Awards presented at the recently held Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce banquet and casino night included the Agri-business Pacesetter Award, Small Business Pacesetter Award and Large Business Pacesetter Award. Agriculture is highly important in this area and it is equally important to give recognition in this area.

There are several excellent operations in agriculture including excellent family operations. The 2005 Agri-business Pacesetter award was presented to Forkner's Tru Line Genetics, represented by Everett and Ruby Forkner. When I came to Vernon County about 45 years ago, I began hearing about Everett. He was a student at the University of Missouri Ag School, or had recently completed the University. The late Hazel Johnson, extension office secretary, went to church with the Forkner family. Her husband John was an officer on the Metz school board.

Hazel and others talked about Everett being a top student at the university and having come from Metz School. Several did not understand why he would go to college and come back to farm. Nevertheless, this has proven helpful to him as well as others who have done the same. Nowadays it is much more common than at that time. Farming requires a great deal of knowledge and information.

Like their parents, Everett and Ruby have worked hard. Forkner's Tru Line Genetics is internationally known. Due to the changes in the swine business, they have changed their emphasis for their swine operation at least three times. Everett has held leadership positions in state and national swine organizations.

Congratulations to the Forkners for being the 2005 Agri-business Pacesetters. The award was presented by Jack Mead, Deems Farm Equipment, 2004 Agri-business Pacesetter.

Congratulations also to the other two finalists with great success in agri-business. They are Kent and Kathy Abele, local ranchers, catering, game hunting and farm implement operations and Jim Hardin Farms, Jim and Ronda owners of their heifer project, state farm federation trucking, ranching, and education outreach to local youth.

Separating the small and large business pacesetter awards is the number of persons employed with the large business employing more than 50. The Small Business Pacesetter award was presented by Drs. Delton and Jeremy Fast, of Eyecare Professionals, 2004 Small Business Pacesetters of the year.

The honor for 2005 went to Hertzberg's Furniture with Perfect Touch. This family enterprise has been in operation since 1945 and they have made many changes and improvements during this period of time. It is a high quality furniture store with a high quality gift shop, which adds to the quality of the downtown area. They have been creative and have offered new products and services.

In a conversation with the family, Steve commented that they have the best looking pool hall. Part of their expansion was into the building that had been a pool hall. This is an example of the improvements they have made.

Congratulations to the Hertzbergs for the 2005 Small Business Pacesetter Award. The other two finalists are to be congratulated for their accomplishment and the pace setting they are doing in this community, KNEM/KNMO Radio and Ring TV & Appliances.

The number of large businesses is small, but the quality is high. The Large Business Pacesetter for 2005 went to Cottey College represented by Drs. Glen and Judy Rogers. She is president of the college. The presentation was made by Jeff Horacek, human resource director for 3M, the 2004 Large Business Pacesetter.

In the past, it seemed that there was Cottey College and there was Nevada. In recent years that barrier has been broken down and Cottey and Nevada depend on each other. The college has been committed to this area since 1884. Cottey is poised for a promising future and striving to achieve even greater accomplishments through education. The number of students increased with a greater emphasis on student recruitment. Cottey provides a high quality of education for their students.

During the acceptance of the award, President Rogers said that they have a five-year plan that they will be revealing soon, which will have an affect on the community. I am looking forward to having more information about what she is implying.

Thanks to Cottey College, faculty, staff and students for all they do for the community. Heartland Behavioral Health Services and Wilkinson Pharmacy were also finalists. Both are accomplishing much for the community and a great amount of information could be said about these two outstanding large businesses.

Another prestiges award presented at the banquet was the President's Award which was presented to Brian Bell. This award is presented to a person going "above and beyond" for the efforts of the chamber. The selection is made by the president and was presented by the 2005 president Myles Miller. This is a highly committed individual and Brian is always there helping in some way. One of the ways was the auction.