EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

 

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building. 

 

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

 

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

 

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

 

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

 

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series. 

 

Rulison read a tribute to Conklin from cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

 

"When I was first introduced to Greenagers, I thought, 'How lucky are we that an organization for youth working to strengthen our environment and our community actually exists,'" Ma's tribute read. "And then I met Will Conklin, and I immediately realized what a perfect fit the two were: capital, trustworthy, wise, bringing knowledge of land, business, community organizational skills to the table. Here's someone who thinks and cares about the lives of young people, the future of our land, and our place in it. 

 

"I feel lucky to know him, and so happy that he's being recognized and celebrated today."

 

A longtime personal and professional friend of Conklin also submitted a letter, emphasizing Conklin's drive to serve his community. 

 

"Building Greenagers from an idea into a regional institution that has changed the course of the lives of countless local youth through meaningful work in the outdoors, creating a farm on his grandfather's land, which has connected many to the pleasures and ethics of local meat. Taking on a local sawmill, that adds value and longevity to the wood products harvested from our forests, serving his community in any number of public and private capacities, and too many other endeavors to list. In all of these, his commitment and passion to his community is at the core," wrote Adam Brown.

 

Greenagers Development Director Samantha Suter, also a longtime friend, spoke about how Conklin has always been the one to help whenever needed and has been that way since they were young, recalling a night in their early 20s when they asked each other what they wanted to do and be.

 

"We agreed we wanted to live gracefully. By that, I think we meant live with purpose and open-mindedness, courage and humility, and above all, thoughtfulness and gratitude. That's all. Small things," she said. "Actually, I think that particular word choice might have been mine, but I've always felt that Will is the one who actually did that and does that, and it's truly inspired."

 

Conklin received a State Senate citation from state Sen. Paul Mark, and was presented with the night's award from last year's person of the year Erik Bruun.

 

Conklin thanked everyone for coming and the chamber for hosting and choosing him as this year's recipient. He especially thanked his wife, Amelia, who has been with him through it all.

 

He traced his family's agricultural roots that had brought him home after college to keep the farm going. He spoke about how great life in the Berkshires is and how much affection for the land he has seen.

 

"What I've noticed in this work over the years, and particularly for Greenagers and trades, is that the affection for this land and our community doesn't need generations to grow," he said. "I've seen it spark and germinate in an instant when a child pulls a bright orange carrot from the ground for the first time, or if, after an hour of splitting wood, an eighth grader sees the product of her labor and finds herself so much more connected-not just to that labor, but what a tree might be and where that came from-and I've seen the same thing in folks coming from the city or elsewhere. 

 

"This place can grab you in an instant and keep hold of you forever."

 

He said Greenagers doesn't expect every kid to become a farmer or a trail builder. The hope is that they leave appreciating the work and the ethic behind it.

 

"For me, it's the work that's connected to the land that creates this affection. And though it may be more immediate for farmers, loggers, trail builders, tree climbers, landscapers, it's just right there for bankers to fund the work on the land, lawyers to defend its inherent rights, cooks to make healthy meals of its bounty," Conklin said. "So long as caring for the land is somewhere in the mix, and we say that often at Greenagers, we don't expect every kid who comes through becomes trail builders, farmers, or carpenters. But if they come out with an appreciation for the work and the ethic, they'll make the world a better place, no matter their career."

 

He said we can do better at including young people in local commerce. It's real work, and people learn that collaboration beats competition.

 

Conklin links this to a time when there were more small farms and sawmills and land was affordable. He suggested the Greatest Generation knew where their food came from and how their houses were built.

 

Given the chance, many young people choose this work. All it takes is "a basic wage and a basic instruction."

 

He said he has always been a "sticker" for the Berkshires, someone who stays because they love a place and want to preserve it and he hopes many can keep that going.

 

"The danger of privilege without purpose is ever on the surface. Nostalgia for times that were and are good for many, but built on the inept views of many more. And forgetting that our best asset here is the land, its beauty and its fertility and its wildness," Conklin said. "But I still think we have the strong option and imperative to choose the local. We buy local and learn local and live local. 

 

"The virtues we retain and grow not only our general commerce but our general well-being. And I think there's also a lot of humility to be gained in these efforts. The closer we are to the Earth, the humans that we stand upon, the more stickers we will gain." 

 

He says he's bullish for the Berkshires, but not like the Wall Street bull charging to conquer. He means the bull in a Berkshire pasture, which watches you calmly until it's sure you're fine, then goes back to its work and makes sure the next generation has the same chance.

 

"So thank you for giving all the young people that work for Greenagers and all the folks that work in our business that chance. And thank you deeply from my heart for this honor tonight," he concluded.