The Pike County Chamber of Commerce Farm-City Committee has finalized its plans for the annual Farm-City Week activities prior to and including Farm-City Week Nov. 21-27.

Kathy Sauer, Chamber president, said the Committee has ambitious plans for the 2014 Farm-City Week celebration that will involve every segment of the county’s population.

“A highlight of Farm-City Week is always the Farm-City Awards Banquet when we recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of agriculture during the year,” Sauer said.

The awards to be given this year include beef, conservation, row crops, forestry, poultry, young farmer, specialty crop award, service to agriculture, service to agriculture-city, the poster, essay and media youth awards and the youth of the year awards.

Sauer said the Chamber’s Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the awards to be given at the banquet on Nov. 13 at Cattleman Park.

“This is an opportunity for county residents to recognize the efforts of friends and neighbors by nominating them for these prestigious awards,” Sauer said. “We encourage everyone who is familiar with the commitment and dedication of those in the agricultural industry to honor them with a nomination.”

Those who would like to make a nomination for any of the awards to be given may do so through the Pike County Chamber of Commerce on the square in downtown Troy.

“Of course, the banquet is a highlight of Farm-City Week activities but the Farm-City Committee has a full slate of activities planned based on the theme, ‘Agriculture: 365 Sunrises and Seven Billion Mouths to Feed.’ And, that’s a tall order for farmers here and around the world.”

Sauer said the first activity commemorating Farm-City Week 2014 will be the signing of a proclamation by city and county officials declaring the week of Nov. 21-27 Farm-City Week in Pike County.

“Two big, countywide events involving students will be Pike County Farm Days and Classroom in the Forest,” Sauer said. “Third -graders in all schools in the county will participate in Pike County Farm Days at Cattleman Park on Sept. 25. The fifth-graders will participate in Classroom in the Forest on the Gene Renfroe Farm Oct. 28-30.

“We’ll also have an international student event and we’re excited about that.”

The annual Farm-City Swap always generates a lot of interest and it’s a learning experience for those who trade jobs for a day. Sauer said. A member of the farming community and a member of the urban community trade jobs each learns what it’s like to walk in the other’s shoes.

The Farm-City Committee will participate in the Pike County Fair, the Peanut Butter Festival in Brundidge and Pioneer Days at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.

Sauer said several members of the Farm-City Committee will be available to speak at civic clubs about Farm-City Week and why the partnership between the city and urban communities is vital to the people of Pike County and people all around the nation and throughout the world. For more information about Farm-City Week and any of the planned events and activities, call the Chamber office at 334-566-2294.