Hartford-Litchfield Sister Cities: Last day in Minnesota

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Last day in Minnesota

Where has the week gone?! In some respects it feels like we just arrived, and on the other hand it seems like a lifetime ago that we were out riding snowmobiles! We've had the best time; there simply aren't words to describe what a week it has been. The hospitality has been incredible, and everyone has been fantastic. Additionally, our group has enjoyed each other's company, and it's been a pleasure traveling together.

This morning we were treated to breakfast compliments of Burger King. Then we stopped by briefly to see the world's largest ball of twine! Our next stop was a visit to Specralytics where we were wowed by the technology used to make catheters, stents, and other medical pieces. Lasers are utilized to cut them, and the whole process is very interesting.

We were then off to the state capitol and enjoyed our tour. Their capitol is much more ornate than ours in Alabama. The Mall of America was our next stop, and we spent hours walking this huge place! The radio station surprised us all with tickets to the indoor adventure park! Mama Gwen, Jo Ann, and I spent our time looking through the Minnesota souvenir shops. Greg followed Jessi from store to store; she was our one true shopper! :) Mickey was challenged by the Litchfield FFA boys to a race in the NASCAR simulators, and they all had a great time. (shhh - Mickey won!). Adam and Hayden did a little shopping but largely enjoyed hanging out with the Litchfield teens. We were tired when we left!

Arriving back in Litchfield, we were treated to a going-away pizza supper at the high school ag shop. Following supper, some of us got to tour the 1500 square foot home the ag students are building this year to sell at the end of the school year. The funds go back into their account. That is an impressive project!! We enjoyed the evening visiting with everyone one last time before we depart bright and early tomorrow morning.

We cannot say thank you enough to our hosts, the businesses, our chauffers, the cooks, and everyone else who made the week possible. We are tired, but pleasantly so. Although we are anxious to get home and back to the warmer temps, we do so with a sadness that we have to leave our newfound friends. Thanks again, Litchfield!

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History of Program

The idea began in January of 1971 when Bruce Cottington, a Litchfield grocery store owner and host of a talk show on local radio station KLFD, was talking about how often he ate peanut butter and drank milk. Looking for a good sales promotion, Litchfield was proclaimed the peanut butter capital of the world, and the Peanut Butter and Milk Festival was begun to promote rural America, good food, agriculture and the dairy industry, and young people.

As a lifetime Future Farmers of America (FFA) member, Cottington naturally involved the FFA.Cottington’s search through Auburn Univ. in Alabama led to Paul Dean, FFA advisor at Geneva County High School in Hartford. In October, Cottington’s family traveled to Alabama to make a presentation to then Governor George Wallace who signed a legislative resolution proclaiming Meeker County citizens as residents of Alabama. (Although they couldn't vote, they were welcome to pay taxes!) They then visited Hartford, Dothan and the National Peanut Festival. Cottington and Dean then developed the idea of a north-south FFA and FHA exchange program.

In 2008, the Sister Cities Program celebrated the 37th year of what has become an annual exchange of people, good will and peanut butter and milk. Hartford students and citizens travel to Litchfield each February for the Peanut Butter and Milk Festival, and Litchfield students and citizens travel to Hartford each November.