Many attended the 2008 Agriculture Appreciation and Awareness Banquet honoring leaders in the industry. (Photo by Bruce R. Partain) The 8th annual Nacogdoches County Agriculture Appreciation and Awareness Banquet is Monday, April 6 at the Fredonia. Exhibits will be ready to view at 6 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples will be introducing keynote speaker Governor Rick Perry, who has been invited. The public is encouraged to attend. The banquet honors the agriculture industry in Nacogdoches County – one of the top ten agricultural producing counties in Texas for many years. Four awards will be presented this year: The Eddie Melasky Family will receive the Farm Family of the Year Award. The award is sponsored by Tipton Ford. Red Suspenders Timber Frames will receive the Pete Smith Agricultural Pioneer Award. The award is sponsored by Heritage Land Bank. Nacogdoches Livestock Exchange will receive the Agribusiness of the Year Award. The award is sponsored by First Bank & Trust East Texas. John Boyette will receive the Agriculture Educator of the Year award. The award is sponsored by Citizens 1st Bank. Banquet tickets are $22 each or $200 per table of eight and are available now at the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, 2516 North Street. Businesses are welcome to sponsor tables to provide complimentary admission for youth ag groups. Call the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, 560-5533 regarding ticket and table reservations, or download a reservation form from www.nacogdoches.org. A limited number of free exhibitor spaces are available to Nacogdoches County agriculture-based industry and organizations. To obtain an exhibitor form, call Karen Tucker, 560-7706. Deadline to reserve an exhibitor space is March 31, 2009. Booths must be set up by 5 p.m. April 6, and removed by 9:30 p.m. The Nacogdoches Agriculture Committee consists of representatives from the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, Nacogdoches County Farm Bureau, Nacogdoches Economic Development Corp., Texas Cooperative Extension Service, Pineywoods RC&D, Stephen F. Austin State University Agriculture Department and the Texas Forest Service. “We work together to promote agriculture and agricultural-related business in Nacogdoches County,” said David Alders, Agribusiness Committee chairman. “We identify economic development strategies and resources and establish relationships that result in growth in agri-business and agri-business research in Nacogdoches County.” In addition to the scholarship and banquet, the group has organized farm tours of the County for media and business representatives on Friday, April 3. Contact Chad Gulley or Crispin Skinner, 560-7711.