People from all over Dallas County and surrounding areas got together Thursday for the annual Farm City Breakfast at the Central Alabama Farmer’s Co-Op.

The Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce partnered with Central Alabama Farmer’s Co-Op, Alabama AG Credit, ALFA and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to hold the annual Farm City Week Breakfast.

“It just gets everybody together. The breakfast is good of course and you have good speakers. It draws the community together and different businesses that we don’t always get to see,” said John Stoudenmire, a local ALFA agent. “It helps us work together. If we know each other, we’re able to work together and do things and accomplish more together.”

Stoudenmire said events like the breakfast are good for the community and helps improve relationships and build new ones, as well as keep everyone informed about the different activities in the community.

“I think they are very good,” Stoudenmire said. “I think they help keep everybody aware of different things that are going on.”

The guest speaker at the event was Paul Patterson, Dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, who spoke about his time at Auburn and experience in the field.

Callie Nelson, extension coordinator for Dallas County, said the breakfast is an opportunity to thank the farmers, and she used her time to speak as an opportunity to share statistics about how much of an impact farmers have on the community.

“It is to educate city folks and farm folks about the independence that we have with each other,” Nelson said. “Our farmers really help protect our environment.”

Nelson said there is a disconnect between farmers and the more urban citizens, so much that some kids believe that food comes straight from a grocery store rather than being produced by a farmer before hand.

“This program and this event actually tries to make that connection.”

Sam Givhan, a farmer in the community, said he enjoys getting out and communicating with people he doesn’t get to see on a normal basis.

“It’s nice for people in the community in different walks of life to be able to come here,” Givhan said. “I enjoy very much seeing people that I don’t normally see everyday. I don’t get to town too much.”