CULLMAN – The 2014 Farm-City Celebration kicked off in August and has continued throughout the year with its involvement in festivals, parades and fairs with events still to come such as tours, geocaching, a sweet potato cook-off and a finale banquet!
Farm-City Executive Committee Chair, Lesia Van Gundy, is looking forward to the Farm-City Awards Banquet on November 20 at the Cullman Civic Center. The doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. She said this is when the farm and city folks come together.
“We come together to celebrate the harvest,” she said, “and it’s right at Thanksgiving time!” She is also looking forward to the entertainment this year provided by a young and modern bluegrass group, Flatt Lonesome. There will also be several awards given out for the following categories: posters, a video contest, outstanding FCCLA and FFA, and a sponsorship sign contest. She is glad to be getting the sponsors more involved. “We couldn’t do it without them and they believe in farming,” she said.
Directors from about 15 farm related businesses, farmers themselves and advisers, make up the Farm-City board. Van Gundy came on the board about six years ago as someone related to the farm side and really liked it. “Everyone that came on the board was dedicated and didn’t mind working,” she said. As chair this year, Van Gundy has worked hard to incorporate as many people as possible with the events. “I really want for more of the communities to be involved. That’s been my goal as chair this year,” she said.
Congressman Aderholt attended the Proclamation Breakfast and believes that agriculture is very important. He said that many people do not have a direct connection with the farms like they used to 50 years ago. He stated that having a chance to make the connection between what farmers do on a daily basis to preparing food for the table is crucial. He said, “Everyone may not necessarily be in the harvesting of it, but they’re in the consumption of it. Everybody likes to eat, so agriculture directly affects everyone.”
Congressman Aderholt went on to say, “I don’t know of any other area in North Alabama that really has the focus on farm to city activities like Cullman does. It’s really fitting because you all are so active in agriculture. I would encourage other places to do what you all are doing because it really does bring the focus to what many people take for granted.”
At the Awards Banquet this year, a city family will be awarded and all the nominees will be recognized. Each year, the winning family alternates between a city family and a farm family. The city family is awarded to a family that does not make their living off of farming. They can live anywhere in Cullman County and do not have to live in the city to be nominated. Applications to nominate a city family are online at cullmanfarmcity.org. If you would like to nominate a family, print an application and complete it by November 5, and be sure not to let the family know they have been nominated. On the application, list the family’s community involvement, the names of every member of the family and two references. Van Gundy is hoping for 50 nominations this year.
There will be a grand prize awarded at the banquet for anyone who is in attendance. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a 5-night and 6-day stay in a two bedroom unit at the High Chalet Condominiums in Gatlinburg, TN. Other prizes include dozens of eggs, sweet potatoes, collards and gift certificates.
If you would like more information on how to get involved with the remaining Farm City events, visit their website at www.cullmanfarmcity.org, as well as their social media sites, twitter.com/cullmanfarmcity and facebook.com/cullmanfarmcity.
Originally published in the October 27, 2014 issue of CullmanSense print edition
