For over a decade Rural Action has honored the people, businesses, and organizations that teach us how to live and work in greater harmony with Earth and with each other. Each year, during our annual meeting we recognize those who create new models for living with respect to the earth and its systems that others can follow; have a generous spirit and willingly share knowledge, experiences, and personal resources with others; and leave the world a better place because of their personal and professional behavior.
2023 nominations are now closed.
Below is a list of award recipients from previous years.
| Year | Rural Action Volunteer Award |
Youth K-12 Award |
Sustainable Business Award |
Sustainable Partnership Award |
Lifetime Achievement Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Alice Ross | Kyla Britton and Julia Slivus | Jackie O’s Brewery | OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital | Art Trese |
| 2022 | Kathy Ortt | Lane Wasson | Rick Felumlee, Mayapple Farms | SOPEC | Jonathan Sowash |
| 2021 | Jenny Byers | Alison McCoy | New Leaf Marketplace/Emporium (Jennifer L’Heureux) | Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) (Allison Ricket) | John Glazer & Bobbi Bishop |
| 2020 | Andrea Jones | Julia Weber | McKee Auto Parts and Recyclers | Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers (Bruce Underwood) | Cathy Knoop |
| 2019 | Linda Parsons | Hannah Bernstein | Shrivers Pharmacy (Bobbie Loudner) | United Plant Savers (Susan Leopold) | George Wood |
| 2018 | Debbie Robertson | Alexis Kuhre Haag | Casa Nueva | Ohio Department of Natural Resources-DMRM | Edward Newman |
| Year | Sustainable Livelihood Award |
Sustainable Business Award |
Sustainable Partnership Award |
Lifetime Achievement Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Jim Hart | Airclaws | Camp Oty’ Okwa | Pete Woyar |
| 2016 | Ann Moneypenny | OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital | Community Food Initiatives | Carol Kuhre |
| 2015 | Weston Lombard | RVC Architects | Athens County City Schools (Tom Gibbs) | Joy Padgett |
| 2014 | Matt Rapposelli | Mt. Airy Beef (Ben & Katrina Carpenter) |
Hocking College | Frank & Catherine Hare |
| 2013 | Dave Schatz | Green Edge Organic Gardens (Kip and Becky Rondy) |
Trimble Local Schools | Jeanne and Luther Haseley |
| 2012 | Ed Newman | Avalanche Pizza (John Gutekanst) |
Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs | Don and Mary Anne Flournoy |
| 2011 | Miki Brooks | Snowville Creamery (Warren Taylor) |
ACEnet | Bruce Kuhre |
| 2010 | Robert A. Culp | Moore’s Shoe Repair | Stuarts Opera House | Patrica West-Volland Robert Volland (Posthumous for Bob) |
| 2009 | Annie and Jay Warmke | Integration Acres (Chris Chmiel) |
Phil Cantino | Lyda Gunter |
| 2008 | Greg Kremer | Kroger (Dave Schull, Athens Store) | – | Marshall and Betty Lowe |
| 2007 | Ronda Clark | Athens Realty (Wil Chandler) |
Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council | Mary Stoertz (Posthumous) |
| 2006 | Gifford Doxsee | Village Bakery (Christine Hughes) |
Wayne National Forest | – |
| 2005 | Jon Sowash | Rich Gardens (Rich Tomsu & Ann Fugate) |
Ohio Field Office Of The Corporation For National Community Service | Ora Anderson |
| 2004 | Jan Griesinger | WATH Radio Station | ILGARD | – |