Brad and Melody Nelson received the Clyde Ag Society’s volunteers of the year award at the annual Ag 500 banquet on April 27 at Clyde Community Hall.
More than 150 people filled the community hall to celebrate the duo’s outstanding efforts within the village.
“It was a pretty easy choice,” said ag society president Perry Lumayko.
“Brad and Mel help with everything, no matter what it is. If we need bodies and we phone, they come. They never say no and it’s wonderful — you need people like that in a small town.”
The night began with a dinner along with a silent auction to raise money for repairing the facilities in Clyde, like the leaking roof at the community hall and adding a new carpet. The highlight, however; was the volunteer of the year award.
“It is really great to live in a community with so many wonderful volunteers, that is what makes a community a desirable place to live,” announced last year’s award winner Lorretta Keller. “Please join me in congratulating Brad and Melody Nelson.”
And it came as no surprise when Melody’s work as a secretary for the Ukrainian dance society was praised, along with Brad’s dedication to working as a handyman in the community.
But it was their joint efforts as a couple that stood out, with contributions ranging from helping out with Clyde Parks and Play, bartending a wide variety of social events in the area and flooding the outdoor skating rink.
“This is a surprise, that’s for sure,” Brad said.
“We appreciate it and we’re always willing to help out. Plus, Mel always likes to visit with people and what better place to do that than here in Clyde.”
He handed the microphone to his wife with a chuckle, lowering his head slightly.
“Thank you very much, this is a great surprise, I never expected it all,” she replied. “Now I’m going to have to change my name.”
Melody’s next task is to help plan a birthday bash for Clyde, as she recently joined the Clyde Centennial Committee. She plans to help out with the winter-based event as much as she can.
“We’ve lived here all of our lives so anything we can volunteer at, we enjoy,” she said.
“When you live in a small community, you just want to better your community so it’s just natural to want to volunteer. We started with Clyde Parks and Play five years ago and we’ve done the Santa Claus parade to, but before that I think we always helped out wherever we were needed.”
But the Clyde couple weren’t the only winners that night. Ashley Dobbs and Amanda McDonald won the Ag 500 draw, winning $500 at the end of the night.
“It was funny because those people came to it for the first time and boom, they win $500,” said Lumayko. “So they were quite tickled.”
