In The News . . .

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November 9, 2011 - Won't be long now . . .

Our 40th Anniversary Delegation is packed and ready to travel to Hartford, Alabama EARLY Thursday morning. 

Our regular November delegation is already there and have been enjoying a week of touring, sight seeing and visiting since last Saturday, November 5th.  Bernie & Aggie Schmitz, Cindy Knutson, April Anderson, Tori Barka, Dakota Bridge, Nicole Carlson and Dairy Princess Amanda Turck are probably at the slightly tired stage right now after visiting the State Capitol, attending the National Peanut Festival, and spending the day at the beach yesterday.  Today they tour more businesses and tomorrow they will get a chance to experience harvesting cotton and visiting a cotton mill. 

Our Anniversary Delegation consisting of founder Bruce Cottington, his son Jim and grandchildren Levi and Anna, along with Bob & Betty Hermann, Dean & Gloria Ohland, Don & Sue Christofferson, Loree Schultz, Tim Bergstrom, Karen Becker, Terri Anderson, Rob Cole, Amanda Anderson, Holly Schultz-Anderson, and Tyler Warren will join the regular delegation Thursday evening at the Sister City Community Banquet.

On Friday we will spend the day together touring Pollard Milling, Reeder's Bait Farm, Ten Mile Creek Farm, Working Cow Dairy, Golden Peanut Company and Wiregrass Research and Extension Center.  Our Hartford friends have arranged for a Fish Fry at lunch time -- the most amazing catfish you will ever taste!

Saturday we will travel to Dothan, Alabama for the National Peanut Festival Reception and Parade.  Bruce Cottington will be riding in the parade with Neal Outlaw, who was the first Hartford FFA delegate to Litchfield 40 years ago.  That evening we will enjoy a BBQ supper at Wiregrass Electric Cooperative.  We're still trying to get that secret BBQ recipe, but no luck!

Check out the great news articles from the Hartford, Alabama and Willmar, Minnesota newspapers!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 -- Sleigh Ride . . . Brrrrrrrrr

Tuesday evening after a day touring Litchfield businesses, the delegates, host families and PBM Committee members enjoyed a sleigh ride sponsored by Bob & Betty Hermann at the Wayne & Yvonne Johnson Farm.  It was COLD, but looking at the photos everyone was having a good time.

2-7-11 PBM Festival Delegates and Host Families

Taylor Albert & Host Nicole Carlson & Family

Nick & Martha Holley & Hosts Dean & Gloria Ohland

Stacy Hatcher and Host Tim Bergstrom

Kenny & Susan Galloway & Hosts Roger & Janet Huhn

Hartford & Litchfield FFA Members

Hartford FFA Advisor Stacy Hatcher
Taylor Albert, Shannen Miller, Maggie Galloway, Cole Kimbro

Shannen Miller & Host Jim & Lisa Turck Family

Maggie Galloway hosted by Tori Barka
Cole Kimbro hosted by Alan Barka
and the Barka Family

40th Anniversary PBM Banquet was held Monday, February 7th with Princess Kay of the Milky Way as our guest speaker.  It was a COLD night, but we had a great turnout and an abundance of delicious food.  Special guests were Miss Litchfield Katelyn Kiehn and Senator Steve Dille.  Steve commented that 40 years ago while he was stationed in Viet Nam, his mother wrote him a letter telling him about the "new" organization Bruce Cottington started called Peanut Butter & Milk Festival.  She thought it sounded like a good thing and hoped it would last a long time!  Here are photos of the Hartford delegates and their host families at the banquet.  (Please note--date on photos is WRONG!!!)

Photos from Sunday, February 6, 2011 -- Roger & Janet Huhn Farm (Lakeside)

They made it!  The first day of fun in the snow was Sunday, February 6th at the Roger & Janet Huhn Farm -- On Lake Manuella.  Snowmobiling and a warm fire were enjoyed by all.  It was pretty mild for a Minnesota winter day, although our Alabama friends might argue that fact!

Bruce Cottington Friend of Dairy Award

The Minnesota Milk Producers Association has renamed their Friend of Dairy award the "Bruce Cottington Friend of Dairy" award. Bruce was the first recipient of the award in 2006. This year, Minnesota Milk’s board chose to rename the award in Bruce Cottington’s name and legacy for Bruce's legacy of lifelong dedication and service to Minnesota dairy farmers. Commissioner Gene Hugoson was announced the first recipient of the Bruce Cottington Friend of Dairy Award during the Midwest Dairy Expo on November 30th in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Litchfield Chamber of Commerce Window

Chamber of Commerce Window Dedicated to 40th Anniversary of 

Peanut Butter & Milk Festival - Sister City Exchange -- 2011