Even though National Farm-City Week isn’t until the week of Nov. 21-27, the Farm-City Committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce has been busy promoting the relationship between the rural and urban communities in the county for several weeks. The culminating event of Pike County’s Farm-City Week activities will be the annual Farm-City Week Banquet at Cattleman Park Nov. 13.

The committee met Tuesday morning to hear reports on recent Farm-City events and to finalize plans for the annual banquet, which recognizes those in the agricultural industry who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture during the year 2014.

Randy Hale, committee chair, said committee participation has been very good at all Farm-City events including Pioneer Days at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama, the Peanut Butter Festival, Classroom in the Forest and the Job Swap between Dr. Rick Gill and Kevin Stephens, row crop farmer.

Josh Elliott, conservationist with the Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District, said the District’s Soil Tunnel Trailer has been well received at several Farm-City events including Pioneer Days, the Peanut Butter Festival and Classroom in the Forest.

Elliott said committee member Jessica Morris did much of the design work for the trailer that includes Alabama soil samples and also allows visitors to experience what life is like in underground Alabama.

More than 300 fifth-grade students from seven schools in the county and 20 international students from Troy University participated in Classroom in the Forest on the Renfroe Family Farm Wednesday.

Keith Roling, president of the Troy Rotary Club, said the international students were interested in the activities presented and didn’t hesitate to ask questions.

Hale and Alan Boothe spoke to the Brundidge Rotary Club about Farm-City Week activities and water uses in Pike County.

Hale said several members of the Farm-City Committee are willing to speak to civic clubs and organizations and the Committee welcomes those opportunities throughout the year.

Jeff Knotts, chair of the awards committee, said the selection committee has met and the award winners have been chosen from the nominees in each category.

The awards will be presented at the banquet on Nov. 13.

Awards will be presented to several categories including conservation, timber, row crops, beef, poultry, service to agriculture and service to agriculture city. Male and female youth awards will also be presented.

Tickets for the 2014 Farm-City Banquet are available by calling the Pike County Chamber of Commerce at 334-566-2294.