County volunteers, who work to bridge the gap between urban and rural residents were honored April 28 during the Alabama Farm-City Committee’s awards luncheon in Birmingham.Chambers County was named Best Farm-City Committee in the state after qualifying for the award by earning top honors in Division I, which includes counties with populations of 35,600 or more. The county also was judged to have the Best Farm-City Tour and the Best Civic Club Activities for that division.Meanwhile, Bibb County had the Best Farm-City Committee for Division II, which includes counties with populations of less than 35,600. Bibb County also was recognized for Best Media Coverage and Best Civic Club Activities.In Division I, Cullman County was Runner-Up for Best Farm-City Committee and received the Proclamation Award. Coffee County had the Best Farm-City Dinner for Division I, and Lee County won for Best Media Coverage. Russell County was honored for Best Special Activities.Pickens County was Runner-Up for Best Farm-City Committee in Division II and received the Best Special Activities award. Other Division II winners included Cherokee County, Best Farm-City Tour; Lamar County, Proclamation Award; and Pike County, Best Farm-City Dinner.Established in 1955 as a way to foster relationships between farmers and city folks, National Farm-City Week is observed each year the week before Thanksgiving. The Alabama awards program recognized county groups and individuals for activities associated with the annual observance.Farm-City Committee Honors Poster, Essay Contest WinnersYoung artists and writers were recognized for their outstanding entries in the Farm-City Poster and Essay contests during the Farm-City Awards Luncheon in Birmingham. The theme for both contests was “Focus on Family Farms.”In the poster contest, Chelsey Dunn of Dale County won first place in the kindergarten to third-grade division, and Chandler Mulvaney of Lee County took top honors among fourth- to sixth-graders. Cody Meigs of Winston County placed second in the kindergarten to third-grade division, and Allison Riley of Montgomery County placed second for students in grades 4-6.Poster contest winners each received a $200 savings bond for first place while their schools received $200 cash. Second-place winners each received a $100 savings bond, and their schools received $100 cash awards. The winning posters will be featured in the 2004 Farm-City calendar.Eric Gant of Jackson County placed first in the essay contest for grades 7-9 while Kristen Hicks of Lawrence County won among 10th- to 12th-graders. Second-place honors went to Wyatt Smith of Pickens County, grades 7-9, and Anna Smith of Cullman County, grades 10-12. First-place winners in the essay contest each received a $500 savings bond while their schools received a check for $250. Second-place winners each received a $300 savings bond, and their schools received checks for $150.