Afton Darnell Roberts accepts the Dennis White Business Citizen of the Year awarded to Darnell Farms
Hannah Styles
hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Last Thursday, the Swain County Chamber of Commerce held their annual banquet to celebrate the county and businesses within it. The dinner featured live jazz by We Three Swing and was held inside the historic Fryemont Inn that is celebrating its 99th year.
Monica Brown of the Fryemont Inn welcomed everyone to the banquet and introduced this year’s Dennis White Business & Innovation Award and Duke Energy Service & Citizenship Award.
This year the award previously known as the Business Citizen of the Year, now the Dennis White Business and Innovation Award was given to the Darnell Family with Darnell Farms.
“Darnell Farms is a beloved part of our community and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike and is now part of the Mainspring Conservation Trust to protect the farm for years to come,” Brown said.
Darnell Farms not only offers fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables but also many events showcasing the Appalachian Mountain way of life.
Afton Darnell Roberts accepted the award on behalf of her family and thanked the community for their continued support of the farm.
“I am accepting the award tonight on behalf of my dad, because he is at a livestock sale right now,” Darnell Roberts laughed. “He has always had farming in his blood.”
The next award presented was the Duke Energy Service and Citizenship Award, and it was given in memory of a beloved member of the community and a holly, jolly character, the town Santa Claus, aka Mack Davis.
“Mack Davis served as the chamber and community Santa for over 16 years and passed in January leaving behind a legacy of good deeds, hard work, and faithfulness,” a Chamber press release stated.
His wife Jean Davis accepted the award on his behalf, and spoke tearfully in remembrance of her husband and the cherished memories he left behind.
Mack and Jean Davis worked alongside the community as chairs for Operation Christmas Child, with the Heritage Festival committee, and with Swain Cancer Support.
Next year the Chamber plans to hold the banquet again and will be thrilled to celebrate the Fryemont Inn’s centennial year!