Reminder goes out to all that today is the final day to make reservations for the Butler County Farm-City and Annual Awards Banquet. The Farm-City Banquet is co-sponsored by Butler Rotary, Butler County Conservation District, Penn State Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Agencies.

This year’s banquet will be held March 19 at the Butler County Community College Founder’s Hall. Light refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The program by Carol Schurman, Indiana County 4-H educator, will celebrate 100 years of Pennsylvania 4-H.

Tickets can be purchased from the Penn State Extension Office, 724-287-4761, Farm Service Agency, 724-482-4800, Ext. 2, or by contacting the Butler Conservation District, 724-284-5270.

Reservations are required; no tickets will be sold at the door. Cost per person is $15 with checks made payable to “Extension Special Account” or “Butler County Conservation District.” Tickets may also be purchased from any Butler Rotarian member.

Farm-city relations continue to be a challenge, even more so in a county like Butler that is seeing more and more of a population increase. Farmers need to take every opportunity to inform and educate their nonfarming neighbors. The fact that most of society is at least one and maybe two generations removed from production agriculture will only mean intensifying this effort in the future.

Generally, nonfarmers are supportive of agriculture. This is especially true if they understand what all is involved to operate a farm today. Farm-city alliances need formed so that when community support is needed for various proposals the entire community understands the positive and negative aspects of each.

In the U.S., our food is cheap compared to other countries. Americans only spend 11 percent of their disposable income on food. The U.S. has the safest, most abundant food supply in the world.

With respect to the Farm-City Banquet, the highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Bullshipper Award, presented each year to the individual that excels in promoting farm-city relations in and around Butler County.

Previous year Bullshipper Award recipients have been:

• 1968: A. Wendel Weihe

• 1969: Loyal Ramsey

• 1970: Lee Roy Miller

• 1971: A. Gus Bachman

• 1972: John Graham

• 1973: Robert Kaufman

• 1974: Dick Rau

• 1975: Russ Pizor

• 1976: Art Wick

• 1977: Judy Cranmer

• 1978: Dale Fleming

• 1979: Jim Faust

• 1980: W. Allen Ramsey

• 1981: Dave Adams

• 1982: Warren Ihlenfeld

• 1983: Paul Rex

• 1984: Belle Fleming

• 1985: Bill Roenigk

• 1986: Gerald Kriley

• 1987: Larry Youkers

• 1988: Robert Wick

• 1989: Mike Mostowy

• 1990: Robert Rugaber

• 1991: Bob Brandon

• 1992: Francis Griffin

• 1993: Dolores Williams

• 1994: Harold Dunn

• 1995: Dorothy Bupp

• 1996: Ken Metrick

• 1997: Kathryn Helfer

• 1998: Franklin Knauf

• 1999: Larry Berg

• 2000: Butler Eagle

• 2001: David Lamperski

• 2002: Paul Soursa

• 2003: Roland Herb

• 2004: Kathy Hartzell

• 2005: Sid Schiever

• 2006: Mary Zacherl

• 2007: Evelyn Minteer

• 2009: Harold W. Foertsch

• 2010: Clinton Champagne

• 2011: Marburger Farm Dairy

National Ag DayThursday marked the celebration of National Ag Day.National Ag Day presents an opportunity each year to highlight the importance of farmers and ranchers in America’s overall economy; acknowledge and promote career opportunities in agricultural industries; and educate the public on how food, fiber and renewable resource products are produced.Farmers and ranchers remain a strong driver of our economy, creating jobs in rural America while providing affordable meals for Americans everywhere. One in 12 jobs in the American economy is linked to agriculture, and the sector is the second most productive nationwide.Our country’s farmers and ranchers provide American consumers with 83 percent of the food we consume at affordable prices that leave more dollars in families’ pockets for other household priorities.Farmers are critical partners in the renewable energy market, adapting to new technologies and innovations that allow Americans to utilize cutting edge biofuels to power our communities and achieve greater energy independence.And agricultural producers are leading stewards of our natural resources, protecting wetlands, grassland, wildlife habitat and waterways through responsible land management that benefits rural and urban communities alike.Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.