It was another successful Golden West Broadcasting Farmer Appreciation Lunch today, at Austin's Threshermen's Reunion grounds.

Dozens of farm families took in the annual event. One was Alvin Depauw, who farms between Holland and Treherne. He acknowledges it's been a tough year so far in his area.

Alvin Depauw"The Treherne-Holland area has been missing the rains," he says, "They will go to the north of us, they will go to the south of us, but they will by-pass us it seems. We're running on about 3 inches of moisture since the first of May. We need rain desperately, we needed it two weeks ago. The big yields are gone, but we're hoping to salvage what we can. It's not good, but not a total disaster yet."

Tom Dziedzic from Inwood was also there, and echoes Depauw.

"Things are green, but they're starting to turn brown again," he says, "Especially for the pastures -- we need a lot of rain for that, and for our hay crops, we need more, because there'll be no second crop."

Tom Dziedzic

Golden West Station Manager Paul Harland says it's something the company enjoys doing each year.

"It gives us an opportunity to thank the producers in our area," he says, "And I think that they enjoy coming out, and we certainly enjoy having them come out, and they get a chance to talk with our staff, and other producers in the area. It's just a great opportunity for everyone to have everybody come together, and celebrate farmers in our region."

Here are some pictures.