Richard Connell and Brian Allmer were honored with the Service to Agriculture Award at the 2019 CFB annual Awards Banquet. The two men were among several individuals who received awards from the 100-year-old organization.

Connell was presented with the award for his 34 years of service with Colorado Farm Bureau. Allmer received the award for his work as a longtime farm broadcaster and industry advocate. The Service to Agriculture Award is the highest honor bestowed by Colorado Farm Bureau.

The Distinguished Volunteer Award was given to Violet Moeller for her longtime service as a county farm bureau secretary and volunteer. This is the first year the award was given and CFB plans to grant it in the years to come.

“We have so many volunteer leaders who are critical to our success,” said Chad Vorthmann, Executive Vice President of Colorado Farm Bureau. “We thought it was about time we recognized them in a more formal way.”

Hanna Talbott of Palisade was granted the 2019 Emerging Leader Award. Talbott is a graduate of the CFB Elite Leadership Academy and is a former U.S. Marine. The award seeks to highlight the next generation of Farm Bureau leaders and is generally selected from active Young Farmer and Rancher participants.

Earlier in the day, Ignacio rancher J. Paul Brown was recognized as the Landowner of the Year by the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife.