Pennsylvania Ag Connection - PFB's Past Administrator Receives Highest Individual Honor

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PFB's Past Administrator Receives Highest Individual Honor
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 11/20/2017

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) presented retired administrative secretary Louis "Lou" Sallie with the Barnraiser Award in recognition of his decades of service to farm families and agriculture during PFB's 67th Annual Meeting. The Barnraiser Award, which is PFB's highest honor, recognizes individuals who have spent a lifetime in dedicated leadership to the agricultural community.

"Receiving the Barnraiser Award means a lot to me and it means a lot to my family, who sacrificed a lot while I was on the road," said Louis Sallie. "It's also very humbling when you consider other individuals who've been recognized with the award."

Sallie spent 25 years as PFB's Administrative Secretary and more than 40 years working for Farm Bureau. Prior to working for PFB, he was an area director for the Northeast with the American Farm Bureau Federation and the director of member relations for the New York Farm Bureau. At PFB, Sallie ran the day-to-day operations of the state's largest farm organization and was directly responsible for providing timely and critical information to members of the State Board of Directors.

"During his career with Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Lou was a great leader and provided outstanding advice over the years to farmers, especially those who sat on the state board of directors. He helped me and many other farmers navigate through a variety of complex issues and difficult situations associated with agriculture," said PFB President Rick Ebert. "Although he was not a farmer, Lou always focused his efforts on working toward outcomes that benefitted farm families."

Sallie also worked as administrator of PFB's charitable organization, the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation. During his tenure, the foundation created and expanded the Mobile Agriculture Education Science Lab program, which reached a major milestone in 2016, when it welcomed its 1,000,000th student inside a lab for a lesson.

"The growth of the foundation has made a huge difference in helping Pennsylvania farmers reach a major long-term goal of educating children and non-farmers about agriculture and the role farmers play in their daily lives," added Sallie.

Sallie becomes only the 14th recipient of the award in the 67-year history of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

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