Y'all come back now, ya' hear!

The final day of tours

On their final day of touring the area, Hartford's Civic Club hosted the group for lunch at Burrito's Mexican Restaurant.



Everyone reported a great day at the beach on Thursday. The weather was perfect and some swam, some just went into the water up to their knees! Thanks, First National Bank, for sponsoring this day that everyone looks forward to!

To all of our Litchfield friends . . . we've enjoyed having you get a taste of our Southern flavor. We hope you'll return one day . . . and you'll always be welcome here!

Is it already Tuesday?

No photos from today from the tour of Sysco in Geneva and the Geneva County High School, but photos from the banquet tonight are below. Great crowd at the banquet and enjoyed hearing about how everyone is enjoying our "good weather" down here!



Following lunch today at the Johnny Hughes Community Center sponsored by the City of Hartford, Debbie Brunson led the group on a tour of the Michelin Plant in Dothan (another favorite of the group). Everyone is looking forward to some peanut and cotton picking later in the week.

Congratulations to Tammie Byrd, Deborah Justice and Vernon Alford named Honorary FFA members!

Thanks to Harrell Milling Co. for sponsorship of the banquet, Paul Spivey at Hartford's Florist and Gifts for the decorations, Deborah Justice at the GCHS lunchroom for the potato salad and beans, and the Hartford FFA for the pork steaks and serving!

On Wednesday are the farm tours and the fish fry headed up by Joe Howell. Thanks, City Bank, for hosting this delicious meal! Then on Thursday is Beach Day! Better get your sleep!

And it's off to the Peanut Festival!

Today was the trip to Montgomery and the State Capitol -- plus the ever famous Alabama Cattlemen's Association MooSeum! Added to the full day was the Peanut Festival tonight. Everyone enjoyed the Calf Scramble and Greasy Pig Chase -- then it was off to the corn dog and elephant ear booths!



The Litchfield group was recognized at the Calf Scramble -- and everyone cheered on Hartford FFA's Gabe Hernandez who managed to get his halter on a calf and drag it across the finish line! Last year's Calf Scramble winner, Eric Walden, showed his heifer this year and won first place!

Welcome BBQ at Wiregrass Electric Co-op

After a day of visiting the churches of host families (and a little shopping by some) -- the Sister City group welcomed Minnesota visitors with a Barbecue at Wiregrass Electric Cooperative's community room. The BBQ, chicken and rice, and Brunswick Stew was cooked by president Josh Fulford and vice president (and dad) Winton Fulford -- and committee members furnished all the trimmings -- including baked beans, potato salad and slaw. No one went away hungry -- especially with the great desserts -- peanut butter pie, pecan pie, cakes, brownies -- YUM!



Tomorrow is the trip to the State Capitol in Montgomery with former State Representative Riley Siebenhener -- and then the Calf Scramble and Greasy Pig Chase at the National Peanut Festival! They better get some sleep tonight!

Welcome Litchfield!

Hartford will welcome our "sister city" visitors tomorrow -- and we're very excited to have students Kristina Knutson, Stephanie Dougherty, Alex Madsen and Dave Barka; Dairy Princess, Jessica Becker; and chaperones Bev Bipes and Judy Barka!

Here is the schedule of events for the week. Join the group whenever you get a chance -- but be sure not to miss the banquet, open to the public, on Tues., Nov. 3.

Sat., Oct. 31 -- Chairpersons/Pickup – Mike & Debbie Brunson; Loyd & Carlease Moss

• (Van compliments of First United Methodist Church)
• 4:00 PM -- Pick up guests at airport, then dinner in Ft Walton
• 8:00 PM -- James Radford Park - City of Hartford Welcome & meet host families

Sun., Nov. 1

• Church and free time with host families
• 7:30 PM -- BBQ Supper - sponsored by Sister Cities at Wiregrass Electric Cooperative
• (for Host Families, Guests, Committee Members)
• Chairpersons - Josh Fulford & Cary Hatcher

Mon. Nov. 2 -- Chairpersons - Riley Seibenhener (driver) and Winton & Freida Fulford

• Students - Maggie Galloway & Taylor Albert
• (Van compliments of Shiloh Baptist Church)
• 7:00 AM -- Meet at Mom’s Kitchen for breakfast (Compliments of Mom’s Kitchen)
• 7:30 AM -- Leave for trip to Montgomery and State Capitol
• Lunch compliments of Riley Seibenhener & Fulford Farms
• 4:00 PM -- Meet host families at Square in Hartford
• 5:45 PM -- Meet at Peanut Festival for dinner and Calf Scramble (Be in seats by 6:15 & save for group)

Tues., Nov. 3 -- Chairpersons – Debbie Brunson, Nick & Martha Holley, Carlease & Loyd Moss

• Students - Shannen Miller and Derek Guy
• (Van compliments of Shiloh Baptist Church)
• 7:30 AM -- Meet at Square
• 8:00 AM -- Breakfast at McDonald’s, Geneva (Compliments of Mike & Debbie Brunson)
• 9:00 AM -- Tour Sysco, Geneva
• 10:30 AM -- Tour Geneva County High School
• 11:30 AM -- Lunch at Johnny Hughes Community Center (Compliments of City of Hartford)
• 1:30 PM -- Tour Michelin Plant, Dothan – Mike Brunson
• 4:30 PM -- Meet host families at Square in Hartford
• 7:00 PM Community Banquet at Shiloh Baptist Church Fellowship Hall (Sponsored by Harrell Milling Company)
• (Decorations courtesy of Paul Spivey, Hartford’s Florist & Gifts)

Wed., Nov. 4 -- Chairpersons - William Birdsong (driver), Brandon Dillard

• Students - Cole Kimbro and Jack Riley
• (Van compliments of Shiloh Baptist Church)
• 7:00 AM -- Meet at Scooter Store for breakfast (Compliments of Enterprise Print Shop, Mickey & Lesa Hatfield)
• 8:00 AM -- Tour Working Cow Dairy
• 9:30 AM -- Tour Golden Peanut Company – Headland, Al
• 10:30 AM -- Tour Wiregrass Research and Extension Center – Headland, AL
• 12:00 PM -- Fish Fry at National Guard Armory, Hartford (Courtesy of City Bank of Hartford for guests, host families, committee. Head Cook - Joe Howell)
• 1:30 PM -- Tour Pollard Milling Co., Hartford (Jimmy Pollard)
• 2:40 PM -- Tour Reeder’s Bait Farm (Bobby, Eugene and Tony Reeder)
• 4:15 PM -- Tour Ten Mile Creek Farm (Paul Kennedy)
• 5:30 PM -- Meet Host Families at Hardee’s
• 7:00 PM -- Shrimp Boil at Nick and Martha Holley’s (State Farm Insurance) for guests, host families, & committee (bring drinks, desserts, videos, scrapbooks)

Thurs., Nov. 5 -- BEACH DAY sponsored by First National Bank of Hartford

• Chairpersons - Marcia Solomon, Susan Hughes, Sue & Archie Fondren, & Josh Fulford, Vernon Alford (driver)

• Students: Jessi Hatcher, Katie Sorrells, Hayden Hatfield, Jessica Helms, Jake Waters and Adam Brunson

• (Van compliments of First United Methodist Church)
• 7:30 AM -- Meet at Hardee’s – Breakfast compliments of Tend2Turf (Greg Hatcher) and Hatcher Farms (Stacy & Cary Hatcher)
• 9:00 AM -- Shop at Bass Pro Shop and Destin Commons
• 1:00 PM -- Picnic lunch at Eden State Park, Point Washington, FL
• 2:00 PM -- Tour Eden State Park Mansion
• 3:00 PM -- “Funtime” at the beach, Sea Grove Beach, FL
• 6:00 PM -- Dinner
• 9:00 PM -- Return to Hardee’s in Hartford

Fri., Nov.6 -- Chairpersons – Josh Fulford, Don Carroll and Gene Brannon

• Students – Brooke Enfinger & Emily Orr
• (Van compliments of Shiloh Baptist Church)
• 7:45 AM -- Meet for breakfast at Oak Grove Mall (Compliments of Jerry & Lela Moseley)
• 9:00 AM -- Tour Vinyard Technologies
• 10:45 AM -- Tour Hartford Historical Museum
• 11:30 AM -- Tour Hartford businesses
• 12:00 Noon -- Lunch at Burrito\s sponsored by Hartford Civic Club
• 1:00 PM -- Tour Anderson Peanuts of Hartford -Todd Smith and Evelyn Strickland
• 2:00 PM -- Observe cotton picking – Donald Carroll
• 3:00 PM -- Tour Brooks Cotton Gin – Tony Lee
• 4:00 PM -- Meet host families at the Gazebo on the Square
• Evening -- Free time to spend with host families

Sat., Nov. 7 -- Chairpersons – Mike & Debbie Brunson; Loyd & Carlease Moss

• (Van compliments of First United Methodist Church)
• 7:00 AM -- Breakfast at Hardee’s (Compliments of Tammy & Rob Byrd and Kathryn & Robert Byrd)
• 8:00 AM -- Leave Hardee’s for airport

Kristina Knutson hosted by Jessi Hatcher

Stephanie Dougherty hosted by Hayden Hatfield

Alex Madsen hosted by Jake Waters

Dave Barka hosted by Adam Brunson

Alex Bipes hosted by Eric Walden

Jessica Becker, Dairy Princess, hosted by Jessica Helms

Bev Bipes hosted by Donna & Gene Brannon

Judy Barka hosted by Cindy & Jerry Sorrells