Everyone was happy as smiles and laughter spread through the Hamburg Fieldhouse for the recent Farm Family Appreciation Celebration.

Local churches and an enlarged list of sponsors provide the dinner and dance annually to thank area farmers for their efforts in keeping the populace well-fed.

The smiles, laughs and a lot of talk by the 850 dinner guests was one of the major ways of thanking the FFAC committee consisting of Johanna Adams, Karen Boyd, Pastor Mary Gade, Mena Hautau, Joann Hunsicker, Nancy Knandler, Warren Loch, Dwane Miller and Henry Seidel.

Sherry Rosenberger from Werner Farms, Northampton County, said it was nice something is given back to the farmers.

The first year the family came they saw a notice of the celebration at Charles Snyder Farm Equipment and the announcement was also in her church bulletin.

"Our tractors are all old," she said, wondering how people could afford the new high-priced equipment.

Her 10-year-old son enjoys driving tractor and wants to farm, she explained.

At the dinner celebration, now in its 15th year, were chocolate candy coins on the tables and cowboy hats and boots on the upturned bleachers.

The theme was the Wild West and many joined the fun wearing cowboy hats and boots, with a few cowboy shirts and a pair of chaps thrown in.

The Rev. Bruce Osterhout of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Perry Township, opened the program with a prayer saying, "We pray for rural men and women, especially those who work hard in the fields. … Let all recognize the dignity of their labor."

Military families and representatives of the sponsors were also honored.

There was a corner with straw bales and saddles to provide photo opportunities.

A wanted poster said a reward of $1,000 was being offered, with space for children to show their faces.

Karen Boyd, chair of the Lehigh County Farm Bureau Women's Committee, said she thinks the appreciation dinner is wonderful and hopes they can keep doing it.

Some people come back year after year, Boys said, adding it is wonderful to see the children grow up.

Her mother, Laila Loch, does feedbag crafts at festivals such as the Weisenberg-Lowhill Schpotyaahr Fescht each fall.

Henry Seidel, who was given credit for doing most of the work by other committee members, enlisted the new sponsors.

Seidel said he hoped everyone had a good time and enough to eat.