Minnesota residents experience a little southern hospitality

HARTFORD, Ala. – There are some things that were made to go together. Eggs and bacon, french fries and ketchup, and for Hartford, Ala. and Litchfield, Minn. residents, peanut butter and milk.

What began in 1971 as a promotional opportunity has turned into a 39-year tradition of promoting rural America, good food, agriculture and young people. 

The Peanut Butter and Milk Festival takes place every year between proclaimed sister cities, Hartford, Ala. and Litchfield, Minn. Hartford FFA students and community members travel to Litchfield every February, while Litchfield FFA students and community members make the trek to Hartford in November.

This year, seven Litchfield natives traveled to Hartford – population 2,500 – from Oct. 30 to Nov. 6. One of those visitors was Meeker County Dairy Princess Jennifer Turck.

Turck – who visited Alabama in 2008 as an FFA member, and who’s dad traveled there in 1982 – enjoyed a week of learning all about the agriculture and lifestyle of Alabama.

“It really opens one’s eyes as to the different types of agriculture there are out there,” Turck said.

Cotton and peanuts are the main agricultural industries of the area, and the Minnesota guests got a chance to explore several aspects of those two crops.

Amidst the cotton season, the Minnesotans had the opportunity to ride on a cotton picker – similar to a combine, except it packs the cotton in a large square bale in the back of the machine.

The peanut harvest was already over, but Minnesota guests toured several peanut plants and learned that the dairy industry isn’t the only business having a hard time.

“The peanut industry is really hurting. It’s really dry down there,” Turck said. “It’s so different than Minnesota, where we grow a lot of corn and soybeans. They can’t grow a lot of that kind of stuff with their soil and weather.”

Dairy is more Turck’s area, as she grew up on her parents, Jim and Lisa Turck’s, 60-cow dairy near Litchfield, Minn., but she learned that there is quite a difference between Minnesota and Alabama dairy operations.

The group toured Working Cows Dairy, an organic dairy in southeastern Alabama. They have the facilities to milk up to 800 cows but are only milking 200 at this time. They are Alabama’s first certified organic dairy – certified since Nov. 1, 2009 – and milk in a 48-stall carousel parlor.

“It was really neat to see their place and all the different type of facilities they have,” Turck said. “In Minnesota we’re so worried about the cold, but (Alabama dairy farmers) are more concerned about the heat.”

Also unique to the dairy – and interesting for Turck – was the farm’s bottling plant. The family has been selling Grade A pasteurized milk since May.

The dairy is run by Jan and Risnski de Jong, who came over from Holland in 1985. Their sons, Jonny, Mendy and Ike, also help on the farm.

Besides learning about the agriculture of Alabama, Minnesota guests experienced the southern lifestyle as well. Everyone stays with a host family and takes part in all the Alabama rituals.

The group enjoyed southern food – grits, catfish, slaw and fried chicken – experienced the events of the National Peanut Festival and Parade, and traveled to the state capitol, where in 1971 Alabama Governor George Wallace signed a legislative resolution officially proclaiming Meeker County, Minn. citizens as residents of Alabama.

Next year will be the 40th Anniversary of the sister cities program, and founder, Bruce Cottington – who has made over 20 trips to Alabama – has quite the celebration planned. 

“We plan to have a bus of 40 people travel down to Alabama next year, and we’d like to have a float in their National Peanut Festival Parade,” Cottington said.

Cottington, along with over 300 other Litchfield citizens have made the trip to Alabama over the last 39 years. Through this exchange, many friendships have been formed, lots of peanut butter and milk have been consumed and a lot of southern and northern hospitality has been shared.

“In all 39 years not a whole lot has changed,” Cottington said. “They always welcome us with open arms, and it’s a great opportunity for our young kids and their young kids to learn about the agricultural industries of Alabama and Minnesota.”