UNLIMITED" INDUSTRY IN PRESTON.    THEIR COMPANY EMPLOYS 60 AND THEY MANUFACTURE PLASTIC  ITEMS FOR MANY FARM PRODUCTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.  AT FAR RIGHT, BRIAN NABB OF MAQUOKETA STATE BANK AND THE CHAMBER COMMITTEE,  AND THE PERSON THAT READ THE FACTS ABOUT THE KIEFFER'S OVER THE PA MIKE.

CALLIE COATES (FAR LEFT)  READ THE INTRODUCTION OF HER PARENTS....BOB AND LISA COATES OF RURAL DELMAR.....THE FARMERS OF THE YEAR.    THE COATES HAVE HAD A VERY LARGE DAIRY FARM EAST
OF MAQUOKETA FOR MANY YEARS.    BUT, THEY ARE CHANGING!  THEY
SOLD THEIR DAIRY HERD IN JANUARY AND WILL TURN THE FARM INTO
A BEEF OPERATION.    AT FAR RIGHT IS TOM DEVINE,  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE MAQUOKETA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

KMAQ CONGRATULATES ALL THE AG AWARD WINNERS TODAY!

THE FARM SHOW ENDS AT 7:30 TONIGHT (THURSDAY)!

THANK YOU FOR COMING!   AND THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE IN ANY WAY TO MAKING THIS YEAR'S SHOW ANOTHER BIG
SUCCESS!

DENNIS VOY