FAIRMOUNT — Vermilion Advantage commended local business leaders Tuesday for their efforts on behalf of the local agriculture industry.

Normally, the Vermilion Advantage Agribusiness Farm City Gathering is hosted at a morning breakfast, but this year the gathering took place in the evening at a unique venue — Sleepy Creek Vineyards.

Surrounded on all sides by corn and soybean fields, the vineyard serves as a reminder of the county’s diverse agricultural endeavors, said Kerry Wienke, executive director of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau.

The annual gathering’s venue is intended to showcase the area’s diversity, he said, which includes operations that grow other types of crops or raise bees, for example.

Patrons at Sleepy Creek tasted the vineyard’s wines, took tours and mingled at the winery after the evening’s awards were handed out.

Agribusiness Council representatives named First National Bank of Georgetown the 2008 Ag Business, for their work within and on behalf of the industry.

Joe Daughhetee, a certified public accountant and certified valuation analyst with Daughhetee & Parks, a certified public accounting firm and longtime member of the Agribusiness Council, was named 2008 Ag Leader.

Daughhetee, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, also worked for Kesler & Co in Danville before starting his firm. Susan Wimsett, who presented him with the award, said he had written several articles for Farm Future magazine and has served in various roles in groups that specialize in agriculture finance and accounting.

Danville Area Community College agriculture, botany and math lead instructor Craig Potter won the 2008 Ag Educator Award. A native of Alvin, Potter still farms in the area, said Bob Boesdorfer of First Midwest Bank.

Boesdorfer joked that many of the institutions Potter had been associated with curiously no longer exist, including Alvin Grade School, Rossville-Alvin High School and Danville Junior College.

Potter received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1975 and his master’s in 1980. He taught vocational agriculture classes at Rossville-Alvin for 18 years after receiving his master’s degree.

He’s taught at DACC for 11 years.

Jerry Askren, a member of the Danville City Council, was named the 2008 Friend of Agriculture for his association with agribusiness.

Askren is the vice president of lending with the first National Bank of Georgetown. His focus is on agricultural lending.

His other civic associations include membership with the Further Light Lodge 1130, the Valley of Danville Scottish Rite Masons, the GAO Grotto, the National Rifle Association, the U of I Alumni Association and the Vermilion County Farm Bureau.

Location, location

Dawn Taylor poured samplings of her winery’s offerings for gathering patrons after the awards ceremony, explaining each wine as she served.

Taylor, who owns the winery with JoeTaylor, said they picked the location because of the nearby idyllic scenery of local parks and the proximity to Interstate 74.

“It was ideal,” Dawn said.

The couple, who lived in Potomac, are first-time purple thumbs. Dawn’s background is in computer networking and Joe owned a studio that designed museum exhibits.

“We knew nothing about it,” she said. “We started making wine in our kitchen.”

Dawn says they learn more and more from trial and error and through networking with other Illinois wineries. They’ve grown the grapes in the Oakwood area for six years, and have been open for business since last spring.

But they couldn’t have done so much so fast without the help of the Farm Bureau and the Agribusiness Council.

“They’ve been extremely friendly,” she said, adding that the vineyard has hosted many Farm Bureau events.

The events have helped them gain new clients and attract business, she said.