MOUNT VERNON — Josie Rine was honored Thursday at the Knox County Fair with the presentation of the second annual David Greer Award. The awarded was created in 2008 by the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club as a youth counterpart to its Luke Biggs Award, which honors families dedicated to agriculture and citizenship. The David Greer Award goes to a youth who shows outstanding interest in agricultural conservation, leadership and citizenship, all values for which Knox County resident, teacher, farmer and conservationist David Greer is renowned, according to Kiwanis Club member Doug McLarnan.

“Agriculture is something I’m passionate about,” Rine said after being presented the award in the center ring immediately following the Sale of Champions. She said that she was very honored to receive the award when there are so many impressive young people devoted to agriculture in Knox County, all of whom she feels are equally deserving of recognition. Rine, a recent graduate of East Knox High School, is a fifth-generation Knox County farmer who is actively planning on remaining in the area and pursuing agriculture in the future.

“After interviewing many excellent candidates, we found that there was still one who stood out above the rest,” Greer said, “and that was Josie.” Greer personally presented the award to Rine.

McLarnan said that the award committee had a large number of impressive contenders both inside and outside of the 4-H program to sort through for this year’s award, which carries with it a $500 cash prize. Last year’s winner Bernie Douglas felt he had to disqualify himself from helping judge this year’s competition, considering that he has many friends among the candidates being reviewed. Greer said that Douglas, this year’s fair king, led the way as last year’s winner with both his activities and his future plans, which are to become a veterinarian specializing in farm animals and return to practice in Knox County.