The occasion was the annual awards banquet hosted by the Moore Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors and staff. About 130 persons attended.
The Bobby Richardson family of the Harris Crossroads community near Carthage received the Conservation Farm Family of the Year award.
Richardson and his wife, Carol, were joined by their sons, Jacob and Noah, and his parents, Robert and Lois Richardson, in accepting the award presented by Kevin Williams, district conservationist. The couple’s daughter, Katie, was unable to attend.
Harold Brady, owner of Brady & Associates Forestry Services of Southern Pines, received the Technical Service Provider of the Year Award, also presented by Williams.
Glenn Bradley, vice chairman of the board, was the recipient of a special recognition, presented near the end of the program by board Chairman Nowell Brown. Bradley, who is retiring from the board this year, was honored for his hard work and dedication to the cause of conservation.
Alice Caviness and Dawn Kurry reported on the resource conservation workshop.
Winners of the public speaking, essay and speech contests were asked to deliver their winning entries for the gathering. Winning posters were displayed throughout the auditorium.
They were among hundreds of students in third through eighth grades who competed in the school contests.
Winners were:
n Sixth-grade poster — first place, Kamaira Philips, New Century Middle School; second, Carolanne Fleming, West Pine Middle; third, Sarah Ross, New Century Middle; honorable mention, Taylor Morgan of New Century and Gabriela Bernal;
n Sixth-grade essay — Trevor Owens, New Century; second, Samantha Jo Cain, New Century; third, Jack Rice, New Century; eighth grade public speaking; first place, Blaine Rockwell, Southern Middle;
n Third-grade poster — first, Grace Hartsell, Sandhills Farm Life Elementary; second, Megan Floyd, Sandhills Farm Life; third, Gabrielle Sloan, Sandhills Farm Life; honorable mention, Jessica Crowell, Sandhills Farm Life;
n Fourth-grade poster — first, Morgan Scercy, Sandhills Farm Life; second, Kelsey Troyer, Sandhills Farm Life; third, Kaitlyn Moore, Sandhills Farm Life; honorable mention, Reagan Molek and Janee˘ Cole, both of Sandhills Farm Life;
n Fifth-grade poster — first, Nicte Guillen˘, Sandhills Farm Life; second, Caitlin Hill, Sandhills Farm Life; third, Stephen Mann, Sandhills Farm Life; honorable mention, Carly Lively, Sandhills Farm Life.
Glenn Bradley and Jonathan Russell took turns presenting trophies to the winners.
Gospel singer Mitzi Brooks entertained the gathering prior to the catered dinner. Board member Albert Troutman gave the invocation.
The event closed with the presentation of door prizes by board members Larry Holder, Bill Maness and Albert Troutman.
Hobbs Upchurch & Associates, Brady & Associates Forestry Services and Wal Mart, all of Southern Pines, First Bank of Robbins and Vass, Riddle Equipment Company, Moore County Farm Bureau, Carolina Farm Credit and Edward Jones Investments, all of Carthage, Henderson Forestry of Asheboro, General Timber of Sanford and Squires Timber of Vass sponsored the event.
