Achievement awards

As I was sitting and listening the other evening at what has always been called the Richards FFA Awards Banquet, several thoughts came to mind.

For 75 years Richards Drug Stores sponsored this annual event.

This banquet honors the top FFA student from each chapter throughout Pottawatomie County.

It was started long before I and most of those attending the other night were even born.

Gordon Richards, Jr., who talked at Monday evening’s gathering, spoke briefly of the history.

The two men who were responsible for starting this banquet passed on many years ago.

Gordon’s dad, Gordon Richards, Sr., was one of those who began this annual tribute to FFA students throughout the county.

Gordon told of when the late Otto Krausse, right after World War II, came to his dad and told him “We need to do something to honor these kids.” He pointed out Monday night, “After three quarters of a century, we’re still doing it.”

Richards Drug Store closed at the end of December and Gordon spoke of it as being a difficult decision. I’m sure it had to be.

Co-owner of Richards Drug Jamie Barrick related at Monday night’s banquet she had worked at the drug store for 42 years. She’s now joined her husband, Tim Barrick, who owns The Clinic Pharmacy and is working there.

It was announced the other evening that Clinic Pharmacy is picking up with the banquet where Richards Drug left off and there has been a slight change with the name of the award that still honors the top FFA student from each chapter.

It’s now called The Gordon Richards, Sr., Achievement Award sponsored by the Clinic Pharmacy.

Jamie will still be as involved with the banquet as ever and I have little doubt most of those who have been associated with it will also.

State Rep. Dell Kerbs, whose District 26 represents primarily Shawnee and the Bethel area, was the guest speaker the other evening. He’s chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

Kerbs asked how many of the people in the room that night had been in FFA.

Then he asked how many believed their lives had been touched in some way by FFA.

It was interesting to see how many stood when he asked that latter question.

When you think about it, the investment that Richards Drug Stores made over the last 75 years in this banquet and in the lives of so many people is considerable. Now the Clinic Pharmacy obviously has made the commitment to do that as well which means this longtime tradition will continue long into the future.

Let’s hope people are grateful for what has been done and what is planned to be done in the coming years.