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FARMINGTON – Sept. 18 was a great day in Davie County for the 12th Annual Tour of Farmington.

The fully supported cycling event with routes of 13, 23, 43, and 63 miles wound through rural roads in Davie, Yadkin, and Iredell counties.

A total of 170 cyclists rode in this year’s event, and a fun safe ride, good food and great company was enjoyed by all, said Allyson Sawtelle. Funds continue to support the offerings at Farmington Community Events Center & Nature Park.

The tour was started 12 years ago as the inspiration of Garry Steele, a Farmington resident who has been involved with the Farmington Community Center for more than 20 years. Steele had a vision to promote cycling in the area and raise funds for the newly created Farmington Nature Park on the site.

The park, a 60-acre tract of land given to the community center by Louis C. and Martha Smith in 2007, is having it’s grand opening on Oct. 23 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Farmington Community Center and the 100th anniversary of the first public school being opened at Farmington.

Lots of activities will be at Farmington on this day, including barbecued chicken sales, free outdoor concerts starting at 11 a.m., ribbon cutting for the nature park and presentations to major sponsors and contributors at noon, artisans’ displays, tractor show, cruise in, hayrides, kid’s games, a cornhole tournament, and much more. Visit www.farmingtoncc.org/anniversary  to find more information.

Along with the park, the center also provides family friendly recreation and programs. The repurposed Farmington School facilities are busy each week with New Beginnings Church, Farmington Friends Special Needs, and soon to start back Monday Night Bluegrass Jam and Thursday Night Country Jam.

FCC is home to the Davie Co. Coon Hunters Club and Farmington Ruritan Club.

The center also hosts line dancing classes and weekly cycling events. The Farmington ballfield and tennis courts stay busy and have served thousands over the years.

The center’s facilities are also available to rent for special occasions. Visit www.FarmingtonCC.org to learn more about the center’s mission of “Preserving the Past to Promote the Future”.

The Davie County Sherriff’s Department handled parking, SAG (support and gear), and general oversight of the event. Volunteers provided SAG for the cyclists, and other community volunteers manned rest stops, cooked meals, promoted, photographed, set up and cleaned.

“We couldn’t do this annual cycling event without all the folks who help make it happen each year and we are so grateful for their support,” Sawtelle said.

The bike shops that participated by promoting the tour included Skinny Wheels, Clemmons Bicycle, Mock Orange Bike, Paul’s Cycle and Fitness, and Ken’s Bike Shop. “Tour of Farmington couldn’t happen without the bike shops’ support and we appreciate their willingness to promote cycling and our Tour each year.

“And we send a huge thank you out to our Platinum Level sponsors, including Mocksville Tourism and Davie County Chamber of Commerce Tourism, and to our Gold Level sponsors, including WalMart, United Way, Farmington Ruritan Club, Davie County Enterprise Record, and 22nd Century Group this year.

“We couldn’t put on this event without your generous contributions as well as the contributions of all our business sponsors.

“Lastly, we appreciate the 170 cyclists who made this Tour such a success, with over $12,000 raised to benefit Farmington Community Events Center & Nature Park. One participant’s comment sums it up: ‘Tour of Farmington is my absolute favorite ride of the year and it gets better every year.’

“Thank you for the support and see you in Farmington,” Sawtelle said.