Southington UNICO Announces Gold Medal of Honor Recipient

Southington, Conn. – LEAF founder and seventh-generation local farmer Mark Ramsay has been selected as the 2024 recipient of Southington UNICO’s prestigious Gold Medal of Honor.

The recognition is the organization’s highest honor. Since 1945, the Gold Medal of Honor has been awarded to distinguished citizens in the Southington community.

In making its selection for this year’s honor, the UNICO Gold Medal Selection Committee noted the dedication and initiative that Ramsay has exhibited in support of programs for the betterment of youth and agricultural learning in the Southington community.

“UNICO’s Gold Medal of Honor is the ultimate form of recognition. It exemplifies that the recipient has displayed the models and ideals of UNICO; namely service above self,” said Gold Medal Selection Committee co-chair Mario Izzo. “Mark volunteers his time and talent to various charitable and religious organizations. He is without a doubt deserving of this prestigious recognition.”

The principle of service above self is something that Ramsay said his family impressed upon him early on. As such, he established the nonprofit organization LEAF, The Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm, on his family’s 11-acre farm on Blueberry Lane. As a member of the Lewis Family, he is a seventh-generation farmer who is committed to the education and production of a safe, sustainable food supply. His educational efforts have been a boon to the town’s public-school students as they reap his knowledge and expertise.

“We are more than just a working vegetable farm. We are a community hub for agricultural learning and life experiences, offering educational programs geared to multiple audiences ranging from preschool age to adult,” he explained.

Ramsay works closely with the Southington High School VoAg Department, provides informational field trips to our middle school students, and helps prepare the various school gardens at our elementary and middle schools alongside budding student gardeners. Ramsay also works with transitional special needs students and young adults at his facility and offers a day camp for special needs individuals.

“Having been born and raised in Southington on our multi-generational family, my loving family instilled the importance of giving back to our community and to always trying to help others,” said Ramsay. “I look at the names of the past recipients of the Gold Medal and they are people I have always held in high regard. Now, for UNICO to think enough of me to include me is such an honor.”

Ramsay said he does what he loves: farming, teaching, and mentoring. “In return, I feel a need to support my community in any way I can.” Some of those ways include supporting the town’s Best Buddies programs, local scouting troops, the Southington YMCA, the Calendar House, Bread for Life, and garden clubs.

“I am committed to making the farm a place of inclusion where everyone is welcome,” maintained Ramsay.

The Gold Medal Ceremony honoring Mark Ramsay will be Wednesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club. Tickets will be available on Southington UNICO’s Facebook page and website, Southingtonunico.org, or contact Dawn Miceli at 860.681.8006 or Mike Fasulo at 860.860.919.6647.
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ABOUT SOUTHINGTON UNICO
Southington UNICO is a service-oriented nonprofit organization that embraces three objectives: service to fellow man and community, fostering and promoting Italian heritage, and supporting charitable educational projects.