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WORLAND - Three businesses were honored for their commitment to Washakie County during the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce awards luncheon.

Blair's Market earned the 2017 Large Business of the Year Award, Cloud Peak Chiropractic and Sarah Radabaugh were honored as the 2017 Small Business of the Year Award and Hasco Industrial Supply was honored for 50 years of service.

BLAIR'S MARKET

The Large Business of the Year Award was presented by Steve Keefer of RT, the 2016 winner. In his presentation, Keefer said Blair's Market gives back to the community in many different ways. "Not only financial support but with many hours sponsoring events, sports programs, community organizations and generous donations to the Christmas food basket and Angel Tree programs."

Blair's also creates fun events like the hot wing challenge, pumpkin carving and the longest line at Halloween with the candy giveaway.

"On National Animal Cracker Day we would like to congratulate Blair's Market," he said.

Blair's owner Kent Foulger accepted the award stating, "I announced to my kids last week that we are stepping back. This is kind of a fitting thing for me and my family. We're here for a couple more years and then we are stepping away. My wife and I have loved what we have done here.

"Blair's has been a passion for us. When we came to Worland we decided we wanted to make this our home and it truly has become our home. We love the community of Worland."

He added, "We're the kind of business that we don't want to be up front so this is very hard for me to accept. I want you to know that. We're a behind the scenes organization. We don't seek the public. We want to support those

organizations that need our help and support. We love the kids. I think the biggest thing we have, as they mentioned, is our Halloween giveaway. We have kids that come in specifically for that and it means a lot to us to have the kids come back later on and thank us personally for the things that we've done."

Foulger concluded that Blair's and his family appreciate the communities of Worland and Ten Sleep. "They mean a great deal to us. We look forward in the years down the road, with our children taking over our businesses here and continuing the traditions we have had. Thank you very much."

CLOUD PEAK

CHIROPRACTIC

Presenting the 2017 Small Business of the Year Award to Radabaugh was the 2016 winner Carl Cottrell of Worland Vision Clinic. He said Cloud Peak Chiropractic & Wellness has provided excellent service for the community by going above and beyond with the care they show their patients.

"They are known for providing excellent educational resources, videos, parent support groups and giving all-around healthy lifestyle support," Cottrell said, adding that the Cloud Peak Chiropractic also helps people overcome health issues naturally so that they can thrive.

"Offering a variety of services, they have shown they are invested in providing the best resources they can and have a long-term commitment to our community as they are currently constructing a wellness center that will be an oasis of health and relaxation," Cottrell said.

Radabaugh, in accepting the award, said, "This is a big surprise. Thank you very much."

She said she and her family have made Worland their home for the past 10 years and "I couldn't pick a better place to just raise my kids and be part of the community. It's really just a privilege to serve you all."

She said in their construction project they tried to use as many local companies as possible. "We are going to be doing all the things that we currently do as well as adding a day spa and a yoga studio into that very, very large building. So we're really just super excited and very honored."

Cloud Peak Chiropractic is renovating the building at 618 Coburn.

HASCO

Hasco Industrial Supply was honored for 50 years of "investing in the growth and future or Worland and Washakie County," according to emcee Fred Frandson of Frandson Safety.

Mike Greear of Wyoming Sugar presented the award to Bill and Sandy Smith of Hasco. He said, "It is a great honor to present this to Hasco. What a fabulous facility. They keep themselves reinvented, new, fresh and I know they work their tails off."

Bill Smith said, "I want to thank you all and thank the chamber for helping us recognize our little milestone. I want to thank our wonderful community with people like Jesse [Charles]. The 50 years we've been in business we've seen a lot of up and down turns. A lot of cyclical conditions in the retail market in particular. The last half dozen years have been a real test to businesses, especially in retail, as evidenced by a lot of the shuttered businesses.

"We've experienced the down turns both in retail sector and from our customers. There's been times the oil industry, or mining, or agriculture and ranching, have suffered through these up and down cycles. I would just like to remind everybody with all these inconsistencies there is one thing that is constant and that's our God. Thank you."

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

In addition to the business awards the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce also presented a Volunteer of the Year Award, to crossing guard Jesse Charles. Frandson presented the award to Charles saying, "Volunteering can be fun. Just ask [Charles]. He can usually be seen waving kids safely to school in the crosswalks, sometimes in costume, or serving lunch at East Side School."

He said Charles brings holiday spirit to many be dressing up in costume and visiting the Big Horn Enterprises, Worland Senior Center and Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation.

"He also enjoys helping elderly neighbors with snow removal and yards in the summer," Frandson said.

Charles, in accepting the award, said, "I just enjoy doing what I do. I know people got problems every day and I just hope I make somebody smile for five seconds. They make me smile a lot, too. Thank you folks very much for this. I'll continue I guess."

Also honored Wednesday was past chamber president Nikki Batson, who was presented a plaque by chamber president Deb Larkins.