The Lebanon Town Council honored Shane Farmer, who recently won the Shining Star Tourism Executive of the Year.
Farmer, the Director of the Russell Theatre, was honored last month as part of the Celebrate Tourism Summit at the Wytheville Meeting Center last week in Wytheville.
“This is a great honor and we are proud of him,” stated Mayor Tony Dodi. “We’re proud of him.”
The awards were open to tourism organizations, individuals in tourism and economic development, and tourism-related businesses. They recognize the contributions to tourism marketing, visitor services, events and leadership.
More than 70 nominations were submitted. Winners were selected by a panel of tourism industry professionals from across the Southeast United States.
Farmer’s award marks the second straight year that the theatre and events in Lebanon have been honored.
In 2025, Cedar Fest won the award for Outstanding Festival of the Year (2 or More Days) Less Than 10,000 Attendees.
Also in 2025, The Russell Theatre tied with another business for Outstanding New Tourism Business of the Year. The other honoree was Squabble State Hard Cider and Spirits in Bristol.