Union County Business & Professional Association named Martin Shafer and Donna Riddle as Man and Woman of 2022 at its Annual Banquet on November 12 at Maynardville Fellowship Church Fellowship Hall. The dinner was catered by Pete’s Place with coffee provided by Ridge and Valley Coffee House. Brenda Sweet greeted guests and collected tickets, and Rev. Matt Cooke delivered the invocation.
Martin Shafer, owner of the Sign Guys, credits his father and brother Bo with teaching him to cherish his blessings and to share his gifts. True to his upbringing, Martin volunteers with Kiwanis International and serves as the District 5 Lieutenant Governor who oversees 13 chapters of Kiwanis International in six Tennessee counties.
He is involved in every activity of UCBPA including holding the office of vice president, past chairman of the board, member of the board of directors, and is the current president of UCBPA. In January he will again assume the duties of chairman of the board.
He continues to serve on the Golf Committee, the Scholarship Committee, and the Keep Union County Beautiful Committee. In presenting the award, Larry Smith, first UCBPA President, commented that Martin loves to eat, so he judges numerous 4-H events including pie baking, barbecue grilling, and any event involving food. Another of his favorite volunteer activities is to play Santa Claus for several community Christmas parades and for organizations.
Active in Smoky Mountain Antique Engines and Tractors Association, Shafer exhibits his hit ’n ’ miss engine and wood lathe at numerous festivals and events. For years he worked the Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia.
You will find him every year on the first Saturday in October at the Union County Heritage Festival. He is a volunteer usher with the Union County Opry,
Larry Smith summarized Martin’s service with words from his nomination application. Martin selflessly gives to the community at every turn. He is the first to volunteer and the last to leave most community events. He gives of his time, his talents and his treasures to make our community better.
Donna Knox Riddle is the Woman of the year in 2022. Donna, owner of Seven Springs Farm, has been a long-time volunteer who mentors beginning farmers and small businesses by allowing them to see her operation as she shares her knowledge.
The Farm has a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program which allows Donna and her family to sell farm products directly to consumers for 26 weeks per year. They have a vineyard and orchard for grape and fruit production. The small farm also has a farm store that sells farm products from other local farmers and small businesses. Also, the farm has multiple value-added agriculture ventures including an award-winning winery. Seven Springs provides jobs and sales tax to Union County.
Donna began serving on the Union County Farmers Market committee in 2010. She mobilized the committee in writing and implementing grants totaling over $450,000 to support Union County's small farms and businesses. Donna, who serves as the President of the Union County Farmers Market, established the market's nonprofit certification in 2016.
She has increased the food security to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. SNAP benefits provide nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families. SNAP recipients can now use these benefits to purchase food at the farmers market. SNAP funds being spent at the farmers market support low income families and gives them better access to fresh, local food as well as increasing food sales for local farmers.
Donna is involved in other nonprofit organizations to support Tennessee Farms including the Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Association, Appalachain Region Wine Producers Association, Tennessee Vegetable Growers Association, Tennessee Agritourism Association and Union County Business and Professional Association. She is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Union County. Tammie Hill, incoming UCBPA President, stated that Donna is an example of the volunteer spirit in Union County.
Martin Shafer also was the auctioneer as attendees raised over $1,000 to donate to the UCBPA Scholarship Fund. Auction items were donated by Tammie Hill, Realtor, Corum Bookkeeping, and Goin Somewhere Photography and Gifts.
UCBPA awarded five scholarships in 2022 and will host the annual golf tournament to benefit the scholarship fund on Saturday, June 17, 2022.
Darrick Edmondson, local attorney, installed the 2023 Officers and Directors of the Board: President Tammie Hill, Program Chair Shannon DeWitt, Secretary Emily Falardeau, Treasurer Gail Corum, Directors Valar Broadway, Shannon Brooks, Misty Goin, Larry Smith, Chairman Martin Shafer, and Board Secretary Marilyn Toppins.
UCBPA meets the second Tuesday of each month at Li'l Jo's at noon. Gail Corum will be the speaker on “IRS Regulations Update” on Tuesday, January 10.