MOUNT VERNON — David Greer has a very pragmatic attitude toward the award named after him.
“I’m just glad it’s named in my honor and not in my memory,” he said.
All that aside, the award, sponsored by Kiwanis, has been in existence for three years.
“The David Greer Award is awarded to an outstanding youth of our community,” said Larry Hall about the honor. “One who is outstanding in agriculture, conservation, leadership and community service.”
The award was announced by Doug McLarnan, chairman of the Kiwanis Club committee that named the winner.
“David Greer has been a fixture here at the fair but he is also a fixture in the state and nationally, especially when you are talking about conservation. We have named this award for him to recognize all he has done. We created an award of $500 to the top youth in Knox County involved in agriculture and demonstrating a long history of leadership and citizenship,” McLarnan said. “This year’s winner is Ben Bennett of Mount Vernon. He is the future of Knox County agriculture. Ben’s intention is to be a large animal vet, so you’ll see him here in the ring some day helping out.”
McLarnan said the selection of the winner is a four-step process.
“It was a tough selection this year,” he said. “But some of Ben’s qualities are that he has been involved in 4-H for 10 years and has been president of the Junior Fair Board for four years. This year he stepped back to be vice president in order to bring some of the younger kids into the process. That’s just one of Ben’s outstanding qualities. He is in the National Honor Society and involved in the military kids camp.”