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CORVALLIS - Four Oregon firms have been honored with the 2004 Excellence in Family Business Awards, presented by Oregon State University's Austin Family Business Program.

The awards recognize the achievements of family businesses in a number of areas including innovation, economic and community contributions and commitment. The OSU College of Business' Austin Family Business Program provides service and support to family-owned businesses through workshops, training seminars and OSU's family business management course.

Award winners were selected from nominations from businesses and individuals from throughout the region earlier this year. This year's winners include firms from Rickreall, Lincoln City, Dayton and Woodburn.

Cherry Country, an organic farming operation in Rickreall, was the top firm in the "micro" category, which includes businesses with nine or fewer employees. Judges noted the firm's efforts to work closely together to develop and market products and "tireless investigation into methods of utilizing cherries."

Gomberg Kite Productions, International of Neotsu and Sunset Farm and Nursery of Hillsboro were finalists in the category.

Among small businesses with 10 to 24 employees, North Lincoln Sanitary of Lincoln City earned top honors from Austin Family Business Program judges.

In making their selection, judges made note of the garbage hauling and recycling firm's work to create new methods to recycle waste, as well as structuring company operations to minimize risk. Finalists in the small business category were Pro Weld of Eagle Point and Tec Laboratories of Albany.

The top medium-sized business, with 25 to 99 workers, is C and D Landscapes of Dayton. Judges praised the firm's efforts to serve their community with a variety of volunteer efforts, as well as emphasizing the quality of service in the company growth strategy.

Finalists in the category include Collier Arbor Care of Clackamas and WMCI Prime Evaluations of Portland.

The top large business with 100 or more employees is Woodburn's Specialty Polymers. Judges praised the firm for efforts to build a family-oriented work environment for employees, as well as retraining employees for long periods of time.

Finalists in the category were Capital City Companies of Salem and Powell's Books of Portland.

Additionally, the National Family Business of the Year Award - presented by MassMutual Financial Group, sponsor of the national program - was presented to Portland Transmission Warehouse. Last year, the business was the top firm in the Austin Business Program's small business award category.

MassMutual established the National Family Business of the Year Award to recognize and honor the most successful of America's estimated 12 million family businesses. Fully 90 percent of Oregon's businesses are family-owned, and these firms contribute more than $24 billion in annual payroll to Oregon's economy.

For information about the Family Business Awards or the Austin Family Business Program, call (800) 859-7609 or visit www.familybusinessonline.org.