WATERLOO – Last week Thursday the Traer Historical Museum received the 2023 Golden Silo Award for Outstanding Heritage Area Site during the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area’s (SSNHA) annual awards luncheon held at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

The Golden Silo Awards recognize those individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in preserving and telling America’s agricultural story, both past and present.

Traer Historical Museum Board president George Kadrmas and collections manager Sharon Stoakes accepted the award on behalf of the museum’s board.

“George and I were the only ones that were able to make it [to the luncheon] from our museum and accepted it on behalf of the Traer Historical Museum board and especially all those who have donated time and [money] to our group since 1989!” Stoakes wrote on Facebook following the luncheon. “A huge accomplishment for a museum run by volunteers and donations.”

Others receiving a Golden Silo Award this year include Clayton County Conservation/Motor Mill Historic Site in Elkader which received the 2023 Outstanding Preservation in Agriculture award; KWWL which received the Outstanding Partner award; Gail Carter of Waterloo received the Rose Rohr Outstanding Volunteer award; and Fayette County Conservation/Gilbertson Conservation Education Area which received the 2023 People’s Choice Heritage Site of the Year Award.