Pictured are Carrizo Wood Products, Inc. owners Phillip Cadman, left, and Joe Biggerstaff.

NACOGDOCHES - Carrizo Wood Products Inc. will receive the Agribusiness of the Year award sponsored by First Bank & Trust East Texas at the 10^th Annual Agriculture Appreciation and Awareness Banquet, Monday evening, Apr. 4 at Banita Creek Hall.

Carrizo Wood Products was incorporated in 1989 by the owners at that time Joe Biggerstaff, Phillip Cadman and Ronnie Manchester. The company was named for the Carrizo Creek that runs behind the mill that is located on Biggerstaff’s grandfather’s farm in the Woden area.

“We started out processing cants and timbers into pallet lumber, stringers and decking,” said Cadman. “In the beginning we employed about seven people. Over time we have added equipment, saws, people and lots of concrete. We employ 32 people in our plant now.”

In 1999, partner Manchester retired, and Phil Carrell became the third partner. The company is truly a family business with “Phillip Cadman being married to Angie Biggerstaff, and Phil Carrell being married to Dovie Biggerstaff,” said Cadman. 

The business now buys pine and hardwood logs and processes the material in to lumber. Almost all wood is cut to order. Cadman said that at this time, the business does not own any trucks, so all wood is hauled by the customers or independent contractors.

“We enjoy being part of the Woden community and hope to continue for years to come” Cadman said.

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The 2011 agriculture scholarship recipients are Caleb Ferguson from Chireno; Justin Hindsman from Woden; Dustin Sestak from Douglass; and Matthew Johnson and Amanda Thompson from Central Heights.

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About the event

The 10th Annual Nacogdoches County Agriculture Appreciation and Awareness Banquet begins at 6 p.m., Monday, Apr. 4 at Banita Creek Hall, 401 W. Main St. Keynote speaker is Dr. F.E. “Ab” Abernethy.

The 2011 agriculture award recipients are:

 The George Grigsby Family will receive the Farm Family of the Year Award sponsored by Tipton Ford.

 Al Schmidt will receive the Agriculture Educator of the Year award sponsored by Citizens 1st Bank.

 Ray Mize will receive the Pete Smith Agricultural Pioneer Award sponsored by Heritage Land Bank.

 Carrizo Wood Products, Inc. will receive the Agribusiness of the Year Award sponsored by First Bank & Trust East Texas.

Select sponsors are Austin Bank, Texas N.A. - Nacogdoches, Farmers State Bank, NEDCO and Texas Farm Products.

Table and individual tickets are available, and sponsorship opportunities are available to finance future agriculture scholarships. Contact the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, 936-560-5533, or go to nacogdoches.org.

The Nacogdoches Agriculture Committee consists of representatives from Nacogdoches County Farm Bureau, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce, Nacogdoches Economic Development Corp., Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Cooperative Extension Program, Pineywoods RC&D, Stephen F. Austin State University - Agriculture Department and the Texas Forest Service are proud to co-sponsor the Agriculture Banquet honoring the Agriculture Industry in Nacogdoches County.