Where would we be without farmers? On the other hand, where would we be without the people who take what farmers produce and get it to us in a usable form?

We would be in trouble without either. This is the message of Farm-City Week, which is observed on a local and national level every November.

Barbara Bates, who along with her husband owns a local tractor dealership, sees both sides of the stream.

“We’re touched both ways, being a business and being in agribusiness,” said Bates, chairperson of Chilton County’s Farm-City Week program. “That’s what Farm-City Week is all about – the connection between farmers and businesses. You can’t have one without the other.”

Tomorrow, Probate Judge Bobby Martin will sign a proclamation declaring Nov. 21-27 as National Farm-City Week in Chilton County. But local activities relating to Farm-City Week begin much sooner than that.

K-6 students across the county will participate in a poster contest with the theme “Pathways to Progress.” Winners will be announced at the annual Farm-City Week Dinner, an invitation-only event, Thursday, Nov. 6 at Helen E. Parrish Activity Center at 6:30 p.m.

County-level winners will move on to the state competition, and winners at the state level will appear in a special calendar.

In addition, outstanding FFA, FCCLA and 4-H Club members from the county will be recognized at the dinner.

The Farm-City Committee also will recognize a Farm Family and Business Family of the Year.

– Scott Mims can be reached at scott.mims@clantonadvertiser.com.