By Gerri Miller
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo, Left to right: Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Director Matthew Trest, PACC Chairman Elect Catherine Porter, PACC President Patty VanderWal, Farm City Committee Chairman Mike Lamar, Autauga County District 2 Commissioner John L. Thrailkill, City of Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie, Jr., Executive Assistant Lisa Byrd, PACC Chairman Annette Funderburk and Autauga County Administrator Scott Kramer.
Standing in front of cotton fields in every direction, Mayor Bill Gillespie and Autauga County Commissioner John Thrailkill both read proclamations Wednesday declaring November 15-19 to be “Farm City Week.”
The ceremony was held at a cotton field near the Macedonia Baptist Church, located at the intersection of McQueen Smith Road and Highway 82.
Mayor Gillespie praised the innovative, hard-working farmers who live and farm in Autauga County. “Sometimes we take for granted how much we owe to farmers,” he said.
Thrailkill said he is thankful to have deep-rooted people such as the farmers in Autauga County and is very thankful for the work they do. He said that 90 percent of Alabama’s farms are operated by families and individuals.
“It’s hard to realize all these farmers go through,” Thrailkill said. “They probably had a late planting season this year because of all the rain. If you’ve never farmed, it is hard to know what they go through.”
The Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Farm City Committee is celebrating the local agriculture, forestry and other related industries in partnership with the City of Prattville and the Autauga County Commission.
Farm City Committee Chairman Mike Lamar said, “Our Farm City Banquet is a time that we can gather our agricultural producers and our business people in the county together for a night of food, fun and fellowship. It gives us a greater appreciation for what each group does and how they help each other.”
Other events have already taken place honoring Farm City Week such as Farm City Day for all sixth graders and an Autauga County landowners tour. On December 2, a Farm City Banquet will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is to be held at the R.H. Kirkpatrick Agricultural Pavilion on 2224 Highway 14 West, Autaugaville, AL 36003.
The night of community fellowship will honor the rich agricultural heritage of the Prattville and Autauga County area. There will be numerous awards given both to farmers and students who were winners in poster and essay contests.
For more information about Farm City Week or the Farm City Banquet, please contact the Prattville Chamber at 334.365.7392 or at [email protected].
The City’s proclamation read as follows:
WHEREAS, the American people have observed Farm–City Week to express their gratitude to farmers who rely on essential partnerships with communities to supply, sell, and deliver finished products across the country and around the world. Consumer purchases, in turn, make sustainable farm enterprise possible. Foods, fibers and renewable fuels are available to us because of the daily relationships among farmers; and
WHEREAS, the collective efforts of farmers provide a wholesome diet for everyone. Farms and ranches conserve freshwater resources, wildlife habitat and greenspace. Recognizing the achievements of the farmers, rural townspeople, and city residents help make our Nation‘s agricultural production and distribution system so successful. The cooperation between rural and city dwellers helps ensure our country‘s well–being; and
WHEREAS, decade after decade, America‘s farmers have provided food and fiber to sustain our people. Farmers‘ productivity has increased steadily, thanks largely to the adoption of the methods and materials developed by scientific research. Yield per acre has grown tremendously, and American farmers are able to meet the Nation‘s basic needs for food. They produce agricultural goods for export to a wide variety of specialty markets here in the United States and around the world; and
WHEREAS, American agriculture is a story of extraordinary labor creating extraordinary abundance. At this time of year, it is only fitting that all Americans offer thanks to those who grow, harvest, and bring fruits of sun, seed, and soil to our tables; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Gillespie, Jr., Mayor of the City of Prattville do hereby proclaim the week of November 15th through November 19“, 2021, as
National Farm–City Week
in Prattville, Alabama. I call upon all citizens to recognize and celebrate the importance of the relationships between farmers, consumers, community leaders, and everyone in between who contributes to our safe, abundant food supply.
