Alfa Friends & Family

A New Brand of Ministry Do I Need Life Insurance?

Bridging the Farm-City Gap

Summer 2010

c o n t e n t s 8

Alfa Call Center

Help with your insurance questions is just a phone call away with Alfa’s new call center.

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A Farm of Distinction

Morris and Morris Farms of Macon County was chosen as the top farm in the state and will represent Alabama in the Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition in October.

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Cattle for Christ

An Enterprise cattleman is using his love for the Lord and cows to develop a new brand of ministry.

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Planning for the Game of Life

Life insurance can provide financial security, and with a strong company like Alfa, it also brings peace of mind.

On The Cover Cattle for Christ founder Glenn Crumpler, left, and Jack McIntosh are using cows to deliver a unique brand of ministry to underserved areas of the world.

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Country Kitchen

Try some down-home country favorites like tomato gravy and beef stew shared by Montgomery County Farmers Federation President Julianne Hattaway.

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Got Milk?

Alabama’s Mobile Dairy Classroom brings milk and other real-life farm experiences to schoolchildren across the state.

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Taxed to Death

The Alabama Farmers Federation is urging Congress to pass new laws safeguarding estates against unfair tax burdens that could follow farmers and other small businessmen to the grave.

F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

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www.AlfaFarmers.org

Volume 86, Number 2 ________________________ Debra Davis, Editor Darryal Ray, Associate Editor Mike Moody, Graphic Designer

A

position on a particular issue, they s we head to the polls this need input from their constituents month to elect the officials and appreciate hearing from votwho will guide our state for ers in their district. It’s that kind of the next four years, the recent 2010 openness and accountability that session of the Alabama Legislature makes our form of representative underscores the importance of government the best in the world. choosing leaders who understand This month, we once again have the needs of Alabama families. the opportunity to shape the future For Alabama farmers, passage of of our state and nation by electing the Family Farm Preservation Act legislators, judges and other offiand Livestock Care and Handling cials who will listen to voters and Bill are proof that a majority of the serve the public with integrity. Our state’s lawmakers recognize the county Federation leaders positive impact farming have identified several men has on our economy and and women who we believe society as well as the fit that criteria, and they are safety and security of our listed in this special election food supply. These new issue of Friends & Family. laws, as well as others Among these endorsed dealing with forestry, candidates is our friend wildlife management and fellow farmer, Dorman and producer-funded Grace, who is running for checkoff programs, will Jerry Newby Commissioner of Agriculture help safeguard the future and Industries. This office of our state’s agricultural affects every Alabamian by safeindustries.

Meanwhile, the Legislature wisely guarding the safety and stability of our food supply, the health of our rejected efforts to take more money livestock and the integrity of scales out of our families’ pockets at a time and other devices used in commerce. when our nation is still climbing out Dorman is a successful businessman of a deep recession. who is well qualified to serve as comThese victories, however, would missioner. He not only has served not have been possible without the on the Agriculture and Industries active involvement of voters like Board, he also has held leadership you and me. For our elected offipositions in a number of state farm cials to be effective, they must hear organizations. from their constituents. During this When you go to the polls, we legislative session, thousands wrote letters, sent emails, made phone calls hope you will support the candidates endorsed by the Federation. But and visited the State House to make regardless of who you support, we sure their voices were heard.

The results are laws and a budget hope you will exercise your right to vote. America has the best system of that -- for the most part -- reflect government in the world, but it only the priorities of the state’s residents.

Certainly there are a few who pursue works when we are all involved. public office with wrong motives, but by and large, elected officials enter politics because they want to make a difference. Over the years, we have found that even when lawmakers disagree with the Federation’s

www.AlfaFarmers.org

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ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan, Executive Director Jeff Helms, Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jerry Newby,

President, Athens Hal Lee,

Vice President/North, Hartselle Dean Wysner,

Vice President/Central, Woodland Ricky Wiggins,

Vice President/Southeast, Andalusia Jake Harper,

Vice President/Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn,

Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Joe Dickerson, Lexington Steve Tate, Huntsville Donnie Garrett, Centre Darrel Haynes, Cullman John E. Walker III, Berry Marshall Prickett, Wellington Richard Edgar, Deatsville Pat Buck, Emelle Garry Henry, Hope Hull Carl Sanders, Brundidge David Bitto, Elberta Sammy Williams, Columbia Gloria Jeffcoat, Gordon Jeff Maze, Horton Friends & Family (ISSN 1522-0648) is published quarterly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Ala. 36116. For information about member benefits of the Alabama Farmers Federation, visit the Web site www.AlfaFarmers.org. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and additional mailing offices. Printed in U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Friends & Family, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001.

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Paul Hurst, Hurst & Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. Phone: 800-397-8908; Fax: (847) 438-8105. Classified ad and editorial inquiries should be directed to the editor at (334) 613-4410.

ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: Ad­vertise­­­­­­­ments contained in Friends & Family do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or the Alabama Farmers Federation.

EDITORIAL MATTER from sources outside of the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members.

Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of material does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

ADDRESS editorial, advertising and address change correspondence to Friends & Family, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191-0001.

www.AlfaFarmers.org A member of American Farm Bureau Federation

F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

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he political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation has announced its endorsements of candidates for the June 1 Democratic and Republican primaries. Our philosophy is to support candidates with moral character who will fight for accountability, fairness, security and opportunity. The committee did not make endorsements in every race.

The committee has endorsed other candidates from both parties who do not have opposition in their respective primaries. Those endorsements will be published prior to the Nov. 2 general election.

“Regardless of your party preference, we encourage you to vote June 1. We are a non-partisan organization and have members who have sought our recommendations in both primaries,” said Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby. “We hope this guide will be of assistance if you are not familiar with the candidates.

No matter who you support, we encourage you to exercise your right by voting in the primaries June 1.”

Offices To Be Voted For

Democrat

Republican

U.S. Senator

Richard Shelby

U.S. Representative, 1st District

Jo Bonner

U.S. Representative, 5th District

Parker Griffith

U.S. Representative, 6th District

Spencer Bachus

U.S. Representative, 7th District

Earl Hilliard Jr.

Attorney General

Troy King

Treasurer

George Wallace, Jr.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Dorman Grace

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 2

Mike Bolin

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 3

Tom Parker

AMENDMENTS Proposed Amendment to Appear on the Ballot Statewide Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, relating to the promotion of propane gas by authorizing the Legislature to enact legislation providing for an assessment on the members of the propane gas industry for the purpose of financing promotion programs. (Proposed by Act 2009-547) Yes [ ] No [ X ]

produced by a publicly owned utility in Colbert County.

(Proposed by Act 2009-390).

Yes [ ] No [ X ] Franklin County: Relating to Franklin County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that treated human sewage biosolids may not be applied to land as a fertilizer or soil amendment. (Proposed by Act 2009-309) Yes [ ] No [ X ]

Proposed Amendments Which Apply to Only One County and to Appear on the Ballot in Only the County of Application Colbert County: Relating to Colbert County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that treated human sewage biosolids may not be applied to land as a fertilizer or soil amendment, except for sewage biosolids

Lawrence County: Local Amendment # 1 Relating to Lawrence County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that treated human sewage biosolids may not be applied to land as a fertilizer or soil amendment. (Proposed by Act 2009-370) Yes [ ] No [ X ]

Paid for and distributed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191 F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

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www.AlfaFarmers.org

County of Endorsed Candidate Autauga

Democrat David Colston, HD 69

Republican Mac Gipson, HD 88

Jefferson

Joe Faust, HD 94

Baldwin Barbour

Berry Forte, HD 84 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Bibb

Ralph Howard, HD 72

Lauderdale Lee

Randy Wood, HD 36 Richard Laird, HD 37

Pebblin Warren, HD 82 Billy Beasley, SD 28 Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8

Lowndes

David Colston, HD 69

Macon

Pebblin Warren, HD 82 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Madison

Butch Taylor, HD 22

Marengo

Thomas E. “Action” Jackson, HD 68 Ralph Howard, HD 72

Cherokee Chilton Choctaw

Thomas E. “Action” Jackson, HD 68

Clarke

Thomas E. “Action” Jackson, HD 68

Clay

Richard Laird, HD 37

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Corey Hill, HD 26 Wes Long, HD 27 Clay Scofield, SD 9

Marshall

Mobile

James Gordon, HD 98 James Buskey, HD 99 Vivian Figures, SD 33

Coffee Colbert

Johnny Mack Morrow, HD 18 Tammy Irons, SD 1

Monroe

Thomas E. “Action” Jackson, HD 68

Conecuh

Thomas E. “Action” Jackson, HD 68

Montgomery

Thad McClammy, HD 76

Covington

Perry

Crenshaw

Pickens

Dale

Ralph Howard, HD 72

Yusuf Salaam, HD 67 David Colston, HD 69

Randolph

Richard Laird, HD 37

Russell

Berry Forte, HD 84 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Shelby

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Mike Hill, HD 41 Mary Sue McClurkin, HD 43 Steve French, SD 15 Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Blaine Galliher, HD 30 Randy Wood, HD 36 Scott Beason, SD 17

DeKalb

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8 Corey Hill, HD 26

Elmore

Mac Gipson, HD 88

St. Clair

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8 Blaine Galliher, HD 30

Sumter

Escambia

Talladega

Fayette Franklin

Tallapoosa

Johnny Mack Morrow, HD 18

Geneva Greene Hale

Ralph Howard, HD 72

Henry

Billy Beasley, SD 28

Tuscaloosa

Charles Bishop, HD 14 Bill Poole, HD 63 Greg Reed, SD 5

Walker

Charles Bishop, HD 14 Greg Reed, SD 5

Washington Wilcox

Houston Jackson

Butch Taylor, HD 22

David Grimes, HD 73

Pike

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Jeremy Oden, HD 11

Etowah

Jim Barton, HD 104

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Jeremy Oden, HD 11

Morgan

Coosa

Dallas

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8 Howard Sanderford, HD 20 Clay Scofield, SD 9

Marion

Cleburne

Cullman

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Pat Moore, HD 15 Mary Sue McClurkin, HD 43 Greg Reed, SD 5 Steve French, SD 15 Scott Beason, SD 17

Tammy Irons, SD 1

Limestone

Butler

Chambers

John Rogers, HD 52 Demetrius Newton, HD 53 Claire Mitchell, HD 56 Merika Coleman, HD 57 Mary Moore, HD 59 Rodger Smitherman, SD 18 Priscilla Dunn, SD 19

Republican

Lawrence

Pebblin Warren, HD 82 Berry Forte, HD 84 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Calhoun

Democrat

Lamar

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Jeremy Oden, HD 11 Clay Scofield, SD 9 Scott Beason, SD 17

Blount

Bullock

County of Endorsed Candidate

Winston

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8

David Colston, HD 69 Charles Bishop, HD 14 Greg Reed, SD 5

Paid for and distributed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191 www.AlfaFarmers.org

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F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Alfa Responds Quickly To North Alabama Tornadoes

By Debra Davis and Kevin Worthington

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n less than 30 seconds, Bryan and Susan Breedwell lost all their worldly possessions when a tornado ripped through their neighborhood three miles east of Albertville about 10:30 p.m., April 24. Despite that, the couple says they are blessed and glad they have Alfa Insurance.

The storm that began in Louisiana did heavy damage there and devastated parts of Mississippi before it tore through Alabama. The National Weather Service said twisters injured more than 30 people in Marshall and DeKalb counties that night and had peak winds of 140 mph. It was on the ground for about 18.5 miles and was three-quarters of a mile wide at its largest. The weather service also confirmed tornado paths in Walker, Cullman, Blount, Jefferson and Lamar counties.

Two days after the storm, the Breedwells, along with their three daughters, watched heavy equipment load the tangled debris that was once their home into dump trucks. Alfa Adjuster Rob Brooks guided them through the claims process and Adjuster Bryan Hornbuckle had already delivered them a check for emergency clothing. The Breedwells home and three cars, all insured by Alfa, were a total loss. The storm lifted their house, with them huddled in the hallway, off its foundation and carried it more than 150 feet before dumping it on the other side of the street in their subdivision.

Susan recalled the moments leading up to the experience.

“The warning siren went off and we got the girls into the hallway,” she said. “Bryan went to the back door and looked out. When he came back, he told us it was coming, and it was going to be bad. The girls started to cry and Bryan started to pray.”

Susan said she felt the house lift off the ground. Even though it lasted

F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Alfa Adjuster Rob Brooks, left, and Agent Jason Simpson, right, talk with Susan and Bryan Breedwell on the site where their home once stood. The Breedwells lost their home and three cars in the storm April 24. only a few seconds, it seemed like a lifetime. Her emotions surfaced as she recalled the storm.

“We felt the walls squeezing in on us,” she said, holding back tears. “We could hear the rafters cracking and boards snapping, and then we heard part of the roof come off.”

After the house sat down with a thud, the family crawled through part of the roof debris in darkness.

“It was pitch black and we didn’t have on any shoes or a flashlight,” Susan said. “It was so scary because we didn’t even know how far the house had traveled.”

Lights from a neighbor’s truck helped guide them to safety. Homes just a few feet away were barely damaged.

“I called the Alfa office the next morning and was glad to find out they were working that day, even though it was Sunday,” Susan said.

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“They gave us a claims number and advice on what to do. When we met with them on Monday, the adjuster wrote us a check for clothing and helped us get through the rest of the process. Everyone with Alfa has been so good to us. We lost everything, but it could have been so much worse.”

Alfa Senior Vice President of Claims Jerry Johnson said within four days of the storm, Alfa had received just over 1,300 claims.

Additional adjusters were sent to north Alabama to expedite claims and Alfa’s mobile response unit was dispatched to Albertville.

“The Breedwells tragedy is one all of us hope we never experience,” Johnson said. “But if it does, we want our policyholders to know we’ll be there as soon as possible to help lessen the pain they’ve experienced and to help them start over.” www.AlfaFarmers.org

Fast Insurance Service Is A Phone Call Away

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lfa is striving to provide better customer service through a new and improved Web site, and to assist with that, the company is also aiming for excellent customer service on the phone.

Alfa’s Marketing Resource Center offers extended hours and provides support to customers and service centers through a 1-800 number and online chat. Through Alfa’s Web site, www.AlfaIns.com, customers can chat online with someone in the Marketing Resource Center.

Customers can also call 1-800-9642532, which connects them to a person even after normal business hours when local Alfa offices have closed.

“The Marketing Resource Center is a strategic part of our internet initiative,” said Walter Overby, vice president of Alfa’s Corporate Internet and E-business. “Best practices indicate that for an insurance company to offer Web access, it must be aligned with a highly skilled contact center.

Our Web site and the Marketing Resource Center are strategically aligned to support both existing and new customers as we continue to develop and deploy self service, quoting and sales.”

The center began in 2006 to support the agents and customer service representatives with the rollout of the company’s new automobile system. In August 2008, the center extended its hours and began offering support for customers.

“We support the service centers and customers and provide them assistance with whatever they might need,” said Susan Adcock, vice president of Marketing Resources.

Alfa’s 1-800-964-2532 number, which is now printed on materials sent to customers, connects them with the Marketing Resource Center.

“Customer contacts have increased 20 percent every month since the first of the year,” Adcock said. “We’re expecting that trend to continue.”

The launch of Alfa’s new Web site last year also meant the availability

www.AlfaFarmers.org

of an online chat feature handled through the resource center.

The chat, which is designed for customer use, saw “international” use the first day.

“The first customer who used online chat was a woman in London,” Adcock said. “She was on vacation and needed to know how to pay her bill.”

The center has a call back feature, which gives customers the option of not having to hold. Instead, as soon as an agent becomes available, the customer will receive a call back.

“If a customer is on hold for two minutes, they are offered the opportunity for us to call them back,” Adcock said. “They don’t lose their place in line.”

This allows the Marketing Resource Center to handle all of the calls coming in, even during busy times.

“We have implemented technology that provides for the Marketing Resource Center to manage their call traffic and document all customer contacts, which is transforming this area into a first-class contact center,” Adcock said.

If you call your local Alfa office after hours or on the weekend, the call is automatically forwarded to the Marketing Resource Center.

The Marketing Resource Center is currently open from 6 a.m. to midnight seven days per week and is open on holidays. Adcock said there 8

is a chance the center will expand its hours at some point in the future as necessary.

“We are an extension and expansion of the agent and the relationship they have with their customers,” Adcock said.

Agent business cards have the number to the Marketing Resource Center on the back so customers will have that number handy for afterhours calls. Customers can call the same number to make a payment, report a claim and for other customer service questions.

“So many customers these days can’t or don’t want to do business between 8 and 5,” she said.

Adcock said the most common questions relate to payments. Some frequently asked payment questions include: “How much do I owe?”

“When is it due?” “How do I pay?”

Adcock said another way to make information more easily accessible for customers is an “Ask A Question” feature on the Alfa Insurance Company Web site. When a customer types a question into the Web site, the Marketing Resource Center receives an e-mail if the answer is not currently available on the Web site. The question will then be answered for the customer.

“Our mission is to provide the best customer experience possible so that dealing with Alfa outside of normal business hours is a convenience for our customers,” Adcock said.

F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

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Farm-City Program Unites Urban, Rural Families

By Melissa Martin

S

everal budding artists, along with some hardworking Farm-City volunteers, were honored April 12 in Birmingham during the State Farm-City Awards Luncheon.

This year’s theme for the Farm-City poster and essay contests was “Farmers Care: For Animals and You” and received a strong response, with 158 total entries to be judged at the state level. Students qualified for the state awards by winning first place in their county contests.

In the poster contest, Samuel Sherling of Butler County took first place in the Kindergarten-Third Grade Division, and his older brother, William, took top honors in the Fourth-Sixth Grade Division. Second place in the Kindergarten-Third Grade Division went to TOP RIGHT - The Alabama Farm-City Committee’s essay contest winners show off their trophies during the annual awards luncheon April 12 at Birmingham’s Wynfrey Hotel. From left, are: Jim Allen of Alabama Farmers Cooperative, which helped sponsor the event; Ali Stringfellow of Mobile County, first place in 10th-12th Grade Division; Chandler Mulvaney of Lee County, second place, 10th-12th Grade Division; Meredith McCool of Pickens County, second place, 7th-9th Grade Division; Joshua Bowman of Russell County, first place, 7th-9th Grade Division; and Jeff Helms, director of public relations and communications for the Alabama Farmers Federation.

RIGHT - Jeff Helms, director of public relations and communications for the Alabama Farmers Federation (left), presents Henry County Farm-City Chairman Johnny Lee the awards for Overall Best Farm-City Committee for Division I and II and the National Farm-City Award.

Brothers Samuel and William Sherling of Fort Dale Academy in Butler County took first place in the annual Alabama Farm-City Poster Contest, and will have their artwork featured in the 2011 Farm-City Calendar. Samuel took first place in the K-3 Division with the left poster, while older brother, William,took top honors in the 4th-6th Grade Division with the right poster. There were a record number of 101 entries at the state level this year, representing several hundred entries on the county level. www.AlfaFarmers.org

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F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Addy Stringfellow of Mobile County, while MaKenzey Lancaster of Pickens County placed second among fourththrough-sixth graders. First-place winners in the poster contest received $200, second-place winners received $100 each, and each winner’s school received matching contributions.

Taking top honors in the essay contest were Joshua Bowman of Russell County in the Seventh-Ninth Grade Division and Ali Stringfellow of Mobile County for the 10th12th Grade Division. Second place

among seventh-to-ninth graders went to Meredith McCool of Pickens County, and Chandler Mulvaney of Lee County placed second in the 10th-12th Grade Division. First-place winners in the essay contest received $300, second-place winners received $200 each, and each winner’s school received matching contributions.

Henry County and Coffee County captured the top awards for committees working to bridge the gap between urban and rural residents at the luncheon.

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The Henry County Farm-City Committee, chaired by Johnny Lee, was named the Overall Best Farm-City Committee in the state and took top honors in Division II, which includes counties with populations of fewer than 35,600. The runner up for Best Farm-City Committee in this division was Chambers County, chaired by Janet Ison. Other Division II winners were: Cherokee County, Best Farm-City Tour; Chambers County, Scrapbook Award; Barbour County, Innovative Idea Award; Bullock County, Innovative Idea Award; Franklin County, Best Farm-City Dinner; Randolph County, Best Media Coverage and Proclamation; Pike County, Best Civic Club Activities; Marion County, Best Special Activities; and Randolph County, Target Award.

Meanwhile, the Coffee County Farm-City Committee, chaired by Bill McCrary, was named the Best FarmCity Committee in Division I, which includes counties with populations of 35,600 or more. Cullman County, chaired by Lisa Lake, was the division’s runner-up. Other Division I winners were: Lawrence County, Best Farm-City Tour; Cullman County, Scrapbook Award; Tuscaloosa County, Innovative Idea Award; Coffee County, Best Farm-City Dinner; Houston County, Best Media Coverage and Proclamation; Russell County, Best Civic Club Activities; Colbert County, Best Special Activities; and St. Clair County, Target Award.

“The Farm-City Awards are important because they recognize the efforts of those who work hard to get out the message that farmers and consumers need one another,” said Alabama Farm-City Chairman Jeff Helms.

“From production on the farm to the consumption at your dinner table, the ties between urban and rural dwellers remain strong.”

The Farm-City Committee of Alabama sponsors the annual awards program. Established in 1955, National Farm-City Week is observed each year the week before Thanksgiving as a way to help bridge the gap between rural and urban residents.

F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Grace Grace Dorman

COMMISSIONER

AGRICULTURE & INDUSTRIES

www.DormanGrace.com

Dorman

MY ROOTS RUN DEEP IN ALABAMA, NOT POLITICS

COMMISSIONER

AGRICULTURE & INDUSTRIES dorsed by

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Paid for by Friends of Dorman Grace PO Box 1434, Jasper, AL 35502

Morris And Morris Farms Named Top In State

By Melissa Martin

S

hep and Rite Morris of Shorter were named the Alabama Farm-City Committee’s 2010 Farm of Distinction winner during a luncheon April 12 in Birmingham.

As this year’s winner, the Morrises received prizes valued at more than $10,000 and will represent Alabama in the Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition during the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo in Moultrie, Ga., Oct. 19-21.

As owners of Morris and Morris Farms, Shep and Rite’s operation includes 3,000 acres of row crops in Macon and Montgomery counties.

About half the land is in cotton, with the remainder split between corn and soybeans. By growing conventional cotton and harvesting it with a stripper rather than with cotton pickers preferred by most Southeastern farmers, Morris and Morris Farms has reduced its nitrogen fertilizer use by 50 percent with no yield loss.

The corn-cotton rotation also allows Shep to use the same planter and

www.AlfaFarmers.org

Shep and Rite Morris of Shorter in front of a plane Shep uses to spray crops. same labor to harvest both crops. As a result, he is better able to control plant diseases and pests and reduce repair costs by following a strict maintenance plan.

Despite these efforts, the one aspect of farming Shep says he has no control over is the weather, and this year, cold, wet conditions have been challenging.

“Its made harvest tough. We finished shelling corn on Aug. 31 this past year, and that was a Friday.

It rained on Saturday, Sept. 1, and it basically never stopped all fall,” Shep said.

To make matters worse, soggy conditions have prevented Shep from spreading fertilizer and delayed corn planting by at least three weeks.

Meanwhile, Shep stays busy as a county, state and national farm leader. He serves as president of the Macon County Farmers Federation and Milstead Gin, and is on the boards of directors of Autauga Quality Cotton Association, First 14

South Farm Credit, Alabama Cotton Commission and Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District. He says the work of these groups helps ensure future generations have the opportunity to farm.

“This is a tough business and we need to have the potential to make some profits to draw the young people in. You can have all kind of programs, but nothing will draw a young person like the potential to make some profit,” he said.

Shep and Rite have three children, Shep Jr., Beverly and J.W. As Alabama’s Farm of Distinction winner, the Morrises received a John Deere Gator donated by SunSouth, Snead Ag and TriGreen Equipment dealers in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. They also received a $1,250 gift certificate from Alabama Farmers Cooperative, redeemable at any of its member Quality Co-Op stores. The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Health presented the Morrises with an engraved, F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

mahogany farm sign. Also, as the state winner, Shep and Rite will receive a $2,500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo. The Sunbelt winner will receive $14,000, plus several other prizes.

Five other finalists also were honored during the program, held in conjunction with the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Conference. They were Bryan and Beverly Hughes of Tuscaloosa County, Larry and Bonita LouAllen of Lawrence County, Chase and Noelle Bradley of Monroe County, Garry and Denise Staples of St. Clair County, and John and Katie Wesson of Talladega County. Each finalist received a $250 gift certificate from Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

The Farm-City Committee of Alabama presents the Farm of Distinction Award annually. FarmCity Week is observed nationally each year the week before Thanksgiving as a way to help bridge the gap between rural and urban residents.

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Rite and Shep Morris of Macon County’s Morris and Morris Farms were named the Alabama Farm-City Committee’s 2010 Farm of Distinction winner Monday afternoon during the annual Farm-City Awards luncheon at Birmingham’s Wynfrey Hotel. The Morrises are shown in a new John Deere Gator which was presented to them by SunSouth, Snead Ag and TriGreen Equipment John Deere dealers. The Alabama Farmers Cooperative presented them a $1,250 gift certificate. From left, are: Marty Howard, SunSouth; Rite Morris; Jim Allen, Alabama Farmers Cooperative; Shep Morris; Tom Tribble, John Deere; Mike Underwood, TriGreen; Jerry Newby, president of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Brian Ayers and Tim Gibbs of Snead Ag.

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Alabama Farmers Fare Well In 2010 Legislative Session

By Jeff Helms

F

or Alabama agriculture, the 2010 session of the state legislature was one of the most productive in recent history, as farmers celebrated passage of bills that save money and provide their families with added peace of mind.

Topping the list of accomplishments for the Alabama Farmers Federation was passage of the Family Farm Preservation Act. The measure prevents law-abiding farms from being declared a public nuisance. Sponsored

by Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, and steered through the House of Representatives by Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, the new law helps safeguard farmers from costly lawsuits brought by those who don’t understand production agriculture.

The Federation has sought passage of the Family Farm Preservation Act for 10 years.

Federation President Jerry Newby credited the organization’s members and staff for passage of the Family Farm Preservation Act and other important legislation.

“The success we had during this legislative session is a direct result of the hard work of our Federation members,” Newby said. “We appreciate everyone who made a phone call, sent an email or traveled to Montgomery to support one of these bills. That direct contact with legislators made all the difference.

“Our employees have done a great job of cultivating relationships with other agricultural groups as well as elected officials,” Newby said. “We need to work with our friends when we agree on the issues, and that cooperation paid dividends this year.”

Another highlight of the session was passage of a bill that ensures livestock care regulations are uniform throughout the state by preventing local and county governments from establishing a patchwork of laws.

Sponsored by Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne, and Rep. Ralph Howard, www.AlfaFarmers.org

D-Greensboro, the new law updates the state veterinarian’s responsibilities to include livestock care and disease control. It also strengthens penalties for animal cruelty.

Reducing paperwork is the aim of a new law supported by owners of bird-hunting preserves. Sponsored by Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, and Rep. Thomas E. Jackson, D-Thomasville, the measure allows bird-hunting preserves to purchase an annual license for $500 to cover hunters on the property who do not already have the appropriate license.

The legislative session also was successful for forest owners. The Legislature passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Rusty Glover, R-Semmes, and Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston, that increases penalties for forest arson as well as a bill sponsored by Sen. Mitchell and Rep. Charles Newton, D-Greenville, that allows law enforcement officers to seize equipment in the possession of a person charged with timber theft. It also approved a bill by Sen. Ted Little, D-Auburn, and Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, that makes it a crime to cut timber without permission or to alter a timber-weighing device.

Copper thieves will face heavier penalties, following passage of a bill sponsored by Sen. Bedford and Rep. Wood. The new law allows the cost of repairing damage to the victim’s property to be considered when determining the severity of the crime.

For insurance policyholders, the only notable bill to pass was a measure

by Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Daphne, and Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Bay Minette, which eliminates a rule requiring surplus-line insurers to do business five years in Alabama before writing certain business. The new law is aimed at increasing competition among insurers in the coastal regions of the state in order to hold down premium costs.

Efforts to call a convention to rewrite Alabama’s constitution failed to get traction this session. Bills that would have rewritten the railroad and 16

banking portions of the constitution using the article-by-article approach also failed.

Despite tight budgets, agricultural programs fared well in the state budgets. Funding for the Career Technology Initiative remained unchanged at $2.26 million, and the appropriation for the Alabama Agricultural Land Grant Alliance increased 11 percent to $6.2 million.

Fire ant research and eradication again received $147,073, and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station’s poultry technology center received a new appropriation of $250,000.

In the general fund budget, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management was allocated $277,200 to reimburse farmers for CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) registration fees, and the Agriculture Water Enhancement Program received $150,000 in state matching funds to help expand on-farm irrigation. Overall, the Department of Agriculture and Industries budget was cut 11 percent; the Farmers Market Authority, 29 percent; the Soil and Water Conservation Committee, 2 percent; and the Alabama Forestry Commission, 6 percent.

The Legislature also passed a bill to provide $800,000 a year through 2041 to service a bond issue for the renovation of the Garrett Coliseum complex in Montgomery. The facility houses numerous livestock shows and other events. The bill was sponsored by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery.

The biggest headlines during the legislative session were reserved for a bill that would have legalized electronic bingo. Early in the session, the Senate rejected a version of the bill that would have given a monopoly to 10 gambling locations in the state.

Later, the Senate passed a shorter version of the bill that would have legalized electronic gambling without restriction. But proponents couldn’t muster the votes needed to pass the measure in the House.

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By Debra Davis

A

gentle breeze swayed tall green grass as fat black cows munched peacefully nearby, unaware that their mission in life is to help spread God’s word. It’s a plan devised by Enterprise native Glenn Crumpler, who founded Cattle for Christ International in 2001 and serves as its president.

“I look back now and see that this was part of God’s plan for my life all along,” said Crumpler who, after retiring from the military, entered the ministry.

“I had always had cattle. Even when I worked full-time with the Alabama Army National Guard, I had a few

mama cows. But when I was called to the ministry, I actually prayed that God would take away my love for cattle so I could better serve Him.” Crumpler did sell his cattle while attending seminary school, but during his final year there he came up with the idea of Cattle for Christ.

Even though he had served as a pastor and associate pastor, Crumpler said he felt God’s plan was for him to use his experience as a minister and a cattleman to spread His word.

“I feel like before I even knew His plan, he was giving me the foundation for this ministry,” Crumpler said.

“My education, pastor experience and love of cattle all played a part of it. When I was in seminary school, I assumed I would work in a church. God didn’t take away my love for cattle as I had prayed for, but he filled me with the passion for the poor and the lost — people who hadn’t had the opportunity to hear the gospel.

“I still don’t see all the pieces of God’s plan for me yet, but I’ve seen enough to know it’s definitely God’s leadership through every bit of it.”

Cattle For Christ is a non-denominational 501(c) (3) non-profit organization run by a volunteer board of directors. Although Crumpler works tirelessly to raise money for the organization, even his salary is determined through earmarked donations. The entire ministry operates off donations and has never borrowed money. Ninety percent of every dollar donated to Cattle for Christ is used for mission work, while only 10 percent is used for administrative costs.

Even the organization’s office on the outskirts of Enterprise is donated.

Originally, the mission work was funded through donations of cattle given to the ministry.

Some cattlemen chose to tithe to the ministry by donating a calf a year, or others would give a bull or cow that was sold for the organization.

Two years ago, Crumpler said the Lord gave him the idea of starting a Cattle for Christ herd as a way to more permanently fund the ministry.

“Before we even announced it, we had received three beautiful heifers,” he said.

“It was God’s way of providing what we needed, when we needed it.”

To date, the herd has grown to 160 brood cows and 100 calves. The herd CattleForChrist.com, (334) 374-6050 Contributions can be mailed to: Cattle For Christ, 4125 County Road 636, Enterprise, AL 36330

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F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

Glenn Crumpler, lower left, frolics with children in a village where he and other volunteers worked to improve cattle herds, left, and preached the gospel, below.

boasts some of the top genetics among Registered Black Angus cattle in the United States. Cattlemen across the country have donated high-quality cows, semen for the farm’s artificial insemination program and top bulls from famous ranches were given to the ministry.

Crumpler’s best friend for more than 30 years, Jack McIntosh of Enterprise, is his right-hand-man on the farm. He’s also a member of the Cattle for Christ International Board of Directors.

While Crumpler is traveling, which is a large amount of the time, McIntosh sees to the day-to-day operation of the farm.

“We’re very particular about every dollar we spend,” McIntosh said. “First, because it was given to this ministry and secondly because we have only a limited number of dollars to spend. We make every dollar count.”

Anyone can donate to the ministry — not just cattlemen. The farm’s equipment was either donated or purchased at greatly reduced prices. Grazing land, nearly 200 acres, is donated or rented from local owners at a reduced rate. Maintenance on the equipment is donated as is feed, seed and fertilizer.

“The Lord truly has blessed us, and provides what we need,” Crumpler said. “Because we don’t borrow money, we may have to work harder until we can get the money or equipment we need, but if He doesn’t provide it, we just do without it.”

Like most cattlemen, Crumpler works hard every day.

Sometimes it’s on the farm; other days, he’s traveling across the country to attend cow sales as a guest speaker or to preach. He still goes on mission trips – he’s been to so many countries it’s hard for him to recall how many.

But his focus is clear. “Our number-one goal is to take the gospel and love of Christ to all the world with a focus on the under-reached people,” Crumpler said.

“A third of the world — 2.4 billion people — has never once heard the name of Jesus. Another third has heard His name, but know Him as a prophet or a teacher, but not as their savior.”

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To accomplish that goal, Crumpler said he can’t always preach in the traditional evangelistic way. That’s where his work ethic and love of cattle help him show God’s love.

“In some of these areas, we’re helping them learn how to raise cattle for their families or how to improve the genetics in the cattle they may already have,” he said.

“Sometimes it just makes a difference to them that a total stranger cares about them and loves them.”

Relying on donations, Crumpler said he’s thankful that cattlemen are such a generous bunch, adding that he’s never met a cattleman that doesn’t believe God exists.

“Cattlemen see all the miracles that God performs on a daily basis,” he said. “They witness the birth of a calf; plant seeds and see them sprout from the earth. God gives us rain and sunshine when we need it. They see His hand in everything they do.”

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Almost Like Jack and the Beanstalk

By Lois Chaplin

A

nnual vines are my favorites because they grow so incredibly fast and the flowering goes on for months. Some grow oneto-two feet per day –– and can get 10- or 15-feet or longer by the end of their season. Because they bloom so long and most can be started from a seed packet, they are a very inexpensive for adding more color to trellises, fences and arbors. They’re a playful way to bring in new color and quick growth to sprawl along a sunny porch rail or even atop evergreen shrubs.

Most are easy to start directly in the garden, or you can sow the seed in a pot and then transplant to the garden soon after the first few leaves appear.

If they are planted soon, there’s still plenty of time to start a morning glory, moonvine or any of these on

Cypress vine (Ipomoea quamolit) gets better as the summer wears on, hopefully being fully loaded with blossoms by the time hummingbirds begin migrating. They love it. a fence. Except for black-eyed Susan vine, it is hard to find these plants as transplants in nurseries; consider yourself lucky if you do.

Children love them, too, because the vines’ fast growth satisfies a child’s relative inability to wait. Moonvine is lots of fun because the blooms slowly unfurl in the afternoon; if picked at a bit to loosen their long furled buds, they almost spring open. Moonvine emits a sweet perfume in the evening when it opens and is often visited by hawk moths.

Luffa is another surprise with pretty yellow flowers all summer long. The fruit is huge and very interesting; it’s called dishrag gourd

GET GROWING AT THE CO-OP. www.AlfaFarmers.org

because ripe gourds can be harvested for the luffa “scrubber” inside.

Cypress vine, pictured here, gets better as the summer wears on, hopefully being fully loaded with blossoms by the time hummingbirds begin migrating. They love it. Cardinal climber and cypress vine are very similar, so grow one or the other.

Morning glory will only be in bloom in the morning, while moonvine is lonely in bloom at night, so plant each.

A few of these seeds can be hard to sprout. Soak morning glory and moonvine seeds overnight before planting; score the hard seed coat of moonvine with an emory board to make sure it takes up water.

This time of year, black-eyed Susan may be sold in hanging baskets. They can be removed from the baskets to plant in the ground to climb an arbor or fence.

Since the weather is warm, seeds will sprout fast, but the ground can dry out quickly, too. Be sure to keep the seeds watered every day.

If the soil is hard, work a bag of soil amendments into the ground for each couple of square feet of ground.

Most of the vines don’t need a lot of fertilizer and, in fact, will bloom better without it. Give them enough in the beginning to make a good start and stop feeding after the first month or so.

Liquid food, such as Bonnie Vegetable & Herb Food, works well for flowers, too, and is hard to overuse. It contains lots of growth stimulants and nutrients from soy seed without too much nitrogen that would encourage lots of leaves at the expense of blooms. ______________________________ Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

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The Game of Life: Assessing Your Insurance Needs

By Melissa Martin

A

n essential component of any personal financial plan, life insurance is about more than dying — it’s about peace of mind and financial security.

Life insurance provides for a variety of needs for both individuals and families, ranging from replacing income due to an untimely, unexpected death, to mortgage protection, coverage of education costs, consumer debt or final expenses, and estate planning.

Alfa Life Insurance Corporation, a division of the Alfa Group of Companies, offers competitive insurance products available for purchase through a team of highly trained, professional agents. Despite the harsh economic climate, Alfa Life experienced consistent growth during the past decade. To date, Alfa Life has more than 300,000 policies providing protection to customers in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. As a result of this growth and strong financial position, A.M. Best recently affirmed Alfa Life Insurance Corporation’s financial strength ratings of A+

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(Superior). A.M. Best is the leading provider of ratings and financial data for the insurance industry worldwide.

Since life insurance is such an important financial investment, a leading concern among potential clients is knowing the right time to buy.

The answer? Evaluate your insurance needs at each life stage you cross.

“As parents, we found that the earlier you purchase a plan for your child, the more affordable the rates,” said June Strickland, Manager of Life Processing for Alfa Insurance.

“When our boys were young, my husband and I purchased a policy for each of them. Not only were they covered growing up, but the policies have accumulated cash value — something the boys will be able to use in the future. While affordability is a great benefit, the peace of mind gained by preparing for your child’s future is priceless.”

Suggestions of other life stages during which it’s smart to invest in

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life insurance include: after graduation, when financial liabilities begin to accrue; after marriage, when concern extends to another person; after job promotions, when finances are stronger; and after starting a family, when ensuring loved ones are protected and provided for becomes a priority.

Another great time to invest in life insurance is when you purchase a home. “Whenever you decide to invest in life insurance, it’s important to communicate with your agent in order to evaluate your financial situation and update your policies in relation to your needs,” Strickland said.

“I was always told that once you purchase a home, the next step is to purchase life insurance,” said Michelle First, an Alfa policyholder. “After buying my first home in February, I shopped around for the best price on term life insurance. Because I am in my early 20’s, I figured now was the best time to buy because rates are so much cheaper. If something should happen to me within the 30 years of my life insurance term, my family will be taken care of. Having life insurance suppressed a lot of worry — burial/cremation costs, house payments, or if my future children will be able to go to college. So when I die, the last thing my family will need to worry about is money.”

Knowing when to buy life insurance is important. Equally important, however, is knowing what to buy.

Though many shoppers can estimate how much life insurance they think they will need, an Alfa agent can provide the most accurate assessment of coverage by having customers complete a Life Insurance Needs Analysis.

Alfa Life offers several different plans of insurance to meet every customer’s needs, including term insurance, universal life insurance, permanent insurance and annuities.

Term insurance offers basic life F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

insurance coverage on the life of the insured for a specified period of time and has been the most popular plan of insurance sold by Alfa Life for the past several years. Alfa offers term insurance for 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years.

Another term plan Alfa offers is the Return of Premium product, which provides life insurance coverage on the life of the insured for a term of up to 20 years. At the end of the 20-year term, Alfa will return the sum of the base annual premiums and policy fees provided the insured is living and the policy is still in force.

Another popular plan of life insurance offered by Alfa Life is the universal life product (UL), which offers flexibility for the policyholder as needs change during a lifetime.

For example, both the volume of insurance and policy premiums may be changed within certain limits as needs change. UL policies may also accumulate cash value over time that may be borrowed against, withdrawn or used to pay premiums. Alfa’s UL policy currently pays a competitive interest rate of 4.5 percent.

Alfa Life offers two types of permanent insurance: ordinary life plans and interest sensitive policies (ISP).

Ordinary life plans may be purchased for amounts between $5,000 and $15,000, have limited underwriting and are designed to assist with final expenses or burial costs. The ISP product was Alfa’s second most popular plan in 2009. Similar to the universal life plan, ISP’s also accumulate cash value over time that may be borrowed against, withdrawn or used to pay premiums. This product currently pays a competitive interest rate of 4.5 percent.

As both term and permanent plans were the top two products sold in 2009, it’s important to understand the benefits of owning both. While a significant benefit in owning a term policy is its affordability, customers should be aware they are not lifelong policies. Permanent policies, on the other hand, are just that – permanent.

While premiums for permanent plans are higher, the benefits of their longevity outweigh the price difference.

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Often, many financiers tell customers to “buy term and save the difference” – a common misconception about life insurance. The basic premise behind this idea is that permanent insurance is too expensive and shoppers should just buy term coverage and invest the difference in a savings account. This misconception appears sensible at first glance, but shoppers should consider three fallacies of this notion before doing anything: 1) The earnings on mon-

23

ies invested in a savings account are taxed. 2) Investing is risky. If the market declines, so do the value of investments. 3) Planning to invest money and actually investing money are very different things. In the game of life, plans don’t always work out the way they are expected to.

If you haven’t already done so, give your Alfa agent a call. Trust in the financial strength of Alfa Life and rest comfortably knowing that your loved ones are provided for.

www.AlfaFarmers.org

By Kellie Henderson

J

ulianne Hattaway of Montgomery County still recalls her first cooking experience at 4 or 5 years old.

“Mama was an artist, and I often played in her studio where a little flat-topped, pot-bellied coal stove provided ample warmth during wintry blasts,” she says. “Once, I heard a hen cackling, ran outside and returned with a large brown egg, which I decided to cook. I found a clean, empty tin can that made a fine boiler, a jar of what I thought was water and proceeded with my project. It was bubbling merrily along when Mama asked, ‘Where did you get the water?’ Just as I was replying, there was a thunderous explosion of egg and boiling liquid all over the studio, and Mama shrieked, ‘That’s kerosene!’ Miraculously, nobody was injured, and there was very little damage to the artwork and studio.”

Although Julianne’s cooking improved over the years, she says her favorite activities were those enjoyed outdoors with animals.

“At 13 or 14 I even managed to scrape together the money to buy me a cow of my own to show, and competing against all those other young people with several cows each, my one and only cow and I won enough to travel to an event in Chicago. It was such a fun experience,” she says.

Julianne says her parents loved agriculture as well, and the couple was brought together by their love for farming.

“Papa was a sharecropper from South Carolina who became a writer for Progressive Farmer, and Mama was the first ever art editor for Progressive Farmer. Before that, she sold them pictures and sketches from the time she was 15 or 16 years old,” Julianne said.

Julianne was born in Jefferson County, where her parents met and married while working for Progressive Farmer. The family later moved to

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Julianne and Lowell Hattaway at their Montgomery County home.

Elmore County and always maintained a small family farm.

Julianne moved to Montgomery County when she married her husband, Lowell. There, Julianne and Lowell raised three children, and the couple continues to raise cattle.

Julianne jokes about her 11 equines as being part of a sort of old-folks home for old horses with everything from fancy Arabians to spotted donkeys. As part of her life-long love of animals, Julianne says she is still thankful for her involvement in 4-H as a young person.

“The trip I took to Chicago as a teen was the result of 4-H, and of course it appealed to my love of critters. In the late ’40s and ’50s, girl 4-H Club members were required to record their food preparation and preservation projects and to participate in annual dress reviews. In the latter, I was a consistent and monumental failure, but I always enjoyed cooking,” said Julianne.

Despite her penchant for the 24

kitchen, Julianne describes her cooking as being primarily in the plain and quick “peas and cornbread” category. In addition to the responsibilities of caring for their animals, Julianne and Lowell still remain active in the Alabama Farmers Federation, leaving little time for complicated recipes. She serves as president of the Montgomery County Farmers Federation.

“With the help of many family members and friends, we have accumulated, appropriated, adapted and/ or invented recipes that reflect our values, budget, dietary requirements, tastes and time constraints. These are some of our frequently used recipes,” she said.

“My husband’s mother and her sister were premier cooks,” she added.

“They regularly served mouthwatering biscuits, often enhanced by zesty tomato gravy. This is my attempt at duplicating their groovy gravy recipe.”

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TOASTED PECANS

2 quarts pecan halves 1 teaspoon seasoned salt 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Melt margarine in glass bowl in microwave and mix in all seasoning, then pecans. Bake at 250 degrees for about 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

1-2-3-4 CAKE

1 cup shortening 2 cups sugar 3 cups self-rising flour, sifted 4 eggs (well beaten) 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream shortening and sugar; add eggs; mix vanilla in milk and alternate, adding small amounts of flour and milk and vanilla mixture, stirring until all ingredients are well blended. Beat on high speed for two minutes, and pour into greased pans, muffin rings or loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 33 minutes.

Note: This is a “basic” cake recipe — an excellent foundation for strawberry short cake. Or, a delicious “dump cake” can be made by halving the ingredients (l/2-1-1 ½ - 2 cake) and pouring batter over a can of strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, etc.

LT’S CAMP STEW

1 1/2 pounds barbecued pork 1 1/2 pounds cooked chicken 2 pounds potatoes 3 ounces Worcestershire sauce 8 ounces ketchup 1 (28-ounce) can of diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons margarine 1 pound onion, chopped 3 tablespoons Durkee’s Dressing 1 (15-ounce) can whole kernel corn 1 tablespoon lemon juice Water, chicken broth or both

Chop meat and vegetables.

Combine all ingredients — except meat and corn — in a large heavy boiler and cook until done. Add meat and corn and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Bring to a low boil, stirring constantly, then reduce heat to very low and simmer slowly for about 30 minutes. Makes about 3 1/2 quarts.

Note: Cook chicken the day before, remove skin and bones.

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Refrigerate broth overnight, skim off and discard fat, and use in cooking stew.

TOMATO GRAVY

5 tablespoons flour 4 tablespoons cooking oil 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Water (as needed) 1 (14-ounce) can of diced tomatoes

In a heavy skillet, brown flour in cooking oil and add seasoning and enough water to make a smooth gravy. Add tomatoes and blend in with potato masher.

Note: For spicier gravy, use 1/2 can of regular diced tomatoes and 1/2 can of spicy tomatoes, such as Rotel.

JOHN 6:12 CASSEROLE “LET NOTHING BE WASTED”

Leftover ham bone with meat 4 large potatoes, cooked and cubed 1 large onion 4 cups finely chopped bell pepper 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 tablespoon of Durkee’s Dressing 1/2 cup of cracker crumbs 1/4 cup shredded cheese

Boil hambone to remove pieces of lean meat and cut into small pieces.

Mix all ingredients — except cheese and cracker crumbs — and pour into a greased casserole dish. Top with cracker crumbs and shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Serves six.

LT’S PEANUT BRITTLE

2 cups sugar 3/4 cup corn syrup 1/4 cup water 3 cups raw peanuts 3 teaspoons baking soda Pinch of salt

First, butter a large cookie sheet.

Mix sugar, water, salt and corn syrup and bring to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan. Add peanuts and cook on high stirring constantly until peanuts begin to pop and mixture appears to start scorching; cook a little longer.

Add baking soda (mixture will puff up) and stir vigorously. Pour onto buttered cookie sheet. When cool, break into small pieces and store in airtight container.

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BROWN AND SERVE BISCUITS

4 cups self-rising flour 1/4 cup oat bran (optional) 1/4 cup olive or canola oil About 1 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk

Sift together dry ingredients; add oil and milk. For rolled and cut-out biscuits, a little less milk is required.

For “hand-squashed” biscuits, use a little more milk and moisten hands in water before sculpting them and placing them in a greased baking pan. Allow biscuits to rise while oven heats to 425 degrees. Bake about 10 minutes or until biscuits rise and become firm, but not brown; remove from oven.

Return the number of biscuits wanted to the preheated oven to brown, about 10-12 minutes more.

Recipe makes about 18 two-inch or 12 “cat head” biscuits. Freeze the remaining biscuits, and take out the desired number to bake and brown as needed.

Note: Julianne says this recipe is a good way to use milk that is near or just passed the expiration date.

BEEF STEW

1 medium onion 1 pound beef stew meat 5 medium carrots 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes 5 ribs of celery 1 medium bell pepper 5 medium potatoes 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce Water or beef broth Salt and pepper (to taste) 1 tablespoon cooking oil (or spray)

Dice vegetables, add salt and pepper, and simmer all vegetables except potatoes in a large, heavy boiler. Cut stew meat into bite-sized pieces, and sauté in cooking oil and Worcestershire sauce until brown.

When vegetables are almost done, add potatoes and stew meat and simmer 30 minutes or until done.

Serves six.

______________________________ Editor’s Note: Recipes published in the “Country Kitchen” are not kitchen-tested prior to publication. Look for more “Country Kitchen” recipes online at AlfaFarmers.org. www.AlfaFarmers.org

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By Darryal Ray

I

t was only a few minutes into show time when Cocoa, the Jersey cow, had an “accident” that drew a round of giggles from about 60 Walter Kennedy Elementary students.

“You’re going to have to excuse Cocoa because she IS farm-trained,” Amanda Griffith tells the kids attending a Farm Day event in Pell City.

“That means she goes wherever she wants, whenever she wants.”

It’s all in a day’s work for Alabama’s milk maiden — a petite, 27-year-old Auburn grad who travels all over Alabama and portions of northern Florida with an 800-pound dairy cow and 35-foot-long mobile milking parlor, commonly called the Mobile Dairy Classroom.

Her mission?

“Sell milk,” she answers without hesitation. “In a nutshell, that’s what I do. But I’m also trying to get these kids to take better care of their bodies and drink more milk, trying to push a little agriculture

on them and maybe even get them interested in becoming young farmers. But the main focus is to talk about nutrition and how milk can help their bodies grow.”

This free educational program of the Alabama Dairy Producers (a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation), in cooperation with Southwest Dairy Farmers and Lone Star Milk Producers, visits hundreds of schools, fairs, festivals, libraries, day care centers and other community events each year, reaching literally thousands with the message that milk … well, does a body good.

At least another dozen mobile classrooms serve other states that comprise the Southwest Dairy Farmers organization.

Since taking the job in October 2008, Griffith has logged more than ~51,000 miles, visited 127 schools, delivered 419 presentations to 60,000 people and milked 3,350 gallons of milk from five different cows.

Sometimes, she’s on the road seven days a week and often visits two schools in a day. In one month alone, she presented the demonstration to as many as 9,000 students.

“The Mobile Dairy Classroom is a great way to show how today’s farmers are dedicated to providing you with safe, high-quality milk and dairy products,” said Guy Hall, director of the Federation’s Dairy Division.

“It’s not only our goal to educate the consumer about the nutritional value of cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream and other dairy products, but also shed some light on how they get into the dairy case of their grocery store.”

Each visit features a live milking demonstration and an oral presentation by Griffith, who uses a flip chart to teach the characteristics and anatomy of dairy cows, the importance of dairy foods for good health, the modern milking process and

Kennedy Elementary students sit entranced as Griffith puts on her milking demonstration during a recent Farm Day event at Pell City High School. At right, she points out that the milk from Cocoa, her brown Jersey cow, is white — not chocolate.

F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

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modern environmental and food safety practices.

The demonstrations are adjusted to the appropriate age groups, although Griffith says the lack of agricultural knowledge is not confined to elementary-aged kids. More than one adult has asked — quite seriously, she says — the question, “Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?”

“I’ve actually had parents and teachers ask me that question,” she says. “One lady thought my cow laid eggs because I had a carton of eggs sitting down on the ledge out front. I’ve had several instances where I thought, ‘Man, alive! These people have no idea where their food comes from!’ You work with them the best you can and hope they learn something.”

A self-described “city girl” born and raised in Prattville, Griffith had never even pulled a trailer before. Still the prospect of towing one 35-feet long through heavy city traffic and narrow country lanes didn’t dissuade her.

She soon discovered, however, that Carson, a 1,700-pound Holstein, really wasn’t the best “fit” — literally — for the Mobile Dairy Classroom.

Neither was No. 82, which was about 200 pounds lighter.

“I love the breed but they just don’t fit very well in this trailer,” Griffith said of her recent Holstein traveling companions. “They can’t lie down in the back, and they actually have to stand at an angle in the trailer. And if you saw Carson Griffith introduces the star of the show. standing where she is to be milked, her head hangs out because she can’t fit in there.” it’s something different every day. … I decide everything. I Because of that, Griffith — who only stands 5-5 schedule, I get the cows — pretty much A to Z. It’s put in and weighs 120 with boots on — decided that she would make the switch from the largest dairy breed (Holstein) to my hands and I throw it together.”

Even the repetitiveness of the milk message doesn’t get the smallest (Jersey).

“I know that when these kids see me pull up, that’s what to her.

“Every day you try to do something different that you they expect to see — a black-and-white Holstein,” she didn’t do the day before. And every group is different so said. “But I think it’s better they see that there are different every group is going to react differently. You have to find types of cows. It’s not just the black-and-white.” out what clicks with them,” she said. “You never know how The cows, leased by Southwest Dairy Farmers, are much these kids will take in. Every school’s different. Some rotated out about every six months, not only because they have a strong agricultural background or the teachers make must calve each year but because life on the road is hard. sure they learn it. Some have no clue.”

“Yesterday, it was close to a 12-hour day because not Then, of course, there are some questions best left only did I go to three schools from almost 8 a.m. until 3 unanswered. p.m., but I also had to load the cow, take care of the cow “I had one girl who asked, ‘If cows make milk, what do before we got there and clean up everything afterwards,” she said. “Then, I still had all these phone calls and emails to bulls do?’” Griffith said with a smile. “I kind of passed that question by.” deal with and scheduling. So it’s not only the show aspect, but it’s all the paperwork, too — finances, receipts, copies of everything. I’m always behind. If I’m not doing something with the truck or trailer and keeping it well maintained or taking care of the cow, I’m trying to get in touch with ______________________________________________ everybody. There just aren’t enough hours in a day.”

Interested in having the Mobile Dairy Classroom at your school or The good days, however, far outweigh the bad. “Days event? Make your request online by visiting www.mobiledairy.com and like this Farm Day — those are gravy days,” she said. “It’s completing a request form, listing several date choices. You can also email just an easy-going way of life. To me, it’s a relaxing kind of agriffith@SouthwestDairyFarmers.com. job. I love the travel, meeting different people every day and www.AlfaFarmers.org

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F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

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Alfa Honors Two Top Teachers in Alabama

By Melissa Martin

A

lfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation honored two teachers in April and May with recognition and a check for $1,000 – both of which are characteristics of the company-sponsored Teacher of the Month program.

Shelly Herbert, an English and French teacher at Fruitdale High

www.AlfaFarmers.org

School, was named Alfa’s Teacher of the Month for April. Though standard lectures are included in her teaching style, Herbert notes that Fruitdale’s upperclassmen most look forward to being ‘transformed’ into seniors… senior citizens, that is.

“Teaching is not just about learn-

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ing what is in textbooks; it is also about learning how to survive after high school,” Herbert said.

To do this, Herbert asks students to think ahead to their 65th birthday and reflect back on their lives, noting things they would like to happen and those they would care to avoid. “By discussing real life situations . . . my students can see how important it is to think before they act.”

Hoover High School physics teacher Jeff Johnson was named Alfa’s Teacher of the Month for May. No stranger to recognition, Johnson also was recently named the Siemens National AP Teacher of the Year.

While this designation is a significant accomplishment among educators, Johnson isn’t using it to inflate anyone’s ego. Rather, he is accepting this designation on behalf of “the hard-working teachers who are in the trenches day-to-day.”

For Johnson, teaching is more than just a job; it’s his driving force – a distinguishing characteristic recognized by his students and revered by colleagues.

“Many teachers reach out to students, but Mr. Johnson has a unique ability to care about students in such a special way that they reach out to him. His caring manner and genuine interest in their success seems to ignite a spark that is sometimes not ‘fired’ by other teachers,” said Hoover High Assistant Principal Kathey Long.

During 2010, Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation are honoring one outstanding teacher from each of Alabama’s eight state board districts, two principals and two private school teachers.

Application information is available under Alfa Teacher of the Month in the Ag Links section of AlfaFarmers.org.

F R I E N D S & FA M I LY • S U M M E R 2 0 1 0

T

he Alabama Farmers Federation along with the American Farm Bureau Federation has joined with other agricultural groups in a unified call for permanent and meaningful estate tax relief for America’s farm and ranch families.

In a letter to Senate leaders, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), AFBF and 27 other organizations stated that inaction on fixing the looming estate tax challenge would be disastrous for agriculture.

“American agriculture is traditionally a family-owned enterprise, and estate taxes can take a severe toll on family members who wish to carry on the farm and ranch tradition,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “Portions of farm and ranch resources frequently have to be sold to pay for the resulting estate tax, and if something is not done soon, the bite of those taxes in 2011 will be even more severe.”

If Congress does not act beginning in 2011, the law will call for a $1 million exemption and top rate of 55 percent. The negative impact on farm and ranch families will be significant and will cause many viable agricultural operations to disappear. The increased tax rate also would have a profound effect on small business, said Alabama

Farmers Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan.

The Alabama Farmers Federation supports permanently raising the

exemption to no less than $5 million per person and reducing the top rate to no more than 35 percent, Pinyan said.

It is also imperative that the exemp-

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tion be indexed to inflation, provide for spousal transfers and include the stepped-up basis, he added.

“Family farmers and ranchers are not only the caretakers of our nation’s rural lands but they are small businesses too,” Pinyan said. “The 2011 change to the estate tax law does a disservice to agriculture because we are a land-based capital-intensive industry with few options for paying estate taxes when they come due. The current state of our economy, coupled with the uncertain nature of estate tax liabilities make it difficult for familyowned farms and ranches to make sound business decisions.”

The Federation is urging Congress to immediately pass permanent estate tax reform, which will provide the greatest relief and certainty for agriculture and helps strengthen the business climate for family farmers, ranchers and small businesses while ensuring businesses and family land are passed to future generations.

Other organizations that support permanent estate tax reform include

www.AlfaFarmers.org

American Farmland Trust; American Mushroom Institute; American Sheep Industry Association; American Soybean Association; American Sugar Alliance; Farm Credit Council; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; National Corn Growers Association; National Cotton Council; National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; National Farmers Union; National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry; National Milk

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Producer Federation; National Pork Producers Council; National Potato Council; National Turkey Federation; Northwest Dairy Association; Public Lands Council; Southeast Dairy Farmers Association; Southeast Milk Inc.; United Egg Producers; United Fresh Produce Association; United Producers; U.S. Apple Association; U.S.A. Rice Federation; Western Growers Association; and Western United Dairymen.

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