American farmers and ranchers literally help feed the world by producing a bounty of agricultural products. To do this, they rely on essential partnerships with urban and suburban communities to supply, sell and deliver finished products across the country and around the globe.

Rural and urban communities working together have made the most of our nation’s rich agricultural resources as they contribute to the health and well being of our country and to the strength of our economy.

For many years, Hall County Cooperative Extension and the Greater Hall Chamber have coordinated the annual Hall County Farm City Week Breakfast in observance of National Farm City Week, the third week in November each year. During the week, local farmers and those working in agriculture and agribusiness are honored to encourage the building of strong relationships between our rural and urban community and our city businesses and leaders.

This year, the Hall County Farm City Week Breakfast is set for 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 a.m. at the East Hall Community Center. The purpose of the breakfast is twofold: to highlight the impact of agriculture and agribusiness in Hall County, and to educate and enlighten the entire community on the importance of agriculture to Hall County and Georgia.

This year’s Farm City Week Breakfast speaker is Gary Black, president of the Georgia Agribusiness Council Inc., the state’s broad-based trade association for the food and fiber industry. He works primarily in the legislative and regulatory arenas representing the interests of farmers and agricultural businesses.

Black received a degree in agricultural education from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 1980. He is a past president of the college’s alumni association and the 2004 recipient of the College’s Award of Excellence.

The breakfast sponsor is Jackson EMC. Other sponsors include Ag Georgia Farm Credit, Chandler Equipment, Crystal Farms, Jaemor Farms, Hall County Farm Bureau, Hall County Soil & Water Conservation District, Mar-Jac Poultry, Fieldale Farms and United Community Bank.

The program will begin at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and should conclude by 9 a.m. Please join us on Nov. 19 as we recognize Hall County’s top industry, agriculture.

For more information or to RSVP, call the extension office at 770-535-8293. Farmers, agribusiness leaders and local residents interested in agriculture are invited to attend.

Billy Skaggs is a Hall County extension agent. He can be reached at 770-531-6988. His column appears biweekly.