In a year that was anything but smooth racing, the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce adjusted its annual awards to reflect more of what businesses and organizations did for the community during 2020, and to adhere to our theme of “Racing into 2021.”
The laps were counted, and winners for the annual Patrick County Chamber of Commerce Awards announced.
Running in a virtual tie for more of the race in the Simulator Award category, the Patrick County Music Association and The Coffee Break Cafe pulled away at the last minute to claim the checkered flag. Since the monthly jams have been postponed, small concerts were on the organization’s Facebook page to help fill the empty bluegrass fix.
With drive-thru, curbside, and take out becoming popular, the Bypass Pit Road Award was created to honor the organization or business that did it best. Voters chose Moorefield Store Volunteer Fire Department for its easy in and easy out pick-up for Brunswick Stew.
Some winners led races start to finish; the Patrick County Public Schools never let off the gas. The division quickly assessed all the rapid changes back in March 2020 and found a way to continue delivering education, scoring a win of the Tower Award for best way to facilitate information in virtual or remote format.
Other races started neck and neck and at the last minute one was able to pull away and claim the victory. This was the case with the Wave Around Award. All three nominees stayed close together until the last two days of voting. The event that most missed in 2020 was the Patrick County Agricultural Fair presented by the Rotary Club of Stuart, which also won the Wave Around Award.
The Pit Crew Award was created to honor those businesses or organizations that really helped keep everyone in the race. From restaurants and resorts who started packing meals for the school kids, or the churches offering free meals, or just stepping up to help assist our community. Patrick County residents helped.
The Racing Under Caution Tower Award was presented to Patrick County Schools. Pictured (left to right) are Rebecca Adcock, chamber director; Andrea Cassell, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Schools Superintendent Dean Gilbert.
The Pit Crew Award was won by Wood Brothers Racing for raising funds to purchase iPads for the Blue Ridge Nursing Center and The Landmark Center so that their residents could communicate with their loved ones during the pandemic.
The great outdoors was a definite winner in 2020, Rebecca Adcock, executive director of the chamber, said. “We are lucky to live in Patrick County surrounded by plenty of opportunities from national parks, publicly owned lakes, a state park, and wonderful county parks. This race for the Rain Delay Award was a real nail bitter. The lead changed multiple times, and it was never a large lead. In the end, the Mayo River Rail Trail crossed the finish line first.”
The chamber congratulated all winners and nominees and thanked those who nominated and voted.
