‘Down in the dirt.’ 7th generation farmer gets top award at Manatee County Fair
Callon C. “Buddy” Keen, 72, came to the Manatee River Fair Association’s VIP luncheon on Thursday to pay his respects to a member of the community who was to be recognized for his service.
It was maybe a little bit of misdirection or subterfuge, because although the other community member did receive a nice award, it was Keen who was surprised with the big one, the Distinguished Citizen Award for 2022.
“He is for our community. He doesn’t fish, he works and goes to church on Sunday,” fair board member Jerry Wolfe said in presenting the award. Keen is the 62nd recipient since the award was first presented in 1956.
“I wasn’t going to come, but I wanted to attend out of respect for Dan West,” Keen said.
West, who served as fair manager from 2003 to 2019, received a fair director emeritus award, the first ever presented to anyone who didn’t serve on the fair board. West now serves as executive director of the state fair association.
“I really don’t know what to say. I’m at a loss for words. I am very humbled to receive the award, but I’m glad I came today,” Keen said.
Beyond working and going to church, Keen was recognized for his many years of working with FFA and 4-H Club children, helping them with their fair projects. He is also a longtime tour guide for Manatee Farm City Week, where he answers every question with respect and dignity.
“He takes the time to help you learn, to help youth learn what they can to achieve,” Wolfe said.
Keen is co-founder of the Palmetto Little League, and served on the Manatee River Soil and Conservation Board, where he helped plan and organize youth soil judging events.
“Not only did he plan, but he would get down in the dirt with our youth and explain how and why,” Wolfe said.
Keen was also recognized as a good neighbor, someone who could be counted on after a hurricane to bring gasoline or a generator to a neighbor who had been hard hit.
The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to individuals who have made significant and meritorious contributions to Manatee County in the way of volunteer community service. .
Keen will join others who have been honored with the same award by leaving his footprints in concrete between the Historic Manatee County Courthouse and Manatee County Judicial Center in downtown Bradenton.
Judge Thomas Matthew Gallen received the award last year. For a list of previous winners, visit the fair association web site.
Keen, a seventh-generation Manatee County farmer, was named Agriculturist of the Year in 2014 in recognition of a lifetime of distinguished agricultural service.
For the 2014 award, Keen was praised as a true agriculturist, who knows and loves the land, and who learned to make a living from the fruits of his labor from the soil, while preserving the land for future generations, and most importantly, helping and sharing with others.
Keen is a Palmetto native and graduate of Palmetto High School.
After the presentation, Dan West said he is among a legion of Buddy Keen admirers.
“If you are a young agriculturist in Manatee County, Buddy Keen is the person to call. He is looked up to by so many in the community. He is a wonderful individual,” West said.
The 2022 Manatee County Fair begins Jan. 13 and continues through Jan. 23.
