To the editor,
Next Monday will be just another Monday for many of us. But it won’t be for me — and for those of us on The Farm-City Days Committee. If all things have gone as planned — and the things that did not go as planned go unnoticed — we will have just finished up with our final day of the 45th Annual Farm-City Days in Iola.
Someone will have an extra $1,000 in their pocket — less the $2 expense of the medallion hunt button. Maybe even less yet, if they drove all over Allen County chasing the prize after hearing each clue that surely pointed them in the right direction. Kids will still be dizzy from some of the fantastic carnival rides brought to town by Ottaway Amusements. The community will have witnessed one of the best parades Farm-City Days has put on and will have seen more food vendors and craft vendors than in recent years. It will be noticeable that the event has taken a giant leap forward with the musical talent provided free to the public.
For those that have elected to spend Sunday at Strickler Holstein Farm, they will have learned just a little bit more about farming operations. There will have been an opportunity to learn about current struggles — and opportunities of the future, such as clean and renewable energy and much more.
But next Monday morning our committee will take a very deep breath and begin to reflect on our opportunities for improvement for the 2017 Farm-City Days edition.
One of the most important things we will be doing is counting our blessings and thanking our sponsors and for working with us to bring this event to new heights. Because even as the area businesses and individuals have faced economic challenges, they have continued to contribute and support the marquee event Allen County and Iola have to offer. And although there is something to be said for the amount of work and planning that goes into organizing and executing the event — it is not even possible without the support of our community. We recognize that, and we are deeply appreciative and humbled by it.
We hope that you will take the opportunity to thank all of this year’s sponsors the next time you engage with them. Without them the event would be much, much less than it is. And with them it will continue blossoming into a very fine occasion.
Regards,
Aaron Franklin,
Farm-City Days Committee
