NOBLEBORO — This year’s Cooperating Conservation Farm of 2014 award goes to Ben and Taryn Marcus of Sheepscot General Farm in Whitefield. Ben and Taryn grow five acres of certified organic produce and organic pick-your-own strawberries, practice cover-cropping to improve soil health, and also operate Sheepscot General, a one-of-a-kind general store that includes a café, free wifi, and hosts a variety of community events.

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District will hold its Annual Awards Banquet at the North Nobleboro Community Hall on East Pond Road in Nobleboro on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.

 Feast on homemade beef or vegetarian dinner — and the famous all-you-can-eat pie assortment for dessert — followed by awards presentations and this year's guest speaker, Tim Cunniff, executive director and one of the founders of Backyard Farms. He will be speaking on Growing Tomatoes Year-Round in Madison – the Backyard Farms Story.

Following dinner and before we introduce our guest speaker, there will be brief news and activities updates from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and District staff, and presentation of the Annual District Awards.

Recognition will also go to Knox and Lincoln county individuals who have demonstrated excellence in conservation education, forestry, volunteer service to the conservation district, and professional service in conservation.

The festivities begin at 6 p.m. with munchies and visiting; dinner will be served promptly at 6:30 p.m. All guests are eligible for free doorprize drawings held throughout the evening and have a last chance to buy tickets for our Great Garden Raffle, which will be drawn at the banquet.

Registration fee of $15 covers the cost of the meal. To register, contact Hildy at 596-2040, hildy@knox-lincoln.org, or register online at www.knox-lincoln.org/annual-meeting/.

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District is an equal opportunity provider and employer.