WEST CHESTER, Pa. — AgConnect invites the public to help celebrate Chester County agriculture by casting votes for nine finalists for the inaugural Chester County Best of Agriculture Awards.
The Best of Agriculture Awards were created for the public to recognize farmers, agricultural professionals, and organizations who play a vital role in preserving and strengthening Chester County’s agricultural heritage while shaping its future. This fi rst-of-its-kind program has received a strong response from the community, with a signifi cant number of nominations submitted across all award categories.
“The Chester County Best of Agriculture Awards are entirely driven by members of the public, from nominations through to the fi nal voting that will determine our eventual winners,” said Greg Newell, Chair of the Executive Advisory Committee. “The strong response we received shows how invested this community is in celebrating Chester County agriculture and the people and organizations who make it exceptional.” Following nominations and review process, nine fi nalists were selected across three award categories, based on the number of times they were nominated by the public. The fi nalists for the 2026 Chester County Best of Agriculture Awards are:
Young and Emerging Person in Agriculture
- Yatin Kapu, Grow Careers Intern, Trellis for Tomorrow
- Casi Long, Herd and Harvest Market
- Becky Brett, Toad Stop Farm
Woman in Agriculture
- Sammy Smenkowski, Full Circle CSA
- Emma de Long, Kneehigh Farm
- Gwen Marcy, Seven Stars Farm
Community Impact in Agriculture
- Milky Way Farm
- Trellis for Tomorrow
- Growing Roots Partners
Final award recipients will be determined by a public vote conducted from February 16 through March 1, 2026. Community members are encouraged to participate and help recognize the individuals and organizations making a meaningful contributions to Chester County agriculture.
Voting details and fi nalist information are available at go-agconnect.org. The winners of the Chester County Best of Agriculture Awards will be announced in March, following the close of public voting.
About AgConnect AgConnect is a public-private partnership between the County of Chester and Chester County Economic Development Council, that works to strengthen Chester County agriculture by fostering connections among farmers, businesses, and the broader southeastern region, supporting agricultural sustainability, and promoting awareness of the county’s rich farming heritage.
For more information, visit go-agconnect.org
