Pike Co. Farm

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 31, 2001

City Committee

named state’s best

By JAINE TREADWELL

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Features Editor

The Pike County Farm-City Committee was named Best Farm-City Committee in Division II at the annual Farm-City Awards Program held recently at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.

The annual awards program honors county volunteers who help bridge the gap between farmers and city dwellers. Counties throughout the state submitted applications for the awards based on projects they completed during the past year to promote Farm-City Week activities.

Pike County is in Division II which includes counties with population less than 35,600. Division I includes counties with population greater than 35,600.

Lamar County was runner-up to Pike County for the Best Farm-City Committee in Alabama Division II.

In addition to winning the overall award for Division II, Pike County won the award for the Best Farm-City Tour, Best Proclamation, Best Civic Club Activities and Best Special Activities.

The Farm City committee met last week to discuss plans for its annual Farm City Week activities in November and members took the opportunity to take a prideful look back at 2000 which was a banner year for the committee, but not for the area’s farmers and farming community.

"Last year was a rough one for our farmers and, if we don’t get rain soon, it could be another rough year," said Max Davis, committee chairman.

Davis congratulated the committee on its outstanding commitment to agriculture and its support of area farmers during dismal times.

Because last year was such a devastating year for farmers, the Pike County Farm City Committee decided to forego the presentation of farm awards at the 2000 Farm City Week banquet and, instead, celebrated the commitment, dedication and efforts of farmers to provide the highest quality food and fiber for their neighbors at the best prices in the world.

Several members of the committee indicated they prefer that format over the awards program, while others suggested keeping the awards but, perhaps, structuring them differently.

"We want to continue to support agriculture in Pike County and we want to do so in a way that brings attention and recognition to the farmers and farm related businesses in the most beneficial and positive way," Davis said.

The committee was in agreement that the youth and farm of distinction awards should be continued and the poster contest for county students will remain a focus of the Farm City Week activities and awards.

"Agriculture in Pike County is changing and we need to bring back ideas to the committee on how we, as the Agriculture and Farm City committees of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, can deal with this change and respond to it," Davis said.

Congratulations were sent to graduating seniors, Joseph Colvin and Sherika Johnson, who were awarded cash scholarships by the Chamber’s agriculture committee.

Colvin graduated Tuesday from Pike Liberal Arts School in the top 10 percent of his class. He plans to attend Troy State University.

Johnson, salutatorian of Pike County High School, will graduate June 1. She will attend Alabama A&M University.

The scholarships are based on leadership, achievement, community involvement and academic excellence. Students apply for the scholarships which are awarded by a panel of judges.