Farmland community group hires director

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

Historic Farmland, USA, a local community enrichment and promotions group, recently announced the hiring of area resident Darrin Murrell as its managing director. Murrell will oversee and guide all aspects of the organization.

Murrell said his objectives include increased grant writing and fundraising, the development of a long range business plan, working to attract more people to the downtown business district and developing diverse cultural and entertainment activities.

One of the first projects planned by Murrell is the establishment of a studio of after-school arts classes to begin in the fall. He also has plans for a Harvest Festival in October, a concert series and a professional dinner theatre project to open in late summer and continue throughout the year. He also will enter Historic Farmland for funding consideration through the Great American Main Street Awards, the Downtown Enhancement Grant offered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and Indiana Main Street and the new Indiana Artisan Development Project.

He will also oversee annual community events including the chili cook off, Fright in Farmland and the Christmas Holiday Evening, develop and manage annual budgets, lead an annual membership campaign implement advertising campaigns and publish a monthly newsletter.

Murrell was formerly executive director of Muncie Civic Theatre and Anderson's Paramount Theatre. He is a former member of the Historic Farmland, USA, Board of Directors and recently completed a term as board president. He lives in Rural Parker City with his wife, Julie Barber, a professional singer and music teacher at Taylor University. They have two children, Sofia and Sage.

For more information regarding Historic Farmland programs and events and/or the Farmland Cultural Center, call (765) 468-7631 or visit the website at www.farmlandindiana.org.