Last Saturday evening, a packed house enjoyed dinner catered by Pete's Place and witnessed the naming of the 2017 Union County Business & Professional Association Woman and Man of the Year. Cindy Wyrick chaired this year's committee.

Introducing the 2017 UCBPA Woman of the Year, Bonnie Peters began “She uses the community garden to impart the required curriculum objectives of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), writes grants to fund the STEM Program, and mentors students and teachers county wide in the importance of STEM to future jobs.” Ms. Peters concluded by naming Martha Brown, a career educator at Paulette Elelmentary School, the 2017 Woman of the Year. Ms. Brown teaches children how to grow the food they eat in a community garden and then imparts the spirit of service when they donate the excess to the Milan Baptist Church Pantry. Ms. Brown also writes grants to fund the STEM Program, mentors students and teachers county wide in the importance of STEM to future jobs, leads annual mission trips, and volunteers at the food pantry.
Ms. Bonnie used the parable of the fish to say that Martha Brown teaches children for “life”.

“I owe everything to my father and grandfather,” Bobby Ellison humbly stated as he accepted the 2017 Man of the Year from Father Steve Pawelk. Mr. Ellison, a seventh generation Sharps Chapel farmer, is also the owner-operator of an agritourism business, Lost Creek Farm Weddings.manager-owner of hundreds of acres of livestock, and partner in Team Ellison Realty, But the major reason for his being named Man of the Year is support for Union County's largest industry-Agriculture. As the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Representative, Mr. Ellison works with the Union County Soil Conservation District to provide a sub office for all of Union County's farmers to get needed equipment and assistance locally without burdensome travel costs. He provides financial and technical assistance through state and federal Agriculture cost sharing programs and has secured over $725,000 in the last two years to help farmers prevent soil erosion and improve water quality. He is lagely responsible for the 2.5million federal and state dollars that have helped sustain the Union County family farms in the past five years.

While Martin Shafer gave the commands, Marvin Jeffreys, who was dressed in his 49 year old Air Force uniform, presented and posted the colors in the opening flag ceremony. In honor of Veteran's Day, BPA recognized veterans, James (Rick) Riddle, Jack Petersons, Martin Shafer, and Marvin Jeffreys, who attended the banquet.

Mayor Mike Williams commented on many grants that will improve county parks as he complimented UCBPA for its development of Wilson Park in the mid 1990's and thanked the members for their continued support of Union County.

Treasurer Gail Corum awarded donations to Friends of MPL, Union County Lions Club, and Union County 4H, and UC Children's Carities: Under the Tree. Ms. Corum thanked the members for supporting last year's Golf Tournament which provides the funds for the UCBPA Scholarships. Mr. Seth Beeler, 2017 recipient of the Jeffreys Memorial Academic Scholarship was on hand to help with the auction. Proceeds of $500 from the auction and donations will go to UCBPA Charities, Inc for scholarships.

The 2018 UCBPA Scholarship Golf Tournament will be on Saturday, May 19, at Three Riges Golf Course with a tee time of 1:00.

The 2018 UCBPA Prayer Breakfast will be at the Union County Senior Center on Good Friday,
March 30.

Thank you to Flowers by Bob, Thunder Road Printing and Graphics Design, Coleman's Printing and Awards, Pete's Place, and the UC Senior Center for their assistance with programs, awards, catering, and location. Chantay Collins chaired the banquet committee. Thank you to everyone who made the 2017 UCBPA Banquet a remarkably entertaining experience.