2007 Award Winners

Two leaders in agriculture were presented with the Agri-Business Council of Oregon’s two most prestigious awards at the 10th annual Denim & Diamonds Dinner Gala and Auction held Friday, November 16, 2007 at the Governor Hotel in Portland.

2007 Agriculturist of the Year - Jim Bernau
Jim Bernau, founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, received the 2007 Agriculturist of the Year Award. The award recognizes and honors a person for their noteworthy contribution to the agriculture industry as a whole.

Bernau created the first public stock based vineyard in Oregon and has played an integral role in the legislative and marketing efforts of the wine industry. He is seen as a leader throughout agriculture for his ability to work with other segments of agriculture.

“Jim is a leader and a visionary who understands the importance of not only marketing his product, but promoting the importance of agriculture and its practices to the urban community,” says Geoff Horning, executive director of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon. “The list of programs and causes he supports on behalf of Oregon agriculture is extensive, and for that we are pleased to honor him.”

2007 Ag Connection Award - Larry Aamold
Larry Aamold of PNW Ag Consulting was honored with the 2007 Ag Connection Award for his longtime commitment, passion and dedication to promoting agriculture from the local to the state level.

In addition to being a past president of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon, he is past president of the Oregon Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, former chairman of the Portland Chamber of Commerce Ag and Forestry Committee, former Oregon State Fair commissioner, and an active member of the Oregon State Grange Foundation and the Sherwood Grange.

“Larry has spent his adult life volunteering his time to educate the consumer about the values of Oregon agriculture,” says Horning. “He understands the need to connect agriculture with both the consumer and with each other. Oregon agriculture is stronger today because of Larry Aamold and others like him.”

The Ag Connection Award is given annually to recognize an outstanding job of connecting the public with agriculture.