Earl Knauss, the founder of the Rotary Club of Hamburg’s dynamic Farm to Family food distribution program, will be recognized by Rotary International in ceremonies April 15 at the Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg.
DG Aaron Carlson of District 7090 will bestow Rotary International’s illustrious Service Above Self Award upon Knauss.
The significant honor “celebrates people of action who are committed to service.”
Knauss will be among only 150 individuals (globally) chosen each year to receive the honor.
Wednesday, April 15th; 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Wanakah Country Club, 5161 Lakeshore Road, Hamburg NY
Hors d’oeuvres/cash bar at 5:30 PM
Awar
d Presentation: 6:45 PM
d Presentation: 6:45 PMRSVP to Jim Loomis jrljr1@verizon.net
$25 (payable at event)
To show your appreciation for Earl's work, scan QR Code to donate to the Farm to Family program.
Hamburg Rotary has been operating the Farm to Family Program since 2018 under Earl’s direction, after he began a small distribution effort in 2007 with donations of fresh vegetables from a neighboring farm in Eden. The red peppers had been destined for the garbage heap as they were deemed unmarketable because they were misshapen. Knauss shared his bounty with a local food pantry and went back to the farm the following year to ask for more rejects. The farmer agreed with two more farms soon joining the effort, providing the edible but homely vegetables for distribution to food pantries. The production grew through the support of friends and volunteers, many who happened to be Earl’s fellow Rotarians.
It was a no-brainer when Knauss, who was in his 80s at the time, asked his Rotary Club to consider making the vegetable distribution program one of its official projects to ensure its continuation, which they agreed to. Rotary bears all costs of Farm to Family, such as maintenance and gas for its vehicle. Operations run from May through December, six days a week, depending on the weather and what crops are in season. Four farms donated fresh produce in 2025, with a fifth farm providing potatoes at a discounted rate.
Produce is distributed throughout Western New York through the industry of over 30 volunteers, including Rotarians involved in last year’s program. Two of the largest recipients of over 20 distribution centers, food pantries and soup kitchens are Catholic Charities of Buffalo and WNY and the Resurrection Food Pantry in Cheektowaga with over 3000 families served. Total distribution in 2025 was over 197,000 pounds of vegetables; in 2024 it was about 165,000 pounds and in 2023 it was 125,000 pounds.
Spring through fall, the Farm to Family crew travel in pairs in the truck with the Farm to Family logo to participating farms to retrieve the donations of freshly picked vegetables, most of it with slight visual imperfections. The donations are then transported to the dining rooms and pantries for meals and distribution to populations facing economic challenges.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg is proud of its projects and hallmark programs such as Farm to Family and Warm the Children, but it is especially proud of the lifeblood of the club, its members. We are delighted to join our voices with RI and District 7090, proclaiming the accolades of our 51-year member, Earl Knauss. Earl will be honored on Apil 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wanakah Country Club, 5161 Lakeshore Road, Hamburg, NY, with the award presentation scheduled for 6:45. Cost is $25 per person payable at the event. RSVP to Jim Loomis at jrljr1@verizon.net.
