Eagar seeks nominations for Business, Citizen of the Year awards

Eagar is putting its residents in the position to decide who gets celebrated this summer, with nominations now open for Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year ahead of Eagar Days on June 20 at Ramsey Park.

The awards will be handed out during a daylong event that runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a fishing tournament starting at 8 a.m., plus food and craft vendors, a Show & Shine car show, games, music, a photo booth and other family activities. In a town of just 4,388 people in the 2020 Census, and 4,416 in Census Reporter’s 2024 five-year estimate, that kind of public recognition carries extra weight because the winners are likely to be familiar faces, not distant names.

The town says it wants to honor local businesses and community members who show leadership, service, community involvement and a positive impact on Eagar. That standard matters in a place that describes itself as a central point for White Mountains recreation, nestled at the base of the White Mountains in northeastern Arizona, just north of Apache National Forest and about 25 miles east of Sunrise Park, the state’s largest ski resort. In a community tied to tourism, small-business survival and neighbor-to-neighbor support, the choice of honorees says as much about the town’s priorities as the awards themselves.

Eagar’s own economic-development materials also show how formal that local business role is. Any person conducting business in town is required to obtain a business license, and the town points prospective owners to Arizona Commerce Authority resources, including a free online checklist for starting, operating and growing a business in Arizona. The business award, then, is not just a compliment. It is a public statement about which storefronts, services and employers residents believe are strengthening the town.

The nomination push comes amid an active civic season for Eagar. The town’s live feed also said its logo contest drew 22 submissions, and municipal elections are scheduled for 2026, with a primary on July 21 and a general election on Nov. 3. Against that backdrop, the Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year awards become another way for residents to shape the public image of Round Valley, one nomination at a time.