The National Farm-City Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing links between farm families and urban residents, is now seeking nominations for its second annual Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award. The award pays tribute to an outstanding individual within the United States who has contributed to Farm-City activities as an advocate for accurate communications between rural and urban audiences.

The national award is in honor of Dr. Charles "Charlie" Eastin, DVM, who played a fundamental role in Farm-City activities. A board member for many years, Eastin was especially active in planning and initiating Farm-City events in the Lexington, Ken., area.
National Farm-City Council logo
Last year, Ferenc X. Vegh, Jr., Shelby County, Ken., won the award for his work reviving the Shelby County Farm-City Banquet, one of the oldest such gatherings in the nation.

Nominees to the Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award can be any person 25-years-old or older, who has actively supported national, state or local Farm-City initiatives. He or she can be nominated by anyone active in a Farm-City program.

The award will be presented to the recipient at the National Farm-City Symposium and Farm-City Week kickoff luncheon on November 13, 2012, in St. Joseph, Mo. The winner will be reimbursed for travel expenses.

Those interested in nominating an individual should go to the National Farm-City Council website at www.farmcity.org for nomination rules and the application form. The completed application should be forwarded by September 30, 2012, to the state Farm-City contact as identified on the website. If no state contact is identified, the application should be endorsed by the local Farm-City organizers and forwarded by September 30, to National Farm-City Council, P.O. Box 6825, Reading, PA 19610; the National Farm-City Council will verify the credibility of the applicant. State Farm-City contacts should submit the application to contact@farmcity.org to the National Farm-City Council mailing address by October 7, 2012.

Those completing the nomination should describe how this nominee has contributed to the success of Farm-City activities and provide evidence on the impact of this individual's actions in organizing Farm-City events. A three-member committee, including at least one member of the National Farm-City Council, will judge the applications and select the recipient.

The National Farm-City Council works with local organizations with educational programs about people who grow their food. For those interested in organizing a local Farm-City event, go to the National Farm-City website at www.farmcity.org or call (202)406-3706. The National Farm-City Council is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code.

08.15.2012