This year, the Pontiac Area Chamber is pleased to announce two winners for the Bill Edwards Agri-Business Person of the Year award. Jesse Faber and Parker Bane, both agriculture teachers at Pontiac Township High School, have been selected as this year’s recipients and we look forward to honoring them at the Annual Banquet, to be held March 7th at the Pontiac Elks Lodge. They are pictured above with their families.
Paul Kelly of KSR nominated the two teachers for the award, based on their exponential impact on the agriculture industry in Pontiac through educating local students interested in pursuing Ag as a career.
Parker Bane has been with the school district for fourteen years, and his energy and determination were the driving forces behind the reintroduction of agriculture curriculum to PTHS. Superintendent Jon Kilgore says of Bane, “Within 5 years of restarting our program, our enrollment has grown so quickly that we had to hire another teacher in the agriculture program. This speaks volumes about the quality and quantity of work that Parker has done for this program and this community.”
Jesse Faber also has made important contributions to the agriculture program at PTHS. “His students consistently perform at a top level when entered into competition,” says Kilgore, who also notes that the excellence and reputation of the agriculture program has allowed it to grow even when the overall school enrollment has dropped.
Both teachers have proven themselves to be a vital part of the local agriculture community. Their commitment to excellence instills their students with a love of agriculture in a way that stimulates the local ag industry and will continue to do so for generations to come.
To attend the Annual Banquet and honor these award recipients, please RSVP to the Pontiac Area Chamber by February 27. The cost is $30 per person to attend. More information can be found here.
The Pontiac Area Chamber is a non-profit organization committed to creating and maintaining a favorable business climate in the Pontiac area; and to stimulating pride and involvement among its constituency. It was created in 1917 and currently has more than 240 member businesses from Pontiac and the surrounding communities.
Calvert & Martin will be hosting the December Mix & Mingle on 
In the crazy holiday season remember to shop at your local retailers. Saturday, November 24 is Small Business Saturday. Come out to downtown Pontiac from 10 am to noon and enjoy free donuts and cinnamon rolls from Pfaff’s Bakery, coffee from The Cup & The Scone, along with some delicious hot chocolate. The welcome center will be stationed outside Charmed Boutique.
The luncheon featured a speech from Linda Lambert, of Heartland Community College. Lambert discussed the importance of leadership as it impacts education,
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