FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2022
For more information, contact:
Justin W. Johnson
Communications & Marketing Director
(717) 696-6236
jjohnson@lancasterchamber.com
Lancaster Chamber Announces 2022 George C. Delp Award Recipient to be honored at the 46th Agriculture Industry Banquet this Thursday, November 17, 2022
Lancaster, PA – The Lancaster Chamber is thrilled and pleased to announce the recipient of the 2022 George C. Delp Award.
The George C. Delp Award is presented annually to a resident or business of Lancaster County who has made a significant contribution to the agricultural community. The individual/business must exemplify an outstanding dedication and commitment to preserving and enhancing agriculture in Lancaster County.
The recipient of the 2022 George C. Delp Award is Karen Martynick. Karen Martynick recently retired from Lancaster Farmland Trust after serving a remarkable 17 years leading the organization. Karen dedicated herself to building Lancaster Farmland trust into one of the most successful agricultural land trusts in the nation and to accelerating farmland protection in the county, with 368 farms and 22,546 acres preserved during her tenure. During her tenure as President & CEO, Lancaster Farmland Trust expanded into protection of soil and water resources on farms, playing an integral role in water quality and implementation of best management practices. With LFT, she also continued to build and foster relationships with elected officials, achieved a competitive national accreditation, and led Lancaster Farmland Trusts first capital campaign, raising more than $8.5 million dollars.
Karen has served and represented Lancaster County’s commitment to conservation and preservation on several boards, including the PA Land Trust Association, County Commissioners’ Association of PA, Lancaster County Smart Growth Coalition, and the Lancaster County Ag Council. Karen received the “woman of influence” award in 2010 from the Central Penn Business Journal, “Pennsylvania honor roll of women” from the Commonwealth of PA, and the “outstanding service to conservation” from the nature conservancy – just to name a few!
Karen’s groundbreaking work has been instrumental in the resilience of our shared landscape and our communities. Karen’s commitment to protecting farmland has shaped our future in a very tangible way – by providing future generations with the opportunity to enjoy our farmland and the extraordinary quality of life it provides just as we do today.
Karen will be presented her award at the 46th Agriculture Industry Banquet on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the Eden Resorts & Suites from 5:00-9:00pm.
For more than 40 years the Lancaster Chamber has hosted the annual Agriculture Industry Banquet – bringing together the region’s top leaders in the agricultural industry. From agribusiness to producers, from insurance to parts & equipment – the Agriculture Industry Banquet has become a celebration of agriculture as one of Lancaster County’s top economic drivers and showcases not only the elements to be celebrated, but often, plays as an inspirational or learning experience for attendees and an opportunity to elevate the agribusiness network that makes Lancaster so unique.
The keynote speaker for the banquet this year is John Piotti, President of the American Farmland Trust.
John Piotti has worked at the forefront of sustainable agriculture since the early 1990s, first in Maine, and now nationally. In 2016, he became President of American Farmland Trust, bringing new energy to this storied organization that launched the conservation agriculture movement. Under John’s leadership, AFT has engaged in the most comprehensive study of American land use ever conducted, helped secure billions of dollars in federal funding to protect farmland and promote climate-smart agriculture, and launched new initiatives that advance regenerative farming practices and support next generation farmers. Prior to joining AFT, John served as President of Maine Farmland Trust, which during his tenure became recognized as one of the most innovative and impactful farm-support groups in the nation. John has also served in the Maine State Legislature, where he chaired the Agriculture Committee and was later elected House Majority Leader. In 2013, John was named to Maine Magazine’s inaugural list of one of the 50 people who have done the most for the state. In 2005, he received a prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship, which he used to study agricultural policy in Europe. John holds three degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: in engineering, public policy, and systems management.
If you are interested in attending the 46th Agriculture Industry Banquet, you can register at https://www.lancasterchamber.com/events/.
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At the Lancaster Chamber, our mission is to create the environment, facilitate partnerships, and lead on issues that elevate business success. Established in 1872, the Chamber is celebrating its 150th Anniversary, commemorating 150 years of impact, support, engagement, and leadership for the Lancaster County business community. The Chamber continues to leverage the collective strength of the business community. By advancing a pro-business agenda, supporting community-focused initiatives, including Workforce, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and being committed to providing resources for all business professionals – the Chamber strives to build Lancaster into a thriving community for all.
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