UConn director honored for local growing columns

April 10—Dennis Pierce, the director of dining services, recently won a Connecticut Agricultural Journalism Award for the second year in a row. Pierce was honored with $100 and a plaque from the non-profit Connecticut Agricultural Information Council for “Best Series/Periodicals.”

Pierce was nominated based on columns he wrote for Neighbors, a monthly newspaper published out of Ashford. He began writing his column “From the Ground Up, Buying Locally in Connecticut” on Connecticut grown agriculture a little over three years ago.

“I was surprised when I received the notification telling me I got it,” said Pierce, who is happy that “someone recognized my work, something I do as a hobby. It’s like being in school again; I don’t get paid and there’s a monthly deadline.”