At its February 17 awards dinner at the Reynolds Homestead, the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce presented its annual awards to county businesses and individuals.

Nominees were sent in by county residents and business leaders; winners were selected from those nominees.

This year’s Business of the Year award went to a small business that has been open less than one year: Home Comforts home décor shop on Main Street in Stuart. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tim Collins said he received more than 100 nomination forms for Business of the Year, and Home Comforts was listed on one-fourth of those applications.

The Chamber Ambassador Award this year went to Anna Lester of Clark Gas & Oil. This award is presented to a member of the chamber’s board of directors.

For the Small Business of the Year Award – presented to a business with fewer than 25 employees – the winner was Honduras Coffee.

This year’s winner of the Large Business of the Year Award was Mountain Valley Hospice.

The Patrick County Excellence in Tourism Award, “Patrick County’s Finest,” which recognizes a Patrick County business or organization that has promoted the county as a tourist destination, went to former Patrick County Tourism Director Joseph Quesenberry.

The Chamber Community Partnership Award was presented to the Young Professionals, a networking and service group for local businessmen and women.

In a new award this year, the Reynolds Homestead was chosen for the Platinum Partnership Award in honor of the organization’s leadership programs and support for area community events.

From top to bottom, Anna Lester, Clark Gas & Oil; Patty Hazelwood and Leon Puckett, Honduras Coffee Shop; Joseph Quesenberry, former Patrick County Tourism Director; members of the Young Professionals; Sarah Wray, left, and Terri Leviner of the Reynolds Homestead; and employees of Mountain Valley Hospice.