The 66th Annual Terry County Farm Tour was held on Thursday morning, September 16. While the numbers were small, the crowd seemed to enjoy the event.
The highlights of the day are the naming of the Terry County Farm Family of the Year and the Terry County Young Farmer.
The James Harlan Family was named the Farm Family of the Year. James, wife Linsey and daughters Swayzee and Jerzee were awarded the plaque following a video presentation. In the video, James spoke of how blessed he feels he is. “I am blessed with a wonderful wife and two great daughters. I am blessed to live in a great community and a great county. I could not ask for anything more.”
Garrett Green with wife Brytni and daughter Blake were named Young Farmer of the Year. In their video, Garrett talked about the legacy of farming in his family. “My granddad was named the Young Farmer of the Year in 1961, so here I am 60 years later. I think that is pretty cool.” Brytni, on the video, spoke of the quiet strength of her husband. “You don’t hear him say a lot, but his work speaks for him. I am so proud of him and the way he cares for the land and cares for us.”
Another honor given was the Friend of Conservation Award, which was given to Michelle Cooper. Michelle is the Education Coordinator for the Southern Ogallala Conservation Outreach Program. She is constantly busy educating children and adults, alike about the need for water conservation in our daily lives.
The awards were given at a lunch held at the Terry County Show Barn. The delicious meal was cooked by the West Texas Young Farmers Association and wives.
But, before the awards and the meal, the annual bus tour of the county was made. This year, due to numbers, only one bus was needed.
The bus, driven by Bric Turner, Superintendent of Meadow ISD, wound its away around the southwestern part of the county. The focus of the tour was the old schools of Terry County and many of the sites of some of the old schools were seen on the tour.
The tour showed the foundation of the original Brownfield School building which was located behind the old Sonny’s Feed Store. And while at that site, the west end of Sonny’s was actually the old Lahey School building which had been moved to that location.
The tour went through old communities of Gomez and Lahey and learned about the history of the schools in those areas,
The bus made a stop at Wellman-Union, where it was learned that many schools had consolidated with W-U in the early 1940s.
The tour wound its way to Tokio where the old Tokio school building still stands.
A stop was made at the Martin farm where Sam Harryman, biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife spoke on the value of playa lakes to the area. He spoke about how the playas serve to recharge our Ogallala Aquifer over time.
The bus then headed to Johnson where those on the tour had the opportunity take an up close look at the Johnson School.
From there the bus headed toward Needmore where Ray Gober regaled the group with stories from his childhood and stories from his father.
Narrator on the bus was Gina Kelly.
If you missed this year’s tour, which many people did, make plans now for next year’s. Agriculture is our heritage. We need to hear the stories.
Thanks to Corporate Sponsors – Donnie Hedges Insurance, Capital Farm Credit, Ag Texas Farm Credit, Diversity D, South Plains Implement, and Birdsong Peanuts.
Thanks to sponsors Tejas Peanut Company, LLC, Prosperity Bank, Brown Farms, Brownfield Abstract and Title, Brownfield Floral and Gifts, Brownfield Irrigation, LLC, Meadow Farmers Coop Gin, NAPA Auto- Barron Services, Rickey Dill, CPA, Southwest Cotton Growers Gin, Valley Irrigation and Pump, Bennett Crop Insurance, Brownfield Farmers Cop Station, T&S Produce, Brownfield News, Lyntegar Electric, Tricounty Producers Coop Gin, Jack Hamilton Tire, Co., Jones and Lowe Agency, City Bank – Lubbock, Nelson Pharmacy, Secure Self Storage, and Sundown State Bank.
Special thanks to Brownfield ISD, Meadow ISD and Wellman-Union ISD for transportation,
Chamber of Commerce for coffee and donuts
Terry County Sheriff Department for escort
City of Brownfield Police Department for escort
Cit of Brownfield for hanging banner
Gina Kelly for narration and planning tour route
Terry County Heritage Museum and Carolyn Taylor for her research and the museum for their generous loan of school related items
Michelle Cooper for decorations
Ag Texas for donating water
AgriLife Extension office personnel
NRCS for setting up sound system
