Special to the Opelika Observer
Activities designed to build bridges between rural and urban residents earned Lee County the Best Farm-City Tour recognition in the competition’s Division I category during the Alabama Farm-City Awards on May 12. The event was held via livestream after COVID-19 restrictions forced the cancellation of an April 2 luncheon in Birmingham.
“Coronavirus has highlighted what Farm-City volunteers have known for years — we are all dependent on one another to get food and fiber from farms to our families,” said Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms. “From farmers and forest owners to truckers and manufacturers to grocers and chefs, it takes all of us working together to ‘Keep Alabama Growing.’”
Originally observed in 1955, Farm-City Week is celebrated immediately before Thanksgiving, but county events extend throughout fall. During the awards program, counties were recognized in two divisions based on population, with Lee County being placed in the Division I category.
Lee County’s Bob Harris was named Volunteer of the Year for stepping up as county chairman when unforeseen circumstances left the seat vacant. During Harris’s two-year tenure, the committee increased participation in existing programs and initiated new projects. He was praised by fellow county committee members for his enthusiasm and creativity.