The Christian County Ag Group held its 26th annual Ag Appreciation Luncheon Thursday at the Christian County Ag Fair Beer Tent, to celebrate and focus on the importance of agriculture to the Christian County economy.

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The event started off with Ag Group chair R-D Elder presenting a 750-dollar scholarship to Lizzie Schafer, a Taylorville High School grad and FFA member, who is entering college majoring in an ag related field.

Central Commodity F-S general manager Mark Bauman then presented grants and scholarships to a host of county F-F-A chapters, the Ag in the Classroom program, and students entering college, to show their continued support for the future of agriculture in Christian County. 

Marketing Director for Central Commodity F-S Aarika May (center) presented a $4,000 check to the Taylorville High School F-F-A after the program.

Guest speaker for the event was long-time anchor DeLoss Jahnke from the RFD Radio Network, which is carried on WTIM AM and FM.  Jahnke applauded the many F-F-A'ers and other youth attending the event, adding they are the future of agriculture in Christian County and the world.  

Jahnke also spoke about the changing ag issues he and the network are covering in Springfield and Washington.

Invited guests were then introduced, then the Taylorville F-F-A Judging Team, just back from Scotland to compete in an international competition, were brought to the stage where they introduced themselves and spoke briefly about their overseas experiences.

Miller Media Group president Randal J. Miller again emceed the event, and also gave the invocation just before the pork chop lunch with all the trimmings were served by the Mount Auburn Rustler's 4-H Club.  The meal was again catered by Marietta Dunkirk of Morrisonville and her staff from Country Girl Catering.

Christian County Ag Fair royalty was on hand to greet those in attendance.

A host of door prizes donated by area sponsors were given away while those attending enjoyed lunch.