In recognition of farmers, Richmond County will kick off the 17th annual Farm-City Week beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, with the Farmer’s Day Parade in Ellerbe.
County residents will connect along Main Street of Ellerbe, while various vendors assemble crafts and food behind Ellerbe Town Hall. There will be an abundance of antique cars, trucks and tractors in the parade’s line-up.
The Richmond Raiders Marching Band will be strutting through as well as the legendary Santa Claus. Millstone Men will also be returning this year serving up fresh barbecue.
“Every year it gets a little bigger,” said Farm-City Week Chairperson Amy Yaklin. “We have about 30 vendors participating this year.”
The parade will be followed by the Farmer’s Luncheon at noon on Monday, Nov. 19, at Ag Services Center, 123 Caroline St., Rockingham. Lunch will be complimentary for area farmers and their city partners in the area. The focus of the luncheon is to discuss services available from numerous agencies such as Carolina Farm Credit in Ellerbe. There will be a representative from the organizations to explain opportunities available to area farmers and businesses in efforts to remain successful.
“It’s to honor and appreciate the local farmers and to teach new ways Agricultural Services can be helpful,” said Yaklin about the luncheon.
Farm-City Week will conclude on Nov. 20, with the Farmer’s Banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the Cole Auditorium in Hamlet. A purchase of a $10 ticket will be required for those wishing to attend the banquet. The banquet will also offer table sponsorships for $25 per table.
It will be an advertising and marketing opportunity for small businesses. They have the chance to design a centerpiece for the table and it can be given out as a door prize as well. Yaklin said local and professional bakeries and catering services will seize the chance of getting their names out there by providing desserts for the banquet.
The slogan for this year’s celebration is “Exploring Richmond County-We depend on each other.” The goal of the event is to help the community pull together and show support throughout the area.
Jamie Lambeth, GIS specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will be helping with the upcoming events for Farm-City Week. He has been in attendance every year and looks forward to the county’s unification.
“I just think it’s good for the farm and business communities to get together to show support for one another,” said Lambeth.
— Staff Writer Cassidy Odom can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 16, or by email at codom@heartlandpublications.com.
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