Fulton, Holts Summit named Missouri Garden Cities

Jenny Brooks, a marketing specialst with AgriMissouri, presents Fulton Mayor LeRoy Benton with a commemorative shovel and a proclomation signed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in recognition of the city's designation as a Missouri Garden City. Holts Summit also was named a Garden City as part of the Missouri Department of Agriculture's 10,000 Garden Challenge.
Jenny Brooks, a marketing specialst with AgriMissouri, presents Fulton Mayor LeRoy Benton with a commemorative shovel and a proclomation signed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in recognition of the city's designation as a Missouri Garden City. Holts Summit also was named a Garden City as part of the Missouri Department of Agriculture's 10,000 Garden Challenge.

Thanks to the efforts of their citizens, two Callaway County communities have been named as Missouri Garden Cities.

Fulton and Holts Summit were notified of the distinction Friday afternoon by the Missouri Department of Agriculture as part of its AgriMissouri program's 10,000 Garden Challenge. Both cities had the most citizen-registered gardens for cities in their population class.

Fulton had 58 residents register their gardens with the challenge, putting it at the top of communities with 10,001-20,000 residents. Holts Summit had 66 residents register gardens, putting it in first place out of communities with a population between 2,501-5,000 residents.

"Nothing makes you value the freshness and quality of buying food locally than trying to grow it yourself, and it is outstanding to see so many Missourians supporting agriculture in their communities," Director of Agriculture Jon Hagler said in a press release. "We are proud to recognize communities whose residents have shown an outstanding commitment to fresh produce and agricultural education through their gardens."

Christine Tew, a communication specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, said the department's AgriMissouri team promoted the 10,000 Garden Challenge last year by visiting farmers' markets throughout the state as well as through press releases and other promotional materials.

"We had 731 communities and 10,000 gardens (participate)," Tew said. "It was an eight-month effort to get to 10,000."

In the press release, Hagler said the 10,000 Garden Challenge was "a great way to connect people to the land, to their churches, schools, communities and their own backyards."

"The 10,0000 Garden Challenge encourages Missourians to get their hands in the dirt and to connect with the agriculture, local foods, the outdoors and healthy eating," Hagler said. "The thousands who participated in this challenge are a great example of the benefits of Missourians connecting with their neighbors and agriculture through food."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.