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Chester County proclaims National Ag Week and 4‑H Week, honors recycling nonprofit and volunteer cleanup leader
Summary
The Chester County Board of Commissioners issued proclamations for National Agriculture Week and Pennsylvania 4‑H Week, honored Recycling Services Inc. for an election‑sign recycling effort and named a volunteer litter‑cleanup organizer as Volunteer of the Year.
The Chester County Board of Commissioners issued proclamations for National Agriculture Week and Pennsylvania 4‑H Week at its March 19 meeting, and presented awards to Recycling Services Inc. and a county volunteer for litter‑cleanup efforts.
Commissioner Marion Moskowitz read a proclamation noting that "since 1973, National Agriculture Week has celebrated the dedication of America's farmers," and the county declaration highlighted AgConnect, a public‑private partnership that connects farmers to resources, markets and technical assistance. The board's proclamation text said Chester County is "the second largest agricultural producer in the state" and affirmed support for agriculture and career pathways, signed by Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marion Moskowitz and Eric Rowe.
Howard Rayburn accepted the ag proclamation on behalf of the Chester County Farm Bureau and AgConnect and told the board the county's agricultural sector "provides over $730,000,000 of revenue to Chester County while preserving open space, conserving our land and our water resources."
The board also proclaimed March 2025 as Pennsylvania 4‑H Week in Chester County. Amy Bradford, client relationship manager for Penn State Extension, introduced extension educator Audrey Wright and 4‑H member Evelyn Bove, who summarized her five years in 4‑H and projects including dairy goats, woodworking and beekeeping.
Keep Chester County Beautiful recognized Recycling Services Inc. (RSI) for organizing a post‑election sign recycling program that sorted plastic signs and metal frames; the board said the effort recycled "hundreds of pounds of plastic signs and more than 1,000 pounds of recycled scrap metal." The commission named a second awardee, volunteer Dave Shirey, as Volunteer of the Year for coordinating single‑day litter cleanups across southern Chester County, recruiting more than 100 volunteers for events the board described.
Public comment on agenda items included remarks from Sally Menninger of West Cowan, who urged commissioners to watch township land development and raised concern that farmland is disappearing in her area. "Farmland is disappearing," Menninger said, describing recent townhome and multifamily proposals and stormwater problems she attributes to development.
The board did not take separate votes on the proclamations and awards beyond the general consent to present them; the recognitions were ceremonial and accepted by the recipients during the meeting.
The commissioners encouraged public engagement with county agricultural programs and volunteer environmental efforts and noted upcoming cleanup events.
