Nathan Jeffers/photo

Pictured (from left) are Sam Nibert , Molly Fellure, Caitlyn Parsons, Anthony Linger, Tim Kidwell, and Kyle Kidwell with the display where the plaques listing the recent Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees. The display is located on the fairground near the goat barn.

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POINT PLEASANT — With the rich agricultural history in Mason County, local FFA students are doing their part to make sure those who have made significant contributions receive the proper recognition.

Established earlier this year, the Agricultural Hall of Fame is geared to honor local citizens who have played very important roles in the local agricultural community and who continue to do so. Inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame earlier this year at the Mason County Vocational FFA Chapter’s Annual FFA banquet were Gus Douglas, Jim Wilson, Harold Ross, Stormy Hart, and Cliff Dunn.

Sam Nibert, Agricultural Education Instructor at the Mason County Career Center stated the plaques naming these inductees will be on display during the Mason County Fair. Displaying the plaques, Nibert said, was the second phase of the Agricultural Hall of Fame. Following the fair, the plaques will be moved to their permanent home at the West Virginia State Farm Museum.

Also present to share their thoughts on the importance of the Agricultural Hall of Fame were several Mason County Vocational FFA students.

“I just think it’s a great idea that we can recognize the agricultural people in the community and give them the recognition they deserve,” said FFA President Anthony Linger.

FFA Vice-President Kyle Kidwell, “I think it’s a pretty good idea,” said FFA Vice President Kyle Kidwell. “These are the people who grow our food and give us material for clothes.”

FFA Assistant Secretary Molly Fellure and FFA Sentinel Caitlyn Parsons also agreed with Kidwell and Linger, saying the Hall of Fame was a great way to honor these people and recognize them for the support they also give to the current FFA students.

“I was fortunate enough to know most of the inductees and they’ve been very instrumental in the agriculture of Mason County,” said Tim Kidwell, who is also an Agricultural Education Instructor at the Mason County Career Center. “This is an opportunity to show them how much they’ve done and how much they mean to us.”

As previously reported, there will be five new inductees every year, and each inductee will be honored for one of three categories, the first category being service. Nominees in this category do not need to be farmers themselves, but will be someone who has provided for others to perform agricultural work or some other agricultural service. The second category is for performance, which is for those who perform agricultural work, such as farmers. The third category is a joint category, which will include service and performance.

Nibert previously spoke on the need for this Hall of Fame, stating there were several “hall of fames” for other professions such as athletes or musicians, but nothing like this.

It was also reported that the Hall of Fame display will have new applications for citizens to nominate inductees for next year.