Chamber hosting banquet

Published 2:22 pm Monday, October 24, 2016

A chapter will be added Tuesday to a time-honored tradition in Union County.

Union County farmers and ranchers will be honored at the 68th annual Farmer Merchant Banquet at the Blue Mountain Conference Center, 404 12th St., La Grande.

“It is one of the longest-running farmer merchant banquets in the United States,” said Kelley Berley of the Union County Chamber of Commerce, which is putting on the banquet.

The banquet’s social hour starts at 6 p.m. and dinner will begin at 6:45 p.m.

The following awards will be presented at the banquet: Cattleman of the Year, Conservation Farm of the Year, Young Farmer of the Year, Ag Woman of the Year, Forest Steward of the Year, and Distinguished Service to Union County Agriculture.

Organizations sponsoring or co-sponsoring awards are the Union County Cattlemen’s Association, the Union County Wheat League, the Union County Seed Growers, the Union County Farm Bureau, Precision Rain, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Union Soil and Water Conservation District, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon State University Extension Service and the Union County Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets are free for farmers and ranchers and their families, and $35 for other community members. Tickets can be purchased at the Union County Chamber of Commerce office, 207 Depot St., La Grande. Tickets will be available at the door, but people planning to attend are urged to purchase them in advance or leave a message at the Union County Chamber of Commerce office indicating they will be attending the banquet. The Chamber can be reached at 541-963-8588 or info@unioncountychamber.org.