In a night filled with community pride, the Sidney Area Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture handed out its annual awards during the banquet held at the Richland County Fair Event Center.

The evening included comments from Chamber executive director Wade VanEvery, immediate past president David Seitz and new president Cami Skinner. Sports radio announcer Rocky Erickson provided a keynote address while former Sidney coach and Montana High School Association executive director Jim Haugen served as emcee.

Award winners included: Agriculture

The Richland County commissioners won the award sponsored by the Ag Roundup.

The commissioners were honored for making a goal of maintaining extensive rural roads in quality condition in order to transport crops and livestock and for safe personal passage. The Ag Committee also recognizes the commissioners for the funding and input in the new MSU Extension and Research Facility project.

In addition, the Richland County Fair Event Center and fairgrounds help showcase the agriculture endeavors of the county. The commissioners are also active with Richland Economic Development, which seeks out new agriculture developments.

Entrepreneur

Sunny’s Family Restaurant, owned by Anissa Gillespie, earned the Entrepreneur Award sponsored by Richland Federal Credit Union. The award recognizes someone who has been successful in their new venture and has gone beyond the ordinary to capture the public’s attention.

Gillespie noticed the old Eagle Café was closed for some time during a trip home to be with her family. She immediately began looking into taking it over in November 2007. Her inherited work ethic and help from her family helped establish this business as a “cornerstone” in the downtown area.

Gillespie has adapted as needed, making changes to her menu and the restaurant’s name to attract customers.

One nomination read, “her perseverance working seven days a week and 13 hour days has turned Sunny’s into a very successful business.”

Educator of the Year

Yvonne Gebhardt was selected Educator of the Year. The award is sponsored by DTF Educational Funding.

Gebhardt is an educator dedicated to student achievement and will not accept student failure. She was selected because of the amount of time outside of school that she spends assisting and motivating students. She has served on the Montana State Math Council and is responsible for mentoring many new math teachers.

She has coached students in extra-curricular academic and math competitions at both the middle school and high school levels for 28 years. “She is an exceptional educator who takes pride in being the best that she can be, and her actions in and out of the classroom serve students, staff, parents and the community,” Sidney High School Principal Dan Peters said.

Sunrise Spirit

B & B Builders, represented by owners Roger and Don Byer, received the Sunrise Spirit Award sponsored by the Sidney Herald.

West Side Elementary School has a new set of playground equipment thanks in part to this business. The Byers worked extensively with the Sidney Education Foundation by providing funding, displaying the fund drive thermometer on its building and constructing the amazing equipment at the end.

The Chamber applauds B & B Builders for its work rehabilitating buildings on Main Street and creating a better shopping district. Plus, they volunteer on many other projects that are done in Sidney. They especially make sure the youth have all the opportunities possible in the community.

Horizon

Rau DeSigns, owned by Justin and Tressa Rau, was the recipient of the Horizon Award. The honor, sponsored by Sidney Health Center, goes to a business that has been in existence for more than five years but keeps breaking new ground and moving forward.

Rau DeSigns is part of an elite group that has received the Entrepreneurs Award and now is a winner of the Horizon Award. They were working in small, pieced-together buildings and did a lot of work outside. They outgrew this arrangement and during the past two years built a modern steel building that now meets their needs to do signage on any type of vehicle.

Rau DeSigns is quite involved with helping oil field businesses as well as retail and individual needs. The scope of their work has increased dramatically with this new facility that is very attractive.

Comments on ballots by Chamber members included “they are on the cutting edge of design” and “expanding to the needs of the community and thinking outside the box.”