Vancil, Berg to be honored

Published 11:41 am Saturday, May 11, 2013

Friends of the Farms will honor Ryan Vancil and Russ Berg at the organization’s annual meeting and potluck picnic on Sunday, May 19.

Vancil, a land-use attorney on Bainbridge Island, has been chosen to receive the fourth annual Akio Suyematsu Award for his outstanding contribution to the preservation and enhancement of local farming.

Friends of the Farms praised Vancil for his many years of dedicated service to local farming. Vancil was a board member of the nonprofit for

10 years, and Friends of the Farms noted that he was instrumental in crafting farmer leases for city-owned farmlands as well as the nonprofit’s long-term lease with the city of Bainbridge Island.

Berg will be honored at the annual meeting as Volunteer of the Year. He has donated hundreds of hours of volunteer time at Suyematsu-Bentryn Family Farms, Morales Farm and Johnson Farm.

The annual meeting and picnic is 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19 at the Suyematsu & Bentryn Family Farms on Day Road.