Honoring agricultural traditions

The Farmland Preservation Festival on April 8 celebrated time-honored traditions and the area’s rich agricultural history.

The festival was created by the nonprofit Save Our Rural Areas (SORA), which opposes urban sprawl within the county’s designated Farmland Preservation Area. The 15th annual event was held at the Majestic Oaks equine property in Reddick.

Threats of rain did not deter visitors who perused the rows of vendors, listened to live music and oohed and aahed over farm animals such as baby goats, piglets and chicks. There was a tractor and horse parade, and several booths offering information about farming, ranching, the equine industry and conservation.

“I’ve had a few sleepless nights,” said festival chairman Jerome Feaster, who stopped his golf cart for a moment to chat. “But just look around. It’s all good. It’s all about preservation, that’s the main thing.”

To learn more about SORA, go to saveourruralarea.org