The 54th Annual Batesville Farm-City Banquet took place at the Batesville Middle School Commons on Tuesday night.
Current students and their parents, school faculty members, and community members joined together for a dinner and presentations by a business leader and former teacher.
2013-2014 FFA Officers, led by President Jacob Schwab and Vice President Megan Doll, conducted opening ceremonies introduced Batesville Mayor Rick Fledderman.
“We’re one big community,” said Fledderman during his welcoming speech. “This is a way to bring the farmers of our area together with the city.”
Louie Farringer, a former Ag Production and Science teacher at Batesville spoke at the banquet. He helped establish Batesville’s first Farm-City week 54 years ago. While focusing on the development and growth of the annual event, Farringer recited So God Made A Farmer by Paul Harvey, which was a popular Super Bowl commercial last year.
Farringer later presented a gift with the transcript of the commercial to the Batesville FFA Chapter.
An informative presentation was led by featured speaker Charles “Shorty” Whittington. Whittington, the owner of Batesville Aviation Services spoke about the history, present affairs and future of the newly designated public airport.
“We are going to try and provide regional economic growth, great aircraft maintenance, first class customer service, and corporate aircraft there,” indicated Whittington.
The 54th Annual Batesville Farm-City Banquet was presented by Batesville Kiwanis, Batesville Ag Advisory Committee, Batesville FFA and the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce.
