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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
University Farm Director Ray Watkins Farm City Week is a national event, with communities in every state participating. Butte County's celebration is one of the largest in the country, stretching over a three-week period. The local farm city project began 21 years ago with a poster contest sponsored by the Northern California chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA). The Butte County Farm Bureau and the Chico Chamber Agriculture Council joined CWA the following year. The project strives to educate the public and disseminate information about agriculture. Watkins oversees 10 committees that organize the events that make up the three-week celebration. The events include the Chico Symphony salute to Farm City; an awards reception at Sierra Nevada Brewery; Kids Day at the University Farm; the Dog Days of Fall 5K Walk/Run; and the Harvest Dinner Dance. One of the most popular Farm City Week events is the bus tour of farms, ranches and agriculture-related industries around Butte County. Tour members stop at an area farm for a lunch of barbecued chicken prepared by Watkins and other members of the committee. Watkins suggests getting tickets early, as the tour has always sold out. "As well as increasing awareness about the value of agriculture in all of our lives, Farm City also raises funds for agriculturally based learning projects. Over the last four years, we've donated over $30,000 to Butte County educational projects, youth organizations, and for special projects such as funding the new State Capitol display," said Watkins. Events are in the final planning stages. If you would like more information on the Farm City Celebration, call Ray Watkins at 530-898-6343. ### 
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