Overheard before the dinner began at the Farm Family Appreciation Celebration on March 16 was the fact that corn was bringing a good price.

The person, however, discussing the price said, "I just spent $9,000 for seed."

Circumstances like that are what make farming difficult, and it is why the Farm Family Appreciation Celebration takes place each year.

The night gives farmers and their friends a night out just for fun and fellowship, said the Rev. Willard Uhler, as he opened the event.

Some 850 farmers, family and friends signed up for the event. Farmers and their families attended without paying while friends paid for their dinners.

The theme was Hawaiian with palm trees, hula dancers and parrots gracing the tables.

The bandstand had 3-foot tall pineapples. As with many others, Bill Townsend and Phil Sheetz of the band, "Majestics" wore brightly colored Hawaiian shirts.

Townsend said he remembered a little boy who came on stage with the band one year and played the violin. The boy's picture was on the front page of the Northwestern Press.

Phillip Meck started the band in 1962 and has been playing ever since.

Townsend described him as a hoedown fiddler. He noticed how the young kids had adjusted to the situation and were enjoying themselves without being bashful.

Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach sings with the band.

He asked Lester Miller to play for him the first time he ran for office in 2007. Miller, at 89, is with the Praise Band in Mount Zion Lutheran Church.

Leinbach said he bought himself a Martin Guitar and is trying to teach himself to play so he can entertain on his own.

Valeria Leinbach, his mother, still yodels, sings and plays an old Gibson guitar.

Michael Adams said the idea for the celebration came from the Lutheran Synod. The Lehigh-Northampton Pomona Grange was asked to be a sponsor and it grew from there. There is always good sponsor support, both financial and helping with the work that needs doing.

They receive donations in milk cans at the tables where tickets are collected.

Caterer Big John retired and Moyer Catering of Boyertown took over. Everything went smoothly.

Linda Yingling, Moyer's daughter, said the family-run business was started by her father in 1978 selling fresh meats and deli at a grocery store.

Five years later, the family began catering. The focus is on Pennsylvania Dutch cooking and pig roasts. They have handled even larger crowds than the 850 there that night.

There was more line and slow dancing. Other years, once the square dancing started, it lasted all night. The youngsters were more capable of doing the former two.

"I've been coming the last couple years. I'm a square dancer. It's nice to see farmers doing something for fun," said Elsie Stroup.

Karen Boyd of the Lehigh County Penn State Cooperative Extension commented on the evening.

"It's a wonderful thing we do," Boyd said. "It's great to see the number of people who come out every year. Everyone has a good time."

Berks, Northampton and Schuykill county extension offices also sponsor the event.

Paul Siegfried seconded Boyd's comments.

"It's a nice night out for everyone."

On April 9, the committee will evaluate this year's event and start planning for the March 14, 2014 dinner.