Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) invites the public to its first Virtual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, November 10 at 5:30pm. Join us on Zoom from the comfort of your own home for this year’s awards, a guest speaker, pre-ordered pies and great raffle prizes.

This year’s awards go to:

• Brae Maple Farm in Union is the Conservation Farm of 2020. Owned and operated by Andrea and Allan Smith, Brae Maple is a MOFGA-certified organic vegetable, dried flower and herb farm and has been the home of an active Master Gardener Volunteer Project since 1998.
• Nancy Olmstead, Invasive Plant Biologist with the Maine Natural Areas Program, in recognition of her work to educate the people of Maine about the threat of invasive terrestrial plants to Maine’s ecosystems.
• Sue Mello, Natural Resources Manager for the Boothbay Region Water District, will be recognized for her successful efforts to protect and improve drinking water quality in the Lower Sheepscot River Watershed.

Awards presentations will be followed by guest speaker, Ivan Fernandez, Distinguished University of Maine Professor with the Climate Change Institute & School of Forest Resources, whose topic is “Climate Change in Maine and a Way Forward.”

Pie and raffle prizes have always been a part of our awards celebration. This year whole pies from D-zerts by Daphne in Westport may be pre-ordered on our website for pick-up on Monday, November 9 at convenient sites in Knox and Lincoln counties. Also for sale on our website are raffle tickets for five great prizes: An overnight stay in one of the wilderness yurts or lakeside cabins at Hidden Valley Nature Center ($80 value); Cutting Board - beautiful functional and locally-made by Mystic Woodworks ($60 value); $50 Gift Certificate for Knox-Lincoln SWCD 2021 Plant Sale; Family Membership to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens ($100 value); and a Gift Basket from Sasanoa Brewing, a certified organic brewery on Westport Island.

Admission to the Awards Celebration is free, but participants must register to receive a link to the festivities. Please visit www.knox-lincoln.org/annual-banquet to register for the event and to purchase pies and raffle tickets. Pies and raffle tickets may be purchased without attendance. Our thanks to the raffle prize donors and this year’s sponsors: Mid-Maine Forestry, Sasanoa Brewing and Union Farm Equipment. For more information about attending the event or sponsorship opportunities, please call Julie or Hildy at 596-2040 or email julie@knox-lincoln.org