Clifton Forge, VA (Feb. 24, 2026)— It was a fun-filled evening at Family Treets Restaurant where this evening's "Merchant Meetup" was held at 2815 Douthat Road. The Journal arrived promptly at 5:15 p.m. while visitors were still pouring through the front door where they received a single ticket for any beverage at the bar, courtesy of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. We couldn't help ourselves and, if we may say, their sweet tea is perhaps some of the best in Alleghany County.
Josh Taylor, Executive Director for the chamber, was first to speak and welcome the lively crowd to the event. The purpose was to allow local business owners the opportunity to network, socialize, and enjoy a free meal sponsored by the Town of Clifton Forge. Mayor Jeff Irvine, Town Manager Chuck Unroe, and Director of Planning and Community Development, Maria Saxton, were among the Clifton Forge representatives.
This year's nominees — winners will be announced at the 47th Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Homestead next month — are as follows:
• Website of the Year: Alcova Mortgage; AH Chamber of Commerce and Tourism*; Alleghany Highlands Regional Library; Alleghany Highlands Trails Alliance; Alleghany Outdoors; Back Up Power, LLC; Beth Woodson Marketing; Camp Accovac, Chapman Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning; Fyvie Farms; Jack Mason's Tavern & Brewery; Make Room! Covington; Oliver Distributing; Ridgely Bed, Breakfast, & Gardens; SJ Neathawk Lumber; Town of Clifton Forge.
• Dogwood Award of Beautification: Five Sides; Family Tree-T's Restaurant & Catering; Jackson River Sports Complex; Make Room! Covington; MenNefer.
• Ruth Middleton Volunteer of the Year: Glen & Kathy Bryant; Becky Downer; Afton Griffin; Teresa Hammond; Jack "Rusty" Hammond II; Gayle Hillert; Susan Knick; Bruce Loving; Dennis & Sandra McHenry; Terri McClung; Nancy Moga; Jenny Oeltjen; Michael Scales; Lee Smith; Hannah Wilkerson.
• Young Professional of the Year: Lee Archer; Stephen Bennett; Seth Bradley; Jonathan Calloway; Chloe-Eggleston-Mann; Katie Elmore; Seth Goodwin; Clark LeMaster; Lacy Meyer*; Autumn Morgan; Makayla Nobles*; Peter Pestano; Maria Saxton; Ammara Shafqat; Abby Shingler; Josh Taylor*; Erin Via; Bobbie Wagner.
• Distinguished Leader of the Year: Kathleen All; Ingrid Barber; Nora Denius; Mary Donnan; Chris Doyle; Allen Dressler; Afton Griffin; Jason Helmintoller; Gayle Hillert; Wendy Hudler; Jeff Irvine; Teenie Kegley; Dr. John Rainone; Holly Stayton; Nicole Tucker; Chuck Unroe; Chad Williams.
• Tourism Champion of the Year: Jerry Clark of the Alleghany Journal; Kester Dingus & Afton Griffin of Olde Town Covington; Sean & Lisa Dunster of Ridgely Bed, Breakfast, & Gardens; David Elwood of Alleghany Highlands Trails Alliance; Kimberly & John Fink of MenNefer; Matt Fischer of Alleghany Outdoors; Michael and Ann Foster of Jack Mason's Tavern & Brewery; Wendy Hudler of the Historic Masonic Theatre & Masonic Ampitheatre; Cyndy Littleton of Clifton Forge School of the Arts; Teresa Staton of Covington Welcome Center; Josh Taylor of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism*; Chad Williams of Alleghany County Parks & Recreation; Lisa Worley of Covington Parks & Recreation.
• Entrepreneur of the Year: Tara Brewster of Formals & Florals on Main; Julie Carroll of The Friendly Fork; Kimberly & John Fink of MenNefer; Dave & Cindy Forbes of Fyvie Farms; Michael & Ann Foster of Jack Mason's Tavern & Brewery; Nicole Gumm Groseclose of Nicole Gumm Groseclose Insurance Solutions; Jason Helmintoller of ALCOVA Mortgage; James Hogendobler & Adam Kenny of Wiley's Garden Center & VT-ARC STEM Program; Chloe Mann of Mannifest LLC; Kristen & Ron McConnell of Five Sides; Jerry Meyer of Old Dog Coffees; Autumn Morgan of Four Moons Designs; Peter Pestano of Lyrik's Cafe & Coworking Lounge; Tawnya Ross of Family Tree-T's Restaurant & Catering; Brandon Wright of Wright Way Motors.
• Emerging Business of the Year: A Line Bargins; Back Up Power LLC; C & Oh! Ice Cream Depot; Calloway Enterprises Inc. LLC; The Depot on Main; Five Sides; The Friendly Fork; Four Moons Designs; Lyrik's Cafe & Coworking Lounge; Mannifest LLC; MenNefer; Mountain Rush VA; Oh So Foxy Boutique & Florist; Simply Flawless Services LLC; Whitetail Properties Real Estate.
• Non Profit of the Year: Alleghany Highlands Trail Alliance; ConnectionsPlus Healthcare + Hospice; Historic Masonic Theatre & Masonic Ampitheatre; Olde Town Covington; One Fight, Inc.; Recover Virginia.
• Business of the Year: Alleghany Outdoors; Back Up Power LLC; Cucci's Pizzeria; D.D. Kerns Construction Company, Inc.; Ingevity; Jack Mason's Tavern & Brewery; Jackson River Community Credit Union; K. McConnell Legal LLC; LewisGale Hospital-Alleghany; Mountain Air, Inc.; Mountain Field Market; Mountain Gateway Community College; Mountain Rush VA; Northwest ACE Hardware; Peoples Bank; Wright Way Motors.
(*) Signifies a nominiated, but ineligible chamber employee. |  | Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Executive Director Josh Taylor gave a brief speech during tonight's Merchant Meetup.
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