considers new format for 2001

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

As a general rule, patten leather shoes and overalls don’t go together. However, once a year in Pike County,

they are a perfect match.

Each November, the Agriculture Committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce sponsors Farm-City Week and brings the farming and urban communities together to recognize the contributions of both to the economic welfare and the cultural diversity of the county. The committee met Tuesday to discuss plans for the Farm-City Week 2001 and events leading up to it.

Max Davis, committee chairman, presented a list of suggested Farm-City awards for the committee to discuss.

"Because farming is changing rapidly in Pike County and, in an effort to bring farm and city closer together, we would like to add new categories and, perhaps, combine or eliminate others," Davis said.

The traditional award categories have been peanuts, cotton, poultry, conservation, forestry, agribusiness, service to agriculture, young farmer, beef and farm of distinction.

Rand Hale said the number of row crop acres has dropped dramatically in the past few years and gave an example of peanut acreage which has dropped to 5,200 acres from 24,000 acres not too many years ago.

"I would think that a production award might be the way to go," he said. "We could combine several of the categories into one for the award."

The committee made several suggestions that will be considered by the awards committee, which will make the final decision.

The committee is working diligently to recognize Century and Heritage farms. To qualify, a farm has to have been in a family for 100 years and each category has different criteria for acceptance.

Davis said, to date, he has mailed five applications for Century and Heritage farms.

"There seems to be a lot of interest statewide in these farms and we hope to be able to recognize several of our Century and Heritage farms this year," he said.

Suggestions for new awards were innovative farming, city garden, industry and outstanding civic organization,

One suggestion that created interest throughout the committee was The Real McCoys, which will recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the farm and city communities over the years.

The committee also discussed inviting local pageant winners to be greeters for the Farm-City Week Banquet which will be held at Cattleman Park.

"We want everyone to know that Farm-City Week is not just for members of the farming community," Davis said. "This is a week of recognition of farm and city and everyone in the county is invited to be a part of

this celebration."

The committee welcomed eight new members, bringing the total membership to 31.

New members are: Douglas Botts, Brundidge; Nedetria Talbot, Tarentum; Jack Worthington, Colonial Bank; Foster Jordan and Don Crapps, Troy Kiwanis Club; Jerry McLendon, First National Bank of Brundidge; Tom Crawley, Wayne Farms; and Mark Jordan, Troy Bank and Trust.