Posted by dreynold on November 21, 2008 | RSS Feed
Dallas County Celebrates National Farm-City Week
This year, Dallas County joined other communities across the nation in celebrating the annual observance of Farm-City Week. For the past five decades National Farm-City Week has provided a link between our nation’s rural and urban people.
Founded by Kiwanis International, the week was established to help achieve unity among all American workers – on and off the farm. The 2008 theme, “Pathways to Progress” focused attention on how the nation’s urban and farm communities continue to work together to move the nation forward. This annual observance serves to increase understanding between two vital parts of the nation and is celebrated each year the week immediately proceeding Thanksgiving.
The highlight of Dallas County’s celebration was the Farm-City Week focus at the Chamber of Commerce Buttonhole Breakfast. This event featured Mike Gothard with the Alabama Wildlife Federation as the guest speaker. He spoke on the organizations’ effort to develop economic opportunities for the Blackbelt by focusing on Outdoors Recreation and tourism that would attract those interested in activities such as bird watching, hunting, trail rides and fishing.
Awards presented included the Alabama Century and Heritage Farm Award to the Fluker/Wall family. Their farm has been in the family for more than 100 years and is the eighth farm to be recognized in Dallas County by the Alabama Department of Ag and Industry. Proclamations were presented to the committee on behalf of Congressman Artue Davis, Representative Salaam, from the City of Selma, town of Valley Grande and Dallas County. Also, the county winners of the Farm-City Week poster and essay contests were announced.
Farm-City Week continues to educate citizens on the essential role farmers have on the economy as well as providing us with a dependable food supply. It’s no accident that the food supply is inexpensive and plentiful; the hard work of farmers across Dallas County and the nation and stunning scientific and technological advances have made food in the United States more affordable than anywhere else in the world.
“Thanks to other products farmers produce, such as timber for building our homes, fibers for clothing and fabrics and, of course, fruits, vegetables and meats, we are able to face each day with a variety of choices, from decisions about what clothes to wear to what we want for dinner,” Nelson says.
So this year when you set down for your Thanksgiving dinner or the next time you’re grabbing groceries at one of the local supermarkets, remember to be thankful for the relationship that exists between those who produce your food and fiber and those who create a system that delivers it efficiently and safely to your home.
Source: Callie Nelson, Extension Coordinator, Dallas County, (334) 874-7269.