Whitley Nutt (left), vice president of the Floydada Chamber of Commerce, presents Floydada Animal Shelter director Cassandra Garza with the award for 2021 Citizen of the Year during the chamber's banquet on Jan. 20, 2022. (Alex Driggars/Floyd County Record)
FLOYDADA — Though attendance was low, spirits were high at the 2022 Floydada Chamber of Commerce Banquet Thursday night.
Cassandra Garza, director of the Floydada Animal Shelter was named Citizen of the Year, and Floydada Ace Hardware was named Business of the Year for 2021.
The awards were voted on by the chamber board, according to vice president Whitley Nutt, who was presiding over the meeting. Nutt said that the board chose Garza for the top honor for her unwavering commitment to making Floydada a better place for humans and non-humans alike.
Garza told the Record in December that 475 dogs and cats had at that point been saved from euthanasia since she took over the shelter last year through rescue and relocation. Thursday night she said that more than 60 additional dogs were traveling to their permanent homes in January.
Ace Hardware was recognized for its continued growth and service to the community throughout 2020.
Nutt shared some of the chamber’s accomplishments throughout the year, including a successful Punkin Days, charity projects and fundraisers for many in need across Floydada and new welcome signs that are expected to be installed at the north and south city limits sometime in the next few months.
Several board members and many member businesses were not at the banquet due to illness or other reasons; due to this, Nutt said, the financial report would be available by request. Nutt also noted that the manager position and multiple seats on the chamber board are vacant and that the board is currently looking to fill those roles. For more information, contact the chamber at (806) 983-3434.
