Banquet highlights local agribusiness contributions

LAUREL – The Laurel community reviewed the past, looked toward the future and celebrated the importance of agribusiness in the local economy with the annual Chamber Community & Agribusiness Appreciation Banquet Sunday night.

Nearly 300 people attended the annual event at the community center, complete with a social hour, special music, a keynote speaker, comedian and prime rib dinner in four-plus hours. The highlight of the evening came at the very end of the program with award recognitions for two local families.

Laurel’s Chamber teamed up with the FFA and FFA Alumni groups for the second year to host the appreciation banquet which highlights all of the good happening in town.

“It turned out to be a wonderful event,” said Annie McCorkindale, co-president of the Chamber. “We are humbled by the turnout this year and the bringing on of more sponsors. We appreciate the support.”

The Chamber presented Hall Family Farms - Rod and Charlotte Hall, their sons, Jay and Jeremy, and their extended families - with the 2023 Farm Family of the Year Award.

The Hall family farm in rural Laurel was established more than 125 years ago, not only surviving but thriving through challenging years.

“As years have progressed, farm life hasn’t always been easy with drier years along with the ever changing commodity prices. Their families have always seen the virtue of living on a family farm and being proud of the work and the legacy this area allows for their family,” according to the award nomination letter.

Not only are they contributing to the local economy through their farm, the Hall family is also active participants in church and civic work, along with youth volunteer work, and more.

“Active and visual in their communities, their pride shines in the months of September and October at around suppertime. They crawl out of their harvesting equipment and you’ll see the oldest to the youngest member of this operation come together to lavish in the joy of being a farm family,” the award nomination said.

The Chamber presented Hansen Brothers Parts and Service with the 2023 Agribusiness of the Year Award, recognized for being an accommodating employer and responsive to the community’s needs.

The business, owned by brothers Dan and Steve Hansen, specializes in truck, auto and agriculture equipment repair and parts.

“They enhance and support the agriculture industry by servicing equipment to get back in the field or taking crops to the elevator. They are quick to get parts delivered and are efficient on repairs from engine problems to brakes and tires. They work hard to keep everyone’s operation on the road,” the nomination letter read. “We are thankful to have a great business in our community that cares so much for our customers whether it be a quick oil change, a patched tire after hours or servicing a school bus to get kids where they need to be.”

Laurel-Concord-Coleridge’s FFA chapter were an integral part of Sunday night’s event by providing a special presentation of pictures from FFA event over the past year. Students also helped serve and buss tables.

Both the keynote speaker, Amanda Radke, and the comedic entertainment, Tyler Walsh, incorporated their agricultural background including FFA involvement in their presentations Sunday night.

Walsh set about entertaining the crowd with humorous stories from his eclectic background as a rodeo cowboy, sheep farmer, overweight skydiver, juggler, Panera Bread employee, and donkey basketball enthusiast.

Walsh said his father’s best friend was his high school’s agriculture instructor.

“He wanted me to go on all the free vacations I ever could and that was his reason to get involved with FFA,” Walsh said. “He told me, ‘You could go to Washington D.C. You could go to Indianapolis. All you have to do is sell a crap ton of beef sticks. It worked out pretty well.”

Except that as a “town kid,” he never got to participate in the FFA’s annual Tractor Day where students drive a tractor to school which is still a sore spot in his upbringing, he said.

Radke’s roots in 4-H and FFA gave her the skills and courage to take the national stage, promoting agriculture across the country, she said.

Radke and her husband, Tyler, raise cattle and kids on their farm in rural Mitchell, S.D. Besides motivational speaker, she also adds children’s book author, podcaster and consultant to her list of job titles. She also serves as an appointee on the National Agricultural Campaign Council, where she provides guidances to the U.S. House of Representatives Ag Committee.

As part of her remarks at the banquet, Radke encouraged those in attendance to use their sphere of influence to better their community.

“You have to be bold and willing to try new things. Look at the gifts you have, the talents you can offer. See the problems that exist in your small town and take action and go fix them. We all have the ability to look at the problems that exist,” she said. “We can’t tackle them all. … Do you know what I can control? I can take care of my family. I can take care of my community. I can take care of my small town in rural America. I can take my sphere of influence in agriculture and focus on making the world a better place by doing those things.”

The annual banquet was catered by Laurel’s Hometown Market and beverage service was provided by the VFW. Dale White, Laurel, provided special music and W.W. Galore, Laurel, provided decorating for the event.