The Steelville Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 2026 Annual Awards Banquet and Meeting on March 24 at the Community Center.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the social hour and silent auction. Gift baskets, gift certificates and other items will be auctioned off to raise money for chamber-sponsored events. 

An Italian dinner catered by Becker Road Baking Company will be served at 6:30 p.m. and awards will follow.

The Chamber will present four awards this year: Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Nonprofit Organization of the Year and Outstanding Young Leader.

The Citizen of the Year award is presented to an individual or group of people that have shown exceptional service by volunteering and significantly contributing to the Steelville community. Recent recipients of this award include Becky Simpson, Virginia Halbert, Beth and Adam Yount, Shirley Stulce, Kent and Betty Ann Howald and Honor Evans.

The Business of the Year award and Nonprofit Organization of the Year award recognize a business and nonprofit that demonstrate good employee/customer relations, contribute to the betterment of the community and the quality of life of its citizens and demonstrate staying power in the Steelville R-3 School District area.

Business of the Year winners in the last five years were The Main Deck, Rich’s Famous Burgers, First Community National Bank, STE Communications and the Steelville R-3 School District.

The Nonprofit Organization of the Year award was established in 2021, and since then Eagle Flight Ministries, Meramec Music Theatre, Steelville First Assembly of God Church, Crawford County 911 and Bargains for Missions have received the honor.

The Outstanding Young Leader award is presented to a high school student residing in the Steelville R-3 School District area. This student must display leadership abilities, dedication to the community and assistance to local businesses and organizations during the 2025 calendar year.