Clifton Murray of Selbyville, Paul Downes of Laurel, and Connor Vincent of Laurel were honored at the Sussex County Farm Bureau annual banquet held on Oct. 5 at Millsboro Fire Hall.
Farm Family of the Year – The Clifton Murray Family
The Clifton Murray family was named Farm Family of the Year. Clifton “Bud” Murray began farming at a young age alongside his father, C.A. Murray, and his two younger brothers, Carlton and Jay Murray. Together, they grew crops and raised hogs. Clifton furthered his passion for agriculture through active participation in FFA and by earning a degree in Agriculture from the University of Delaware.
Murray has received numerous awards in recognition of his commitment to the industry, including the Friend of Extension Award, the Service to Agriculture Award, and the Governor’s Conservation Award. In addition to his agricultural achievements, he served as mayor of Selbyville for 30 years.
While presenting the award, Connor Vincent praised the Clifton Murray family as “a cornerstone of the neighborhood” and noted their humility and dedication to helping others.
Distinguished Service to Agriculture – Paul Downes
Paul Downes was honored with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. His career in agriculture began in 1978 when he joined Mountaire Farms, then known as Delaire Farms, as a flock supervisor. Over the years, he advanced within the company, holding roles such as grain and ingredient buyer, feed quality control manager, assistant live production manager, vice president of live operations, COO, and ultimately, President and CEO.
Under Downes’ leadership, Mountaire expanded from one processing plant to four and added ten grain elevators. He was also instrumental in the growth of the Thanksgiving for Thousands program. In 2017, Downes received the J. Frank Gordy, Sr. Delmarva Distinguished Citizen Award from the Delaware Poultry Industry, now known as the Delmarva Chicken Association (DCA).
Upon receiving the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, Downes said, “This is special for me because it’s Sussex County, and I was born and raised in Laurel, DE… Sussex County is who we are.” He added, “I’m proud of my family and what we have accomplished together…it’s all I have ever dreamed of.”
Rising Star – Connor Vincent
Connor Vincent was recognized as the county’s Rising Star. Growing up on her family’s farm in Laurel, Vincent developed a passion for agriculture at an early age. Her early involvement included showing sheep with her sister and participating in 4-H and FFA. She later pursued a degree in Agribusiness Management, where she was actively involved in Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority.
Vincent earned a degree in Elementary Education, which she used to integrate agriculture into her lesson plans. In 2017, she served as the Mar-Del Watermelon Queen, promoting the watermelon industry. Recently, she transitioned to a career as a crop insurance agent at King Crop Insurance, where her colleagues encouraged her to join the Farm Bureau and get involved. Since then, she has taken on more responsibilities, currently serving as the Sussex County Young Farmers and Ranchers chair.
Vincent expressed her gratitude for receiving this award, which reflects the county’s appreciation for her contributions. She said, “I have enjoyed every minute of it and am just getting started.”
For more information on Sussex County Farm Bureau, visit https://defb.org/about-us/counties/sussex-county-farm-bureau/.
