La Junta Mill & Elevator Receives LJCC Ag Hall of Fame Award

Description: Eldon and Sylvia Stoker are presented the Ag Hall of Fame Award by Theresa Walz at the 121st Annual La Junta Chamber of Commerce Banquet on January 30, 2023.

La Junta Mill & Elevator Receives LJCC Ag Hall of Fame Award

Transcript:

Emcee Daniel Hyatt: And I would like to invite Theresa Walz up for the Ag Hall of Fame award.

Walz: Thank you, Daniel. I'm not quite as tall as Gail, so, and how can you follow Gail Eveatt What a wonderful lady she is. Um, a year ago I stood on this stage as one of the inducts to the Ag Hall of Fame. I was shocked and honored with my friend Kevin Wagoner, who's at a basketball game tonight. But I did drag along my good friend Kim Sherwood because we get into everything pretty much together.

So I wanna talk for just a second about pairs and not the kind that girl on trees. I wanna talk about a pair earrings, maybe a pair of shoes, some of this pair of boots, spurs. . And we also know that maybe a pair of friends stretchers, I'm looking at Kyle Hughes, not me, but most of the things that come in pairs, one of them doesn't do a whole lot of good, but when they're together as a pair, it works.

So this year's honorees for the Ag Hall of Fame. I'm just gonna take excerpts from the letter that we, that I wrote on behalf of the Ace of Spades Riding Open Club. These folks, I don't know what they were thinking, but they bought a business that started out in 1899. They bought it in 1999, and everybody knew the world was gonna end in 2000.

Remember? Hey, oh, nobody didn't have anything on that. So these folks, I'll tell you what, they are just too cool. They're the owners of the La Junta Mill and Elevator. They are a vital part of the livestock industry, not only in Otero County, but our neighboring counties and states as well. Their compassion for their customers does not end at the feed store. They're everywhere. They support the Ace of Spades, La Junta Kids Rodeo, every livestock show and fair for miles around throw in a few ranch rodeos, fundraisers, athletic events, and the list could go on and on. I can personally tell you that numerous times his family has gone above and beyond to help repair, clean, mow whatever else is needed to be done.

At the La Junta Kids rodeo grounds, they're huge supporters to raise the roof, which is April 15th, by the way. Live Band and Dinner, you there? Um, they, they just show up with equipment, everything we need. Thursday nights during June through July on the fun nights, this lady of this pair will feed every person that walks by. It doesn't matter what time it is. I know this because when I leave from upstairs to go to the rope and shoe, she grabs me and she says, have you eaten? And there's not a food truck in town that has anything on this lady's vehicle when she pops out that hatch, you don't see one without the other. These folks are the salt of the earth.

They're committed to their faith, family, friends, and community - It's all inspiring. They sponsor saddles at the kids rodeo. They donate a buckle at Ace of Spades Year End award, they even feed our goats through the summer, and this doesn't begin to cover all the organizations that they support. The La Junta Mill is not just a feed store, it's like walking into a good friend's home. There's always good people. Sometimes you gotta look twice. Great conversation, and most of all, I'm not gonna cry, I promise. The warmth of Sylvia's smiles and hugs at Eldon's wisdom and sense of humor. And if you wanna know something, yes, the stokers are answers themselves.

They know and understand the day-to-day struggles that are involved in agriculture. Their kindness and compassion to the farmers and ranchers in their community is sincere and comes from the heart in a time when our country and world is in turmoil. It's nice to live in such a wonderful community with good folks like Eldon and Sylvia Stoker.

And the plaque says: The La Junta Chamber of Commerce 2022 Ag Hall of Fame Award is presented on January 30th, 2023 to Eldon and Sylvia Stoker. For outstanding contributions and dedication to agriculture. Thank You.

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