Hartford-Litchfield Sister Cities: Hartford welcomes Minnesota Sister City delegation Nov. 2

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Hartford welcomes Minnesota Sister City delegation Nov. 2

A group of Litchfield, MN, residents will be heading to Hartford Sat., Nov. 2, for the annual Sister City exchange trip. The seven people representing the Peanut Butter & Milk Festival Committee in Litchfield will be touring farms and businesses in the Hartford area and enjoying other fun activities. The annual event, now in its 41^st year, is an exchange of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and community members.

This year’s group includes: Patrick and Kathy Devine, Litchfield Middle School principal hosted by Brenda and Charlie Skinner; Holly Anderson hosted by Bethany and Josh McPherson; Nicole Krumrie, Dairy Princess, hosted by Macie Dillard; and Litchfield FFA members Alana Caron (hosted by Robin Miller); Katelyn Knutson (hosted by Krissie Creel) and Austin Larson (hosted by Marshall Carroll). They will fly into Pensacola on Sat. and will then stay with host families in Hartford. Members of Hartford’s community are invited and encouraged to attend the events listed in bold.

Schedule of Events:

Sat., Nov. 2 – Litchfield delegation arrives in Hartford late evening

Sun., Nov. 3 -- Welcome Barbecue Dinner at Wiregrass Electric Co-op Community Room (sponsored by WEC) for Litchfield guests, host families, committee members and friends. (Everyone bring drinks, bread, salads, beans or desserts.)

Mon, Nov. 4 -- Dothan tour day of Landmark Park, Lewis Dairy, Shutz Pecans and Michelin with lunch sponsored by the City of Hartford – National Peanut Festival and Calf Scramble in the evening

Tues. Nov. 5 – Montgomery and State Capitol tour day sponsored by Riley Seibenhener and Fulford Farms. Community Banquet at 7:00 p.m. Shiloh Baptist Church Fellowship Hall hosted by Hartford FFA and sponsored by Harrell Milling Co. The community is invited to welcome and meet the Litchfield, Minnesota, visitors

Wed., Nov. 6 – Hartford agriculture tour day with William Birdsong and Brandon Dillard. Lunch at 11:30 (with Ala. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife demonstration) and Fish Fry at 12:00 at National Guard Armory sponsored by City Bank. – At 7:30 p.m., a Southern Thanksgiving Dinner at Stacy & Cary Hatcher barn for guests, host families, committee members and friends. (Everyone bring favorite Thanksgiving side dish or dessert, drinks.)

Thurs, Nov. 7 – Beach Day sponsored by First National Bank of Hartford.

Fri., Nov. 8 -- Hartford businesses and school tours with lunch at Cancun’s Mexican Restaurant sponsored by the Hartford Civic Club. Free evening.

Sat., Nov. 9 – Farewell Brunch at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Paul Spivey, then Litchfield guests leave for airport.

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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.