Ferenc X. Vegh, Jr., Shelby County, Ky., has been awarded the first annual Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award from the National Farm-City® Council. The award is presented to an outstanding individual who has contributed to Farm-City activities as an advocate for accurate communications between rural and urban audiences.

Vegh accepting the Charles Eastin Award
CHARLES EASTIN AWARD - The first annual Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award from the National Farm-City Council was awarded to Ferenc X. Vegh, Jr., (right) Shelby County, Ky., for activities as an advocate for accurate communications between rural and urban audiences. The award was presented to Vegh recently at a banquet at the Locust Trace AgriScience Farm outside of Lexington, Ky. Presenting the award to Vegh was Charles Eastin II (left), son of the award's namesake, and Al Pell (center), AgDay, past president of the National Farm-City Council.

The award was presented to Vegh on November 17 at the annual National Farm-City Week® Kick-Off Luncheon held at the Locust Trace AgriScience Farm outside of Lexington, Ky.

The National Farm-City Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing links between farm families and urban residents. The award is in honor of Charles "Charlie" Eastin, DVM, who passed away earlier this year and played a fundamental role in Farm-City activities. A National Farm-City Council board member for many years, Charlie was especially active in planning and initiating Farm-City events in the Lexington, Ky., region.

Vegh, a Shelby County businessman, farmer and Kiwanis club member, was recognized for reviving the Shelby County Farm-City Banquet, one of the oldest such gatherings in the nation, and making it a major event that brings together urban/suburban and rural communities. Several years ago, the event was dying due to lack of leadership and interest. Vegh helped revive the banquet, and it now attracts 200 to 250 people each year to promote recognition of farming efforts among urban audiences. The Shelby County banquet is sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club.

"Ferenc Vegh, Jr.'s passion and enthusiasm has helped make the banquet a premier event in Shelby County, attracting attendance from all areas of the county, including business representatives, those from agribusinesses and farmers," says Hugh Whaley, chairman of the National Farm-City Council. "This is exactly the sort of active effort the Farm-City Council wants to recognize and support."

Those interested in nominating candidates for the 2012 Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award can do so by going to the National Farm-City Council website at www.farmcity.org for nomination rules and the application form. Candidates can be any person over 25 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.

National Farm City Council 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.

12.06.2011