From cotton and tractors to training and aircraft

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lausanne Genuino
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla - --  The Altus Chamber of Commerce hosted the 36th annual Farm City Week Nov. 4 - 6, giving Airmen from Altus AFB and members of the community a chance to learn about agriculture and the base's impact to the local community.

This year's theme was "Farming, Flying & Community, the Pillars of Southwest Oklahoma!"

Approximately 120 Airmen toured the Robbins' Farming Operation, Cotton Grower's Gin, Gavilon Grain, and Western Equipment and Livingston Equipment, which all contribute to the processing, servicing and storage of crops.

"It's important for us to understand what goes on outside the base because we live in this town," said Maj. Todd Tyler, 54th Air Refueling Squadron chief of standards and evaluation.

It was a really positive experience and being able to speak to the local farmers was really interesting, he added.

While Airmen took to the farms, local farmers and community members were also given a firsthand look at the mission within Altus AFB.

They received a wing mission brief, a visit to various base agencies and a tour inside a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft.

"I've been involved in agriculture since I was a child," said Bob Mills, a local farmer and member of the Altus Chamber of Commerce. "It's fun and exciting to get out in the field and look up and see the airplanes in the sky and to meet some of the people behind that once a year."