Farmers Day brings folks back to their roots

You could hear it in the ringing music of the "Melody Bells" of First Baptist Church of China Grove, as the men and women played hymns on the steps of the historic Roller Mill Museum.

You could hear it in the thump and swish of antique motors churning ice cream near rows of gleaming vintage tractors.

And you could hear it in the laughter of kids petting chickens, sheep and horses in a makeshift barnyard — some of them seeing those animals for the first time in their lives.

Those and many others were the sounds of Farmer's Day in China Grove on Saturday, an event that this year more than ever was aimed at getting back to the community's roots."It's a ton of joy to be out here today," said Lee Withers, China Grove town councilman and chairman of the Farmer's Day committee.

"We do this to give back to our community. And it's our biggest and best economic development tool," Withers said.

The town's population of 4,200 swelled by thousands as patrons enjoyed music, refreshments and entertainment throughout the day.

Withers said he hopes some of those people move to China Grove to live or work.

But another purpose of Farmer's Day as Withers sees it is to help people get back to their agricultural roots.

That's why local collectors' antique tractors got pride of place along Main Street instead of being tucked away on a side street.