This week, Tom brown a lifelong Hershey resident received the Seventh Generation Award, a lifetime achievement award, from the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons.

The Center said on its web site:

The Seventh Generation Award is a life-time service award presented to an individual who has made major contributions to improving rural life and protecting our land and water.

“Tom has contributed over many years in many ways to our mission of building communities that stand for social justice, economic opportunity and environmental stewardship,” said John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs’ Development and Outreach officer. “There could be no one more worthy of this award than Tom Brown.”

Brown is a lifelong farmer and rancher, and a champion of  family farming, fairness and environmental stewardship. In his brief acceptance remarks he touched on both humorous and poignant memories of growing up during the Great Depression and farming from 1940 until today.

“We pioneered no-till farming in our county, and today we face herbicide-resistant weeds and other issues that will challenge no-till farmers in the future – maybe not my problem, but my sons will have to deal with it,” said Brown, noting that while the topics may change, there are still challenges to address and issues to debate.

Crabtree continued, “Tom is committed to leaving the land to the next generation in better shape than when he got it. He has been a fierce advocate for replacing commodity subsidies with conservation incentives.  He has practiced no-till conservation on his own farm.  He cut his teeth in the environmental movement fighting the Gerald Gentleman coal plant in the late 1970s.  Since then, he has been a committed Sierra Club activists and leader.”

Congratulations Tom.  And thank you for the outstanding contribution you’ve made to our world and our community. Read the story on the Center’s web site here. The North Platte Telegraph also did a story on Tom here.