By Trent Moore
trentm@cullmantimes.com
Three Vietnamese visitors got a first-hand look at southern agriculture in Cullman Tuesday as part of a week-long tour with the International Services Council of Alabama.
Dak Nong Department of Planning and Development Deputy Director Mr. Thang Cong Hoang, Tuy Duc District People's Committee of Dak Nong Province Chairman Mr. Manh Dinh Tran, Langson Provincial Preventive Medicine Center Epidemiology Department Chief Dr. Dung Anh Duong and their interpreter, Mr. Thanh Vuong, all visited Cullman Tuesday as part of the Alabama tour.
The theme of the trip was rural development and the delegation visited a variety of agricultural sites in Cullman.
“It’s about cultural exchange,” Cullman Economic Development Assistant Director Dale Greer said.
Festhalle Market Platz Manager Jimmy Simms said he thought it was “amazing” other nations were looking to Cullman for ideas.
“It was a neat experience to know they’re reaching out from other countries to Alabama,” he said. “That’s a really good thing for Cullman.”
The Vietnamese visitors spent Tuesday in Cullman and began their tour of the area with an informative meeting with Festhalle Market Manager Jimmy Simms. Simms explained to the guests how the market works.
“We talked about how our market compares to their market and they wanted to know about our farmers and if they grow their own crops,” Simms said. “They were also interested in how efficient the market is.”
Simms said one member of the group, Hoang, tried to learn as much as he could about Festhalle, with hopes the concept could catch on in Vietnam.
“Hoang was very interested in seeing our model here,” he said. “He thought it would work well in Vietnam by reducing their large markets into smaller ones.”
Simms also led the visitors on a tour of Festhalle.
The group also met Mayor Don Green at Cullman City Hall and talked briefly about integrating agriculture into a county’s economy, and how city and county governments work together to support rural business.
During lunch at locally-owned restaurant, All-Steak, the group met State Representative James Fields, who spoke with them about rural economic issues in the county which require funding at the state level.
At the Cullman Chamber of Commerce, the delegation met with Elaine Cole, William Holt Hardin Jr., and Robert L. Page, who spoke briefly about how Cullman County leads the state in agricultural production and is ranked as one of the top 60 counties in America in total agricultural income.
The guests concluded their tour of Cullman by visiting Peinhardt Living History Farm where they spoke with co-owner Dr. Bill Peinhardt.
“They were quite interested in what we were doing, trying to relay agricultural heritage to children,” Peinhardt said. “We talked a lot about trying to keep children aware of where their food and fiber comes from.”
The group is scheduled to leave Cullman early Wednesday morning for the Birmingham International Airport.
Top News
'Cultural exchange'
- Top News
-
-
Harpist performing Saturday at Berkeley Bob’s Coffee House
Setting your thoughts to music and offering them for others’ enjoyment — or, perhaps, their provocation — can be a challenge. It can be exhilarating, frustrating, revealing or affected — sometimes all at once.
-
UPDATED: Wreck claims one life, another injured
A two-vehicle accident just west of Cullman late Wednesday afternoon took the life of a Cullman man and sent the driver of a separate vehicle to the hospital with injuries police said were not life-threatening.
-
Moe’s BBQ headed to downtown Cullman with patio dining, live music stage
Being from Cullman County, Good Hope alum Tyler Schuman knows the area is historically lacking in nightlife.
-
UPDATE: Sisters die from injuries sustained in Tuesday accident
Two Cullman County women are dead as a result of a two-vehicle accident that happened near the intersection of Alabama Highway 69 and County Road 223 Tuesday afternoon in the area of Dodge City.
-
Authorities seize synthetic marijuana at Good Hope Exxon; one charged
A Cullman man and local store manager is facing drug charges as a result of an investigation by the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET).
-
Man charged with trafficking pot
Suspicious traffic complaints to the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) from citizens about the area around Highway 91 in Colony led to the arrest of a local man Tuesday morning.
-
Two women injured in accident in Dodge City
Two Cullman women were transported by separate helicopters to UAB Tuesday to receive medical treatment following a two-vehicle accident at Dodge City.
-
Candy Phillips Thomas seeking probate judge seat
Longtime public school teacher Candy Phillips Thomas has announced she will seek the Republican nomination for Cullman County probate judge in the March 13 primary election.
-
3 arrested in connection with church burglaries
Three people were arrested over the weekend in connection with a church burglary that took place at Seventh Street Baptist Church in June of last year.
Eric McMillian turned himself into the Cullman Police Department Saturday and was charged with burglary and receiving stolen property according to officials. A female juvenile was also taken into custody. -
Hanceville church vandalized; 'Hail Satan' written in cross' place
Hanceville Police are working on several leads to find out who vandalized Center Hill Baptist Church sometime between Thursday night and the early morning Friday.
- More Top News Headlines
-






