Carla Youngblood Award

Meagan Morton is the latest recipient of the the Carla Youngblood Community Spirit Award. The Friends of the Berryville Library presented the award to Morton on Thursday, July 10, at the Berryville Farmers Market.

This award was established in 2019 to honor Carla Youngblood for her years of service to the community through her work at the Berryville Library. This award aims to highlight others who tirelessly give their time and talent, often with little or no recognition, to make Berryville a better place to live, work or play.

Morton was selected as the award recipient for the impact she has made in the farming and artisan community. Morton is a Blue Eye High School graduate and attended Bryant & Stratton College, where she studied marketing and business. She and her husband, Clint, started a home-based farm in Berryville called Pleasant Valley Farm, where they, along with their four children — Allie, Macie, Ben and Anna —assist. After thorough research, Morton began raising Heritage pigs and selling Berkshire Prime Pork. Many who cannot eat regular white meat pork have found the Berkshire pork suitable since the meat is red like beef. Besides managing the family farm, Morton also home-schools all four of their children.

“I met Meagan at a market, and we started talking about how the Berryville Farmers and Artisans Market was struggling and what could be done to support it in the future,” said Crystal Hotopp, vice president of the Carroll County Farmers Market Association. “Because Meagan’s mind is meticulous with details and she had the marketing training and experience, she said ‘I can help you,’ and laid out a plan of action to turn the Berryville Farmers and Artisans Market into a nonprofit organization that would include much more than just Berryville.”

“She’s brilliant,” Hotopp added.

With Morton’s vision and expertise, the Carroll County Farmers Market Association Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs and marketing professionals, was founded. Morton serves as president, with Hotopp as vice president, Susy Stinebrickner as treasurer, and Amanda Bottoms as secretary. The organization continues to grow, welcoming more farmers and artisans, with plans to expand further throughout Carroll County. Currently, the Farmers Market Association hosts a farmers’ market every Monday morning inside the Berryville Community Center and on Thursdays outside the center. They also set up on the Berryville Square for the second Saturday event sponsored by the City of Berryville.

One recent goal of Morton’s was to involve schools for volunteer hours, and she took her daughter Macie’s suggestion to start a Junior Market Board. Morton continually explores new opportunities for growth in both the Association and her family’s home-based farm, and she effectively uses social media to promote and educate.

During the award presentation, Morton received a certificate and a complimentary one-year membership to the Friends of the Library. Additionally, her name will be engraved on the Carla Youngblood Award perpetual plaque displayed prominently at the library, and the Friends will donate $50 in her honor to a charity of her choice.

If you know someone who works tirelessly behind the scenes to make Berryville a better place, or if you would like to become a member of the Friends of the Berryville Library, contact the library at 870-423-2323 or visit the library at 104 Spring St. in Berryville.