Cullman County farmers, business owners and community leaders earned the title of Overall Best Farm-City Committee in Alabama during the Farm-City Awards Luncheon April 7 in Birmingham.

It was Cullman County’s fourth consecutive year to win the top award. The group also received trophies for Best Special Activities and Best Farm-City Committee for Division 1, which includes counties with populations of more than 35,600.

“Cullman County Farm-City Committee members invested more than 9,000 hours in activities including a Farm-To-Fork Dinner that treated 200 guests to a locally grown meal prepared by top chefs,” said Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms. “In addition to events held during Farm-City Week, the county also commemorated National Ag Day by involving local students in an effort to bag 8,000 pounds of donated sweet potatoes for hungry families.”

Division 1 runner-up Houston County won awards for Best Media Coverage and Proclamation as well as the Target Award for incorporating the theme of “Agriculture: Sustaining Future Generations” into all activities. Other Division 1 winners were Lee County, Best Farm-City Tour; Montgomery County, Scrapbook Award; Colbert County, Innovative Idea Award and Best Civic Club Activities; and Coffee County, Best Farm-City Dinner. 

Pike County was named Best Farm-City Committee in Division 2, which includes counties with populations of 35,600 and less. Pike County also won division awards for Best Farm-City Tour and Scrapbook. 

“Pike County hosted four tours including a visit to the Goshen High School Agricultural Science and Technical Academy, a Farm Day for third-graders at Cattlemen’s Park, a five-stop ag tour for Leadership Pike County and Classroom in the Forest for fifth-graders,” Helms said.

Runner-up in Division 2 was Lawrence County, which also received plaques for Best Special Activities and the Target Award. Other Division 2 winners were Chambers County, Innovative Idea Award; Fayette County, Best Farm-City Dinner; Randolph County, Best Media Coverage and Proclamation; and Geneva County, Best Civic Club Activities.

Gloria Jeffcoat of Houston County was named 2015 Volunteer of the Year for more than 20 years of service to the Houston County Farm-City Committee.

“Each fall, Gloria can be found delivering coloring books; poster and essay contest forms; and bookmarks to Houston County’s 29 schools,” Helms said. “As a farmer and former school teacher, Gloria has a passion for agriculture and educating others about production of our food and fiber.”

This year the Alabama Farm-City Committee presented its inaugural Service Award to David Farnsworth, Area 4 organization director with the Alabama Farmers Federation.

“Although Farm-City is part of his job responsibilities, David goes beyond the call of duty in promoting the Farm-City mission,” Helms said. “He has inspired more than a dozen counties to revitalize Farm-City programs and works to secure local sponsorships that motivate teachers and students to participate in the Farm-City poster, essay and multimedia contests.”

Farm-City Week is celebrated the week before Thanksgiving each year as a way to foster cooperation and understanding among farmers, consumers, businesses and elected officials. Farm-City committees also lead local observances of National Ag Day, celebrated in March each year.

For more information, visit AlabamaFarmCity.org.