TONTOGANY—Tontogany, a village seven miles northwest of Bowling Green, is preparing for its annual Tontogany Fest with a special twist this year.
The village will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its 1875 incorporation with a calendar of events Aug. 7-10.
Among the special events is a plan to recognize the significance of agriculture in the Tontogany-Washington Township area. Sesquicentennial committee member Bernard Scott, former Otsego FFA teacher and longtime advocate for agriculture, is tasked with identifying farms and agricultural businesses in the township that will be honored during the celebration.
“Togany and Washington Township have always been a farming and agricultural-based community,” Scott said.
Other than the Luckey Farmers grain elevator (formerly Tontogany Farmers then Mid-Wood) in the area, there are very few large ag businesses in the township. Because farms make up the majority of agriculture there, Scott and the committee are looking for farms to celebrate.
Farming has been a part of Tontogany and Washington Township’s heritage for 150 years and more.
“Some of the farms have been in production for four or five generations,” he said.
Currently, five local farms have agreed to be included with their names and some history. He and the committee would like to have more farms honored during the festivities.
The initial plan was to include local farms and their histories to represent the strength of local agriculture. Now, his assignment is to identify farms that are willing just to be listed. No histories or additional information is required, he said.
“I thought if I could plead for them just to volunteer the name of their farm, that would be good,” Scott said. “They don’t need to provide acreage or anything else if they don’t want to. Just a name.”
Now, the plan is to include a list of farms on a poster that recognizes the significance of agriculture to the community.
“We don’t want to dramatize; we just want to recognize,” he said. “We are a strong, agricultural community, strong farming community, and we want honor our main industry.”
Scott can be reached via email at bjandjean293@gmail.com or by a phone call or text message to 419-261-7836.
