Celebrating 40 Years of Friendship

How fast the week went by -- but what a wonderful time we had hosting the Litchfield regular group (Nov. 5-13) and the 40th Anniversary group (Nov. 10-13)! And here is a slide-show of the past 40 years:

It's amazing to see how the clothing and hair styles have changed over the past 40 years -- but our bond of friendship has only grown stronger!

Anyone willing to share photos to add to this album, email to Cary Hatcher. And here's to another 40 years of friendship!

They're Here!

Our Minnesota friends arrived in Hartford this afternoon about 3:30 and were welcomed at a reception by Hartford's City Council at City Hall. Later everyone gathered at the home of Nick and Martha Holley for a Jambalaya and white chili dinner.

Visiting from Litchfield are: FFA students Tori Barka (hosted by Brianne Fitzgerald), April Anderson (hosted by Emily Orr), Nicole Carlson (hosted by Robin Miller) and Dakota Bridge (hosted by Brandon Skinner), Dairy Princess Amanda Turck (hosted by Amelia Hinson), and Peanut Butter and Milk representatives Cindy Knutson (hosted by Ladair and Barbara Palmer) and Bernie and Aggie Schmitz (hosted by Martha Sue Wood).

Tomorrow everyone will attend church with their host families, have some free time in the afternoon, and then meet at the home of Stacy and Cary Hatcher for a Brunswick stew and grilled chicken dinner.

Welcome Litchfield . . . and we look forward to having the 40th Anniversary group arriving on Thursday!

Our Litchfield Guests Arrive Saturday!

It's finally here -- the week our Litchfield, MN, friends arrive on Sat., Nov. 5! They will arrive at City Hall at 3:30 p.m. and everyone is invited to come out and welcome them to Hartford! And then at 6:30, there will be a Jambalaya and white chili dinner at the home of Nick and Martha Holley for our guests, host families and committee.

The remainder of the week's activities will be:

• Sun., Nov. 6 -- free time with host families and Brunswick Stew and grilled chicken dinner at the home of Stacy & Cary Hatcher
• Mon., Nov. 7 -- Tour State Capitol and Calf Scramble at the Peanut Festival that evening
• Tues., Nov. 8 -- Beach Day sponsored by First National Bank
• Wed., Nov. 9 -- Tour of Sysco in Geneva in the morning, a Hamburger Lunch sponsored by the City of Hartford at the Community Center with the community invited, and tour of Michelin Plant in Dothan in afternoon -- free time that evening
• Thurs., Nov. 10 -- Tours of Hartford and lunch with the Hartford Civic Club at the Community Center -- the 40th Anniversary group arrives at 4:30 -- Community Banquet at 7:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church sponsored by Harrell Milling Co.
• Fri., Nov. 11 -- Farm Day and Community Fish Fry at Hartford National Guard Armory at lunch sponsored by City Bank -- free evening
• Sat., Nov. 12 -- Peanut Festival Reception and Parade with lunch at Cracker Barrell -- 6:00 p.m. BBQ dinner sponsored by Wiregrass Electric Co-op at their Community Room
• Sun., Nov. 13 -- Leave for airport at 3:00 a.m.

Members of the Hartford community and past Sister City hosts and friends are invited to the events highlighted in bold! Get a copy of the full schedule here. Welcome, Litchfield!

Hartford prepares for 40th anniversary of program

What could be better than the combination of milk and peanut butter? That’s what Bruce Cottington of Litchfield, MN, thought forty years ago when he traveled to Alabama seeking a southern town and Future Farmers of America organization to partner with to promote the two states’ number one products – milk and peanuts.

Cottington, a Litchfield grocer, originally started the sister city exchange program as a promotion for his store. One of his favorite snacks was a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk. While researching the peanut industry and looking for a way to link the two products, he was eventually directed to the FFA Advisor at Geneva County High School, Paul Dean.

In 1971, Cottington traveled to Alabama with his family to meet with Dean and returned to Litchfield to form the International Peanut Butter & Milk Festival in Feb.1972. Visitors from Hartford who traveled that year to Litchfield included Mr. and Mrs. Paul Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Outlaw and FFA student Neil Outlaw. In the fall of 1972, the first group from Litchfield traveled to Hartford which included Bruce Cottington, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Stark and FFA student Brent Schultz.

Week of Activities beginning Nov.

Hartford will host the 40^th annual exchange delegation of FFA students and residents of Litchfield Nov. 5-13 with an exciting week of activities including tours of area business, industry and farming enterprises – plus trips to the state capitol in Montgomery, the National Peanut Festival and the Gulf coast beaches. Litchfield’s delegation this year includes students Tori Barka, April Anderson, Nicole Carlson and Dakota Bridge, Dairy Princess Amanda Turk, and residents Cindy Knutson, Aggie and Bernie Schmitz.

In addition, a group of 20 Litchfield residents will arrive on Nov. 10 to celebrate the special 40^th year of the Sister City Program. Cottington and Hartford’s first student to participate, Neil Outlaw, will ride in the National Peanut Festival Parade in Dothan on Nov. 12.

The 40^th anniversary Minnesota delegation this year will include Peanut Butter & Milk Festival President Terri Anderson and her daughter, Amanda; festival founder Bruce Cottington; his son, Jim Cottington; his grandchildren, Levi and Anna Cottington; Litchfield High School FFA Advisor Rob Cole; Dean & Gloria Ohland; Bob & Betty Hermann; Loree Schultz and her daughter, Holly Schultz-Anderson; Don & Sue Christofferson; Karen Becker; Gale Larson; Tyler Warren; and Tim Bergstrom.

In February, a group from Hartford will visit Litchfield to learn about the dairy industry and to enjoy outdoor winter activities such as snowmobiling, ice fishing and downhill skiing. In addition, a Hartford group will travel in July to celebrate the 40^th anniversary at Litchfield’s Watercade Festival.

Community Invited

Throughout the 40 years of the Sister City Program, many close ties and friendships have developed between the citizens of the two towns that continue today. Several who attended years ago as students have returned as adults remaining involved in the program.

Hartford invites members of the community to attend several of the events:

• Wed., Nov. 9, lunch at the Johnny Hughes Community Center hosted by the City of Hartford at noon.
• Thurs., Nov. 10, banquet hosted by Hartford’s FFA at 7:00 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church.
• Fri., Nov. 11, fish fry at the National Guard Armory hosted by City Bank at noon.
• Sat., Nov. 12, barbecue at 7:00 p.m. hosted by Wiregrass Electric Cooperative at their community room.

Hartford group heads to Litchfield Feb. 5

The Hartford delegation of FFA students Shannen Miller, Maggie Galloway, Taylor Albert and Cole Kimbro, along with adults Stacy Hatcher, Susan and Kenny Galloway, and Martha and Nick Holley headed up to Litchfield for the 40th annual Peanut Butter & Milk Festival on Feb. 5.

The guests attended church with their host families on February 6th, and then enjoyed snowmobiling at the Roger and Janet Huhn Farm by Lake Manuella from 2-to-4 that afternoon.

On February 7th, the Hartford group visited farms and industries around Meeker County during “Dairy Day,” learning about the dairy industry. There was a potluck banquet that evening at the Church of the Nazarene in Litchfield.

On February 8th, the Southern guests visited various businesses in Litchfield during “Chamber Day.” The group was interviewed on KLFD during a breakfast at McDonald’s on February 9th. They visited the Litchfield Schools in the morning and Bushmills Ethanol Plant by Atwater, and Sweet Promotions and Minnesota Coffee Roasters in Grove City in the afternoon.

On February 10th, the Hartford delegates went skiing and tubing at Powder Ridge, compliments of Meeker Cooperative. The public joined the group that evening for a chili and soup supper at the Darwin Rod & Gun Club.

On Friday, February 11th, the delegates toured Spectralytics in Dassel, then toured the State Capitol in St. Paul, and visited the Mall of America. They returned to Alabama on Saturday, February 12th, after a busy but exciting week in Minnesota!

View photos here.

Group to leave Feb. 5 for Litchfield

Hartford's group is packing their long-johns and boots this week to get ready for the trip to Litchfield this weekend. The group this year consists of FFA students Shannen Miller, Maggie Galloway, Taylor Albert and Cole Kimbro, along with adults Stacy Hatcher, Susan and Kenny Galloway, and Martha and Nick Holley.