Marion Chamber of Commerce will have its annual Farm/City Appreciation Banquet at 6 p.m. Monday at the Marion City Building.

The banquet is an opportunity for the chamber to show its appreciation for how important local farmers are to Marion’s economy, banquet chairman Roger Hannaford III said.

He estimated the tradition stretches back 40 or more years. He said he knows from experience that it has been ongoing for more than 30 years.

At its peak, the chamber served almost 600 steaks per year at the banquet, Hannaford said. But because of the trend toward bigger farms with fewer people, there simply aren’t as many local farmers now. Attendance in recent years has dipped to about 250 people per year.

The event is supported by donations from businesses and individuals.