Thirty years ago, in 1990, the Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees established The Summit County Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award as a means to recognize members for their outstanding service. Specifically, it is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member. The award is given to a bona fide farmer who has made an outstanding contribution to their local community and the industry of
agriculture. Choosing a worthy recipient from the many qualified members can be difficult for the three previous winners, who are assigned the task.
Our very first recipient, Dean Hartong, who is the last dairy farmer in Summit County, served on the Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees for 50 years. He certainly was a fitting recipient of this initial honor (and set the bar pretty high), wouldn’t you say so! Do you recognize any of the other worthy recipients?
1990
1991
1992 – Dean Hartong
1993 – Jean Call
1994 – Glenn Hawk
1995 – Lawrence Gabric
1996 – Earl Boughton
1997 – John Graf
1998 – Don Barlow
1999 – Charles Call
2000 – Pete & Connie Schanz
2001 – Richard & Pat Boughton
2002 – Dale Humbert
2003 – Edward & Gale Luther
2004 – Lisa Graf
2005 – Rick Thomas
2006 – Wayne & Carrie Arnold
2007 – Gale Betterly
2008 – Tim Crawford
2009 – Donna Cecil
2010 – Christopher Esker
2011 – Ron & Rose Kuner
2012 – Robert Luther
2013 – Don & Carol Bessemer
2014 – Jerry & Toni Longville
2015 – Tom Dayton
2016 – Mark & Nancy Roesner
2017 – Tim Walsh
2018 – Charles E. Seiberling
2019 – Andy & Deanna Troutman
To read the bio of our most recent recipients, click on their blue name – it’s a “hot link” directly to their story in the archives.