Jim Nyal has been named the Clyde Ag Society’s volunteer of the year at the annual Ag 500 banquet April 30 at the Clyde Hall.
Nyal was recognized for his years of contributing to the betterment and maintenance of the community, including working on the ball diamonds and helping clear the roads and sidewalks of snow, said Ag Society president Perry Lumayko before presenting Nyal with his plaque.
At 39, and having lived in the community his entire life, Nyal was taken aback that he was recognized for all he has done for Clyde.
“I never thought it could happen,” he said. “I never did what I did to win the award, I did it for the community.”
Upon accepting the award, Nyal spoke to the assembled crowd and told them that when he looks around the hall, he can see why he volunteers.
“This is home,” he said. “I want to be here and I’m proud of what we have here.”
He started volunteering in Clyde approximately 20 years ago, he said, when he worked with many of his fellow Clyde citizens to build the dugouts at the ball diamonds.
He also said he wants to thank all those people he’s worked with over the years, including the ones that came before him and the ones who will come after him.
It’s good to be hanging on the wall now, Nyal said, with all the other people who have given so much to the place they all call home.
Ag Society member Jim Rau said nominations for the volunteer of the year are open to anyone in Clyde. There are forms distributed all over the village, with anyone can fill out to choose someone they think warrants recognition.
The forms are reviewed, he said, and then passed over to the previous year’s winner, who will make the final decision who to name as the volunteer of the year. With Nyal’s win this year, he will be able to choose who is recognized in 2012.
The Ag 500 started over 25 years ago, Lumayko said, and is all about the people who give back to the community. It’s to acknowledge the volunteers who will come out to help and do it for no reward.
It’s also a night for people to get together, he said. It’s like a homecoming in that you see people whom you haven’t seen in a long time.
“Actually, I’ve barely had time to talk to the people I came with,” he said.
The evening first started as a simple appreciation night, Rau said, but as the years went on an auction was added and the night evolved to act as the society’s primary fundraiser as well.
It’s always been at the hall, he said, even though a few years back there were thoughts of moving it to the curling rink to make use of the rink’s bigger size. However, people liked the intimate nature of the hall, so there the Ag 500 has remained.
