During the conference banquet another minister also received a special award. Rev. Virgie Holbrook of Lakeway United Methodist Church in Pottsboro was honored as the Small Community Minister of the Year. Hanson and Holbrook were chosen from 26 ministers nominated from across Texas. The Rural Minister of the Year recognition program is a highlight of the two-day church conference, said Dr. Greg Taylor, program leader for community development with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. The program, sponsored by the Extension Service and the publishers of Progressive Farmer, provides a showcase of outstanding work of nominees in small town and rural communities.
Participants also gain useful information, ideas and skills to help their ministries.
We feel that the church is the rallying point where people in rural areas unite, worship together and celebrate together. People who are in leadership positions, particularly the pastors, do a superb job and should be recognized. The magazine is not involved in the selection process. That difficult task is left to a committee, Deterling said. He did not always live in rural America, but grew up dreaming of becoming a farmer or rancher, and ended up in ministry instead.