June, 2011 Neighbors

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Neighbors A Publication of the Alabama Farmers Federation

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 6

JUNE 2011

Cooking For The First Family When chef Jim Smith prepares a meal for Alabama’s First Family, he prefers the freshest ingredients, and of course those come from Alabama farmers. • 16

After The Storm

What has been described as the worst storm in decades brought out the best in the state as Alabamians pitched in to help rebuild their communities. • 5

Winning Videos

ON THE COVER Cullman County Farmers Federation President Kenneth Neal, left, stands at what was once his back door with Area Organization Director Matthew Durdin.

— Photo by Debra Davis

NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Alfa Insurance announced the winners of its online video contest aimed at decreasing distracted driving and saving lives. • 14

Farm Of Distinction

A diversified farm owned by Andy and Dawn Wendland of Autauga County has been named the state’s 2011 Farm of Distinction and will represent the state in the Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest later this year. • 22 3

DEPARTMENTS 4

President’s Message

18

Country Kitchen

23

Member Benefits

25

Federation Digest

26

Alabama Gardener

30

Classifieds

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President’s Message I

n the weeks since deadly tornadoes gashed the Alabama landscape, we have witnessed generosity, compassion and resilience that are truly inspirational.

Moments after the storms passed, neighbors rallied together to mourn the lost, help the hurting and to pick up the pieces. Farmers used chainsaws, tractors and trucks Jerry Newby to clear debris.

Churches provided food, water and clothing to victims and volunteers. And thousands of people from across the country sent prayers, money and supplies to those in need.

At the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance we began our disaster response by praying for healing and guidance. Thankfully, Alfa’s catastrophe planning, financial strength and extensive network of local offices allowed us to respond quickly and compassionately.

Our agents and customer service representatives—along with the Alfa call center and Web site—were able to begin taking claims immediately, and our claims adjusters were among the first to see policyholders in the hardest hit areas. We also mobilized our entire claims force and deployed two Mobile Response Units to provide additional support for local offices.

Although about one-third of the state was without power, our 249 Alfa service centers were open for business. Only the McFarland Boulevard office in Tuscaloosa was closed the weekend following the storms, and it was back online the following Monday.

Alfa has always received high marks from customers for its handling of claims, and we are determined to be there for our policy-

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holders when they need us most.

Although it will take time to process all claims, Alfa is committed to utilizing every resource available to help policyholders recover as quickly as possible. We prioritized claims to help those with the most urgent needs first, and we were able to begin issuing checks as soon as adjusters were allowed into the impacted areas.

Meanwhile, the Alabama Farmers Federation is working with state and federal officials to speed disaster assistance to farmers who suffered tornado losses.

Across the state more than 200 poultry houses were destroyed and another 500 were damaged. In addition, hundreds of acres of timber were flattened, miles of fencing were destroyed and tons of debris were scattered in farmers’ fields.

We appreciate the quick response to this disaster by the governor, commissioner of agriculture and Alabama’s congressional delegation, and we will continue to work with them to get farmers the help they need.

We also appreciate the kindness and generosity shown by Farmers Federation members throughout Alabama as well as Farm Bureaus in other states. Our members have donated thousands of dollars and truckloads of supplies to help those impacted by these storms. They’ve also given countless hours of their time to cut trees, cook meals and haul debris.

The tornadoes that ravaged our state April 27 left physical and emotional scars that won’t quickly fade. But the worst storms in our history brought out the best in our members, our organization and our company.

As we continue to rebuild, our prayers are with the families who lost loved ones and those whose lives were forever changed by these terrible storms. n 4

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 6

________________________________________ Darryal Ray, Editor Debra Davis, Associate Editor Mike Moody, Graphic Designer 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 Ted Grantland, Somerville Donnie Garrett, Centre Darrel Haynes, Cullman John E. Walker III, Berry Marshall Prickett, Wellington Richard Edgar, Deatsville Dickie Odom, Boligee Garry Henry, Hope Hull Carl Sanders, Brundidge David Bitto, Elberta Sammy Williams, Columbia Debbie Freeland, Grand Bay Ben Haynes, Cullman Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 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 the U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001.

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Wendy McFarland, McFarland AdVantage, 133 Bridlewood Lane, Hope Hull, AL 36043. Phone: (334) 652-9080. Email: mcfarlandadvantage@gmail.com. Classified ad and editorial inquiries should be directed to the editor at (334) 613-4410.

ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: Ad­vertise­­­­­­­ ments contained in Neighbors 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 change of address correspondence to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001. www.AlfaFarmers.org A member of American Farm Bureau Federation NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

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he worst storm to hit Alabama in recent history brought out the best in the people who live here, according to Jerry Newby, president of Alfa and the Alabama Farmers Federation.

By Debra Davis

Officials believe 328 people were killed across seven states by the band of tornadoes, labeling it the deadliest twister outbreak since the Great Depression. According to the latest count by the National Weather Service, 35 tornadoes hit Alabama on April 27, where the death toll topped 230. Many people were still missing at press time.

A destroyed home in Hackleburg.

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Stories of survival and sadness filled newspapers, TV and radio accounts of the storm. Newby said despite the widespread damage, farmers showed why they are the backbone of rural Alabama.

“As soon as the storms were over and our Federation leaders knew their families were safe, they began helping their neighbors and making sure their farm animals were safe,” Newby said.

Federation members from throughout Alabama, as well as Farm Bureau members from other states, brought equipment and helped clear debris, build fences and cook food.

Cullman County Federation President Kenneth Neal, whose home was completely destroyed around him by a tornado, immediately began trying to help others despite facing personal loss.

Neal, who lives near the Trimble Community in western Cullman County, huddled beneath the stairwell in his basement as the storm flattened his home on top of him.

“The floor of the house fell through the basement, and I happened to be in the only spot that I could have possibly survived in,” said Neal, who was still shaken a week after the event. “I am here to tell anyone who will listen: There is a God and there are guardian angels.

My guardian angel was definitely watching over me and protecting me that day.

“Even with all of this around me, I didn’t have a scratch or a bruise,” said the 77-year-old Neal.

The former poultry farmer had two vacant chicken houses used for storage behind his home that were flattened. His 2,000 square-foot brick home was a pile of rubble.

Days passed before he began clearing the debris that

was once his home.

“I just can’t get started on it right now,” he said a week after the storm. “I can’t explain it, but all this is just worldly things. They aren’t what’s important to me.

I can make another life, and I plan to since the Good Lord saw fit to spare me. The most important thing right now is to see that my cattle are cared for.”

Neal said his cattle were more traumatized than he was.

“There were a few that were hurt, but they will recover,” he said. “We had fences down all over the place, and I’ve still got cows that are missing. But we’re rounding them up and moving them to pastures where the fences are still standing. We’ve already started repairing the fences, and we’ll get things back right eventually. I’m just happy to be here to help get it done.”

Marshall County Farmers Federation Board Member Dan Smalley who lives near Guntersville, operates one of the largest poultry farms in the state. Ten of his 15 houses were damaged. Following the storm, dozens of day-old chicks still dazed from the storm scurried among the scraps of tin that littered his farm.

“Once I knew my family was okay, I tried to get to the farm,” Smalley said, recalling the early morning storm. “The roads were blocked, the phones wouldn’t work, and I was afraid that my workers were injured or worse. When I was finally able to get here, I was relieved to find out all of my employees were safe.”

Twisters that roared through Jackson and DeKalb counties on April 27 have forever changed the landscape there, as well as the minds of residents like Jackson County Federation Board Member Mack Hughes.

Hughes and his wife, Rebecca, live in a double-wide modular home in the Pea Ridge Community just across the DeKalb County line. They were at the home of his parents, Frank and At left, members of the Alabama National Guard were mobilizied to provide assistance to storm-ravaged areas; below, Marshall County poultry farmer Dan Smalley sustained damage to his farm.

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N NE E II G GH HB BO OR RS S • • JJ U UN NE E 2 20 01 11 1

At right, Marion County Farmers Federation Board Member Warren Williford and Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan in front of Williford’s destroyed business in Hackleburg; above, Afla Adjuster Lee Lowery discusses a claim with Tuscaloosa policyholder Willie H. Beall; and top, officials clear the streets of a Cullman neighborhood.

outrun the tornado. He could actually see the debris flying off the road behind him. He got in the basement with us and stayed there until the storm ended.”

The stranger, who Williford knew only as Mr. Williams, left Mississippi earlier in the day and was headed to Huntsville to carry a generator to his brother, who had lost power in a storm earlier that day.

“The day after the storm, Mr. Williams showed back up with his wife and daughter,” Williford said. “He wanted them to meet me and my family. He said he wanted them to see the people who had saved his life.”

Stories of survivors continue to surface as the town combs through the rubble. Williford said five days after the storm, recovery workers found a young child, still strapped in a car seat, alive inside an overturned car just off U.S. Highway 43. There was no one else in the car, but the child lived, he said.

With only 1,500 residents, it’s hard to find anyone in Hackleburg who wasn’t affected. Entire neighborhoods were flattened; the school was heavily damaged, and the downtown area was in shambles.

Williford owns Wiginton Paper Products, which was destroyed in the storm. But even as he sifted through the rubble days after the storm, he was counting his blessings.

“My family was spared and I have a place to go home to,” he said. “There are people here who have nothing left. They’ve lost loved ones, their home and their business. But the people of Hackleburg are strong. I think our town will come back and will be stronger than ever.” n

Alta Hughes, helping clear debris from an earlier storm when a tornado came through late that afternoon.

“We all got in the storm pit at Mama and Daddy’s when it came through that afternoon about 6:30,” Hughes said. “Their house wasn’t damaged, but there were lots of fences down all over the place.”

But the young couple’s home, only 10 miles away, was completely destroyed. They were able to salvage only a few small mementoes from the debris.

“We’re just thankful to be alive,” Hughes said.

In northwest Alabama, the tiny town of Hackleburg was torn apart by an EF5 tornado, packing winds in excess of 200 miles per hour. Marion County Board Member Warren Williford remembers huddling with his family in the basement of his daughter’s and son-inlaw’s home a few miles from downtown Hackleburg.

“When it was over and we drove into town it was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Williford said, still tearful as he recalled the events from the previous week. “There is so much destruction; so much loss.”

Williford and his family are credited with saving the life of a Mississippi motorist who found himself suddenly in the path of the killer tornado. Driving toward Hackleburg on U.S. Highway 43, the motorist saw the tornado approaching in his rearview mirror.

“This fella came speeding up to our house and asked to take shelter with us,” Williford recalled. “He was a total stranger to us, but he said he knew he couldn’t N NE E II G GH HB BO OR RS S •• JJ U UN NE E 2 20 01 11 1

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Alfa Responds Quickly To Storm Stricken Areas

By Jeff Helms and Debra Davis

“We are committed to using every available resource to help our policyholders recover from these lfa Insurance mobilized claims adjusters, deployed storms,” Johnson said.

Alfa Adjuster Lee Lowery who lives in Tuscaloosa mobile response units and extended office hours was among the first dispatched to hard hit area of his to better serve policyholders impacted by the deadly tornadoes that roared through Alabama on April county. The day following the storm, he visited 84-year old Willie H. Beall who has been an Alfa policyholder 27. for decades.

Alfa President Jerry Newby said the company’s “When the storm came through we were in the disaster planning and network of local service centers bathroom in the center of the house,” Beall said. “I allowed Alfa to respond quickly to claims. could hear the shingles “Alfa is prepared to tearing away from the deliver on our company’s roof and things pounding promise to be there when against the house. It was our policyholders need so scary.” us most,” Newby said.

But after the storm, “Our dedicated employalthough still shaky, she ees, strong financial base said she was comforted and advance planning to know Alfa would be make Alfa uniquely prethere to help. pared to respond quickly “Alfa has always and compassionately.” been good to me,” she The morning after said. “They’ve always twisters gashed the come through real good Alabama landscape, Alfa and quick for me, and I began sending additional appreciate them.” adjusters into the hardest Lowery said helping hit areas. By Saturday, policyholders like Mrs. more than 100 adjustBeall keeps him going. ers were in the storm“My house wasn’t ravaged towns, working damaged but the amount alongside hundreds of of damage in Tuscaagents, CSRs and district loosa was unbelievable,” office employees.

Lowery said. “When you The company also interact with the policydeployed its two 38-foot holders, I feel a connecMobile Response Units tion with them because and sent gasoline, genit’s my hometown. It’s erators and other supreally a sense of satisfacplies to service centers tion, knowing you are in north Alabama. To able to help people who expedite claims, CSRs in Alfa employees deliver a check to a Tuscaloosa homeowner are dealing with this offices that lost comdestruction on a firstputer connection to the Sunday whose home was destroyed in the April 27 tornado outbreak. From left are Senior Vice President of Claims Jerry hand basis.” home office developed Alfa used advertising a “buddy system” with Johnson, Assistant to the President Al Scott, Dalton “Buddy” Gaddis and Claims Adjuster Terry Barnes. on television; radio, billcoworkers in south Alaboards and aerial banners bama, who took claims information over the phone and entered it into the sys- as well as in newspapers to make sure policyholders knew how to file a claim. Within a week of the storm, tem. At the home office, Alfa’s call center and website the company already had received more than 15,000 allowed policyholders to file claims 24 hours a day. claims.

Alfa Senior Vice President of Claims Jerry Johnson To report a claim, contact a local Alfa service censaid the company is prioritizing claims to serve the ter, call 1-800-964-2532 or visit the website AlfaInsurmost urgent needs first and has implemented its catasance.com. n trophe plan to ensure claims are handled as quickly as possible.

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NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Ag Leaders Meet With USDA Secretary Following Tornadoes

By Jeff Helms

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s Alabama began to dig out from deadly tornadoes that ripped through the Southeast, the state’s agricultural leaders met with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about programs to help farmers whose lives and livelihoods were impacted by the storms.

Vilsack joined Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills on a tour of tornadoravaged Pratt City near Birmingham.

The former Iowa governor outlined a number of programs that are available to assist farmers with debris removal, fence repair and livestock and crop losses. He also advised state officials about the procedures they must follow to qualify for federal aid.

“Right now, I want to make sure I get the folks here connected — to make sure we get things done,” Vilsack said.

Alabama Farmers Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan gave the USDA chief an overview of the agricultural damage in Alabama. In addition to hundreds of poultry houses that were destroyed or damaged by tornadoes, farmers also have been impacted by miles of downed fence, thousands of acres of flattened forest, and tons of debris that littered their fields. Farmers in north Alabama also have burned hundreds of gallons of fuel to keep generators running during the prolonged power outage.

“This is going to be a time when our faith, ingenuity and resolve are going to be tested,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan. “It’s going to take a whole lot of resolve and dedication to get through this.”

Within hours of the storms, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries activated the Emergency Operations Center

NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Alabama agricultural leaders meet with state and federal officials in Pratt City following the April 27 tornado outbreak to discuss federal assistance for farmers.

From left are Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture John McMillan, State Sen. Linda Coleman, Alabama Farmers Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan, USDA Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Daniel Robinson, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Billy Powell.

(EOC), located in the basement of the Department’s headquarters in Montgomery.

Preliminary damage reports indicate that poultry losses were in the millions with more than 200 poultry houses destroyed and another 514 damaged. The Department said 70 cows and 30 horses had been reported dead.

Vilsack noted that producers who’ve suffered poultry and livestock losses may be eligible for assistance through the Livestock Indemnity Program. In addition, the Emergency Conservation Program provides cost-share assistance for fence repair and debris removal; and some losses may be covered by crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Farmers may be eligible for emergency loans through USDA, and Vilsack said a secretarial disaster declaration will trigger the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE).

Members of Alabama’s congressional delegation have pledged to do everything possible to help both urban and rural residents. On hand 9

for Vilsack’s visit were U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and U.S. Reps.

Spencer Bachus, R-Birmingham, and Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham.

“There are a wide variety of programs that can be beneficial to people who have suffered loss. Our staff will be facilitating in that, and making sure every agency is doing its part and not dropping the ball,” said Sessions, who described the devastation as the most vicious he’s ever seen.

Alabama agricultural leaders who met with Vilsack are working to assess farm losses, draft funding requests and identify other sources of assistance. Meanwhile, Vilsack pledged that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would work with Alabama farmers to recover from these storms.

“The people of Alabama will arise from this rubble stronger and better prepared for the future, and we will be there with them at USDA,” he said.

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Alabama Soybean Producers Help Sponsor ‘Time Well Spent’

By Debra Davis

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he Alabama Soybean Producers, a division of Alabama Farmers Federation, is partnering with the Alabama Farmers Cooperative by sponsoring a portion of AFC’s weekly television show Time Well Spent, hosted by Jim Allen and Grace Smith.

The many uses of soybeans will be highlighted during the Soybean Producers’ segment of the show, and is being paid for with producer checkoff funds. The shows are filmed and produced by Federation Broadcast Relations Director Kevin Worthington.

Time Well Spent is broadcast on RFD-TV each Friday at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. In addition to promoting the many uses of soybeans, the show will feature segments on Alabama producers who last year grew soybeans on 350,000 acres in the state.

Soybean Producers Chairman Jeff Webster of Madison County said he is excited about the exposure the show will provide.

“This is a good way to get the message out about how the soybeans produced in our state contribute to the overall farm economy,”

Webster said. “High-protein soybeans provide the basis of the diet for our state’s poultry, pork, beef and aquaculture industries. It is one of the most versatile crops we grow in Alabama.”

Federation Soybean Division Director Steve Guy said the television show is part of an overall promotion plan to increase awareness of how important soybeans are to the U.S. economy. The United Soybean Board, funded by producers’ checkoff dollars, has launched a national campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the many uses of soybeans.

“The stories featured on Time Well Spent will complement the printed advertising the Alabama Soybean Producers initiated this year,” Guy said. “Consumers are amazed at the versatility of soybeans and at just how many items contain ingredients made from soybeans.” n

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NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Politics, Fashion Featured At Women’s Leadership Conference

By Debra Davis

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ore than 200 female farm leaders attended the annual Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Conference in Birmingham April 10-11. The conference included workshops and discussions on fashion, politics and farming.

“The ladies learned about agricultural issues, legislative issues and Alabama products,” said Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood. “They also enjoyed the self-improvement seminars that were offered.”

Much of the chatter following the programs focused on the workshop presented by Betty Wolanyk of Ag Literacy Works entitled, “Are You Smarter than an Activist?”

During her session, Wolanyk explained how many national organizations portrayed as animal rights activists actually are aimed at ending animal agriculture.

State Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Debbie Freeland of Mobile County said she particularly enjoyed Wolanyk’s talk. She and her husband, Calvin, operate a diversified farm in Grand Bay that includes beef cattle.

“I was surprised at how these agencies are connected and how they work together to get out their message that isn’t necessarily based on the truth,” Freeland said. “It was good information for all of us to take back to our counties and share. These types of movements are out there, and they are growing.

They could eventually wipe out the family farm, and we need to make sure people understand what their real motives are.”

Another popular speaker at the conference was Shari Braendel, an inspirational speaker and fashion expert who gave numerous examples of “what not to wear” while at the same time dispensing motivating examples of living a happier life.

NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

At left, Brian Hardin, assistant director for the Federation’s Department of Governmental and Agricultural Programs, discusses the Legislative Action Center on the Alfa Farmers’ Web site with Karen Wyatt of Shelby County, seated, and Lydia Haynes of Cullman County. Above, participants receive advice on stage from Shari Braendel, an inspirational speaker and fashion expert.

Conference participants also learned about homegrown goodness in their grocery stores during a “Buy Alabama’s Best” workshop conducted by Virginia Whitfield of Whitfield Foods and Alaga Syrup and Lauren Cole of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

Brian Hardin, the assistant director of the Federation’s Department of Governmental and Agricultural Programs, addressed the ladies at the conference and 11

thanked them for their support on legislative issues.

“We rely on the Women’s Committees in the counties throughout our state to help get our message out and to advance our legislative agenda,” Hardin said. “They host meetings, write letters and contact legislators when we have an important issue come up. They are an important part of our success.”

The Women’s Leadership Conference luncheon on April 11 was held in conjunction with the Alabama Farm-City Awards program that included recognition of Alabama’s Farm of Distinction and winners of the state poster and essay contests. n w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Commodity Conference Welcomes Young Farmers This Year

By Melissa Martin

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esigned to help farmers improve the profitability of their own operations, the 39th annual Commodity Producers Conference Aug. 4-6 will extend its Rocket City tour and educational opportunities to a new group this year – Alabama’s Young Farmers.

“With our last conference in this area occurring in 2006, we are excited about being back in the Huntsville area,” said Jimmy Carlisle, director of the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Department of Governmental and Agricultural Programs. “We are especially excited to have the Young Farmers join our conference this year.”

In an effort to engage, educate and entertain more than 700 farmers from across the state, combining the Young Farmers Summer Conference and Commodity Producers Conference will yield an abundance of new ideas, experience and wisdom spanning several generations. While part of their collaboration will occur during Friday’s tours and educational sessions, some will happen during Saturday’s competition and entertainment-filled schedule.

During Saturday’s general session, Jolene Brown, founder of BusinessFirst Family Institute, will speak to the Commodity Producers and Young Farmers groups about running businesses with family. A grain farmer from Iowa, Brown is touted for bringing humor, hope and helpful ideas to the people of agriculture.

“Jolene Brown knows the unique challenges facing parents, siblings, in-laws and ‘outlaws’ who work together – or are trying to,” said Carlisle. “She will share her experiences through her fun-filled humor and real-life stories on how those in agriculture can increase productivity, profitability and peace of mind.”

A staple of the Young Farmers Summer Conference, the Discussion

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Meet and Excellence in Agriculture programs are scheduled for Saturday, with preliminaries set for that morning. The Discussion Meet combines public speaking, problem-solving and consensus-building abilities in a committee-style setting. Contestants are given a discussion topic based on issues affecting agriculture, then engage one another in a discussion that identifies the problem, uncovers solutions and develops an action plan. The Excellence in Agriculture program is designed for young agricultural professionals employed off the farm. Each contestant prepares and presents an illustrated talk about how their work and civic activities strengthen agriculture. Discussion Meet and Excellence in Ag winners will be announced during Saturday’s closing banquet.

Saturday’s closing banquet will also feature a performance by comedian Mickey Dean, sponsored by Alfa Dental, Alfa Health, Swisher International and Sunbelt Ag Expo.

To kick off the tours, attendees will board buses Friday morning in the North Hall parking lot of Huntsville’s Von Braun Center and take their choice of five excursions to various agricultural points of interest.

Participants of the Green Tour will be responsible for their own transportation.

The Yellow Tour will feature stops at cattle, hay and horse farms in Madison County, Alabama, as well as Lincoln, Franklin and Giles counties in Tennessee. Tour participants will visit a commercial cattle farm that feeds distillers’ grains from the Jack Daniels Distillery, a world-class Walking Horse farm, a diversified forage grower who harvests his own seed, and a purebred cattle farm that raises and sells Angus and Limousin genetics across the United States.

The Orange Tour will visit an irrigated and dry land row crop operation, a farm that has turned tourism into a cash crop, and a bee and honey

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farm. Lunch will be served as part of a tour at Tate Farms in Meridianville, where both traditional row cropping and opening the farm for tourism are paying dividends. The final stop will be with Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby and the partners of Newby Farms.

The Red Tour will travel from Huntsville to the Loyd Brothers’ 3,000-acre farm in Stevenson, where members will see how they handle produce. The Red Tour will then travel to Thornhill Farm in Rosalie, where they will explore a Christmas tree farm. Lunch will be served at Thornhill Farm’s Tree House. After lunch, the Red Tour will travel to its last stop, Crow Mountain Apple Orchard in Fackler, where fruit will be available for purchase.

The Blue Tour will visit Lake Guntersville State Park along the banks of the Tennessee River, which showcases the natural beauty of the Guntersville Reservoir from Taylor Mountain to the 6,000 acres of natural woodlands. The next stop on the tour is the Lee Energy Solutions facility in Crossville. The Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center, part of Auburn University’s Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, develops farm management practices and will serve as the final stop.

The Green Tour will attend a field day at the Tennessee Valley Research & Extension Center in Belle Mina, with the focus on new technologies for crop production and research plots. Following lunch, there will be a series of educational programs covering weed control, nitrogen management for corn, precision ag basics, advances in irrigation technologies, variable rate applications of fertilizer and lime, poultry litter applications, nematode control and other production-related topics. n

____________________________________ For more information, contact Carla Hornady at CHornady@alfafarmers.org or call (334) 613-4735.

NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Winners Announced In The Alfa™ DRV NOW TXT L8R Online Video Contest S

of Davis engaged in a variety of outrageous activities while behind the wheel. His comical flashback is interrupted by a minor accident immediately after he asks his friend, “What’s the worst that could happen?”

As the first-place winner, Davis received an iPad®2 and $1,500 from Alfa. Enterprise High School also received a $1,500 cash award.

Davis’ video was selected from among more than 150 entries that were submitted between Jan. 1 and March 31. The winning videos, along with educational information about texting and driving, are available at www.AlfaDriveSmart.com. Partnering with Alfa to promote the contest were the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Independent School Association.

“At Alfa, we recognize that distracted driving is a growing concern,” said Alfa President Jerry Newby.

“Research has shown that our policyholders and members support efforts to curb cell phone-related accidents. Based on their comments, we decided to launch the Alfa Drive Smart campaign and the DRV NOW, TXT L8R video contest.

“Knowing how important this safety issue is, we called our friends, State Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton and AISA Executive Director Don Oswald, and they eagerly agreed to help promote the contest,” Newby added. “By working with the schools, we were able to give high school students across the state an opportunity to showcase their creativity while communicating important

tudents from Coffee and Jefferson counties were awarded cash and prizes May 3 as the winners of the Alfa Insurance® DRV NOW, TXT L8RTM video contest.

Hal Davis of Enterprise High School took top honors in the competition, which encouraged high school students to produce videos that educate their peers and adults about the dangers of texting and driving. Jordan Dewitt and Conlan McGuff of McAdory High School in McCalla placed second; and Jonathan Ashworth, Daniel Tuggle and John Caraway of Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham placed third.

“I felt that if the goal was to grab the attention of youth, that a dramatic and serious commercial would not be as effective as a somewhat humorous video — even though it is a very serious subject,” said Davis.

The Enterprise senior’s video features Davis dismissing a friend’s warning to stop texting and driving, noting that “this isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever done while driving.” The statement is followed by scenes

Hal Davis of Enterprise High School took top honors in the competition, which encouraged high school students to produce videos that educate their peers and adults about the dangers of texting and driving. From left are Herman Watts, Alfa executive vice president of Marketing; Davis; and Carol Golsan, senior vice president of Marketing Services.

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Alfa, said the video contest showcased the talent of Alabama students.

“The creativity and production value of the videos is impressive. It is obvious that students not only have embraced new technology, but they also understand its potential for advocacy and marketing,” Helms said. “Some of the videos will stir your emotions, while others will tickle your funny bone. We are pleased that so many students took the time to contemplate the dangers of texting and driving and share their creative messages with friends and family.

Since all of the entries are posted to Second place in the contest went to students from YouTube, we hope other students and McAdory High School in McCalla. From left are adults will view the videos and share McAdory video production class sponsor Anthony them with friends through Facebook Cooper, Alfa Executive Vice President of Marketing Herman Watts, students Jordan Dewitt and Conlan and Twitter. If this program helps save information one life, it will be a success.” about texting and McGuff and Senior Vice President of Marketing Services Carol Golsan.

According to the National Highdriving.” way Traffic Safety Administration, As the second20 percent of crashes that cause injury involve some place winner, Dewitt and McGuff received an iPod® sort of distracted driving. The Insurance Institute for touch and $1,000. McAdory High School also received a $1,000 cash award. The students’ video uses multiple Highway Safety reports that drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes sericamera angles and quick edits to dramatically tell ous enough to injure themselves. And, the University the story of a little girl innocently jumping rope in a of Utah found that using a cell phone while driving, driveway when a driver, who veers off the road while whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s texting, strikes her. The 40-second video is a stark reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentrareminder of the consequences of distracted driving. tion at the legal limit of .08 percent.

The team from Oak Mountain High School For more information about the dangers of texting received an iPod® nano and $750 for third place. The school also received a $750 cash award. In the video by and driving and to view the winning videos from the DRV NOW, TXT L8R contest, visit the trio of Ashworth, Tuggle and Caraway, a teenage www.AlfaDriveSmart.com. boy receives a text message while driving and reaches With more than a million policies in force, Alfa for his phone. The scene is followed by a flashback in and its affiliates provide insurance and other financial which the main character rescues his younger brother services in 12 states. Visit www.AlfaInsurance.com or from a distracted driver. As the flashback ends, the call 1-800-964-2532. n video shows the boy pulling his older brother’s hand away from the phone, potentially reversing the roles of savior and victim. Suspenseful music and the use of both color and blackand-white photography add to the drama of the video.

Alfa plans to distribute the winning entries to driver education classrooms throughout the state and to television stations as public service announcements.

Jeff Helms, director of public relations and communications with Students from Oak Mountain High School placed third in the contest. From left are John Caraway, Executive Vice President of Marketing Herman Watts, Daniel Tuggle, Jonathan Ashworth and their teacher Kathy Leaver.

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By Debra Davis

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hen chef Jim Smith plans a meal for Gov. Robert Bentley and First Lady Dianne Bentley, he’s like an artist who takes color to canvas to create a masterpiece. Using the copious variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and locally grown meats available in Alabama, he treats each meal for Alabama’s first family as a oneof-a-kind work of art.

Although Mrs. Bentley said she was responsible for preparing the meals for her family before her husband was elected governor, she said when she moved to Montgomery she knew her time would be limited for cooking. Mrs. Bentley said Jim cooks many of their favorite foods, but makes them different by preparing them in new ways.

“I worked hard as a culinary professional for years, and it was a big move to leave the restaurant business,” said Smith, 33. He first

met the Bentleys through his wife, Angi, who worked as Gov. Bentley’s campaign manager.

Mrs. Bentley first asked Smith for advice of what she could expect regarding meals and entertainment at the mansion. From there, their relationship grew and he eventually applied for and was hired as chef after going through an extensive interview process.

But Smith’s career really began when he was still a teenager in Troy, Ala. “I started working in a restaurant when I was 15 because I thought it would be a lot of fun.

When I decided to make it my career, I made up my mind that I would go into the nicest restaurant I could find and try to get a job there.”

That first job was as a bus boy at Bottega, an upscale Italian restaurant in Birmingham. Before long, he moved up in the business to waiter and bartender.

“That gave me a passion for

food and steered me into the kitchen,” he said. “I worked there four-and-a-half years, and I learned something new every day.”

After his experience at Bottega, he went to culinary school and later worked at Dyron’s Lowcountry in Mountain Brook.

“Each job I had helped make me a better chef,” he said. “I can look at every aspect of the meal from taking the order, cooking it, serving it and cleaning up the dishes.”

So the Bentleys’ invitation to serve as chef of the governor’s mansion combined just the right ingredients for Smith to leave the restaurant business.

“My job is mostly Monday through Friday, depending on the governor’s schedule,” Smith said.

“I usually prepare lunch for eight to 10 people every day. That includes the governor, first lady and the staff here. I also take care of meals or food for parties or receptions Alabama Farmers Federation Horticulture Division Director Mac Higgingbotham, left, recently accompanied Chef Jim Smith to Oakview Farms in Elmore County to purchase fresh hydroponic lettuce from farm owner Joe Lambrecht.

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held here at the mansion. That can range from hors d’oeuvres to a seated meal for 30 people.”

Mrs. Bentley usually leaves the menu up to Smith, he said, but if she requests something special he’s happy to oblige.

“The Bentleys love shrimp – and we serve Gulf shrimp,” he said. “And we buy as much of the fruits and vegetables as we can from local farmers.”

His pantry also includes items such as fresh ground corn meal and flour from local granaries.

Smith said he tries to get to know the local farmers and fishermen who grew or caught the food he is preparing.

“Fresh ingredients are so important when you’re preparing any meal,” he said. “Having good ingredients can help you overcome a lot, even when your skill level is a challenge. And when people ask me the secret to being a good cook, I tell them not to be afraid of trying something new.”

Making something new is

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one of the things that Smith is good at. Since he began his job as mansion chef in January, he hasn’t prepared the same meal twice.

“I have developed a lot of my own recipes over the years,” he said. “When I look at….say a rack of lamb, I may look at dozens of recipes and see what all they have in common. Then I might take a little from each of them to make my own recipe.”

As for the first family’s favorite dish, Smith said he’s not sure.

“Sometimes the governor will say to me, ‘Jim, this is Sarah Crosby, who has worked at the mansion for 17 years, assists Smith in the the best thing you’ve ever made,’” Smith said. “I know kitchen. they love shrimp, so I do spoon, glass and serving piece is in prepare a lot of dishes using this place,” Smith said motioning Gulf shrimp. The Bentleys are around the large kitchen. “And some of the nicest, most caring she is a wonderful server and is so and thoughtful people you could hospitable. She makes everyone ever work for.” feel right at home here.”

A special ingredient Smith has So what does a top chef do for most every dish prepared at the when he’s not cooking meals for governor’s mansion is the “spice” added by his assistant, Sarah Cros- dignitaries?

“I enjoy eating out and going by, who has worked at the manto different restaurants,” he said. sion for 17 years. She began her “I like to see what other chefs do career there with former Gov. Fob and to try different things. At least James, worked through the term of former Gov. Don Siegelman and two times a week, I try to cook two years for former Gov. for my wife. She deserves it and I especially love cooking for Bob Riley. her.” n “She knows where every dish, fork,

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Country Kitchen

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hef Jim Smith shares some of his favorite recipes he prepares for the first family in this month’s Country Kitchen. For additional recipes and a list of local farms where he purchases fresh ingredients, visit AlfaFarmers.org and click on Country Kitchen under the News & Events link.

PAN SEARED GULF RED SNAPPER WITH OAKVIEW FARMS GRANARY CORN GRITS AND ALABAMA VEGETABLE RATATOUILLE salt leach out the bitterness (20-30 minutes). Wipe off excess salt with paper towel before adding to ratatouille. Peel the tomatoes. (Cut an X in the top of each tomato and remove the core. Place into boiling salted water for 15-30 seconds until skin loosens then plunge into an ice bath. The skin should easily pull away from the flesh.) Cut each tomato into quarters and remove the seeds. Dice into 1/4-inch pieces. Dice the pepper, onion and zucchini into 1/4-inch pieces.

In a large cast iron skillet heat the olive oil, add the diced peppers and onions and let soften for two minutes. Add the eggplant and zucchini and let cook for 2-4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, thyme sprig and deglaze with the vegetable stock.

Let stew for 2-4 minutes. Finish with parsley, torn basil and salt and pepper to taste. (Remove thyme sprig before serving)

Grits 5 cups of whole milk 1 cup grits 1 tablespoon butter Salt and white pepper to taste

In a heavy saucepan pour grits into 4 cups of salted milk, then stir and skim chaff from the surface.

Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer while constantly stirring. Let simmer for 30 minutes, paying close attention not to burn the bottom of the pan. Add remaining milk to your preference to adjust thickness. Finish with butter, salt and white pepper.

Ratatouille 1 eggplant 2 zucchini ½ red onion 3 large tomatoes 1 sweet bell pepper (red, yellow or orange) Chopped parsley Thyme sprig Basil 1/4 cup vegetable stock 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

4 Gulf red snapper fillets (with or without skin) Salt and white pepper to taste 1 teaspoon olive oil

Heat a skillet. Add oil.

Season the snapper. Place snapper in the skillet, skin side down, and gently press down on the fillet to make sure all the skin is touching the pan. The skin will naturally release when the skin is almost crisp. Make sure the skin is crispy before turning the fish. Turn the fish. Finish in the oven if necessary.

Cut eggplant into a 1/4-inch dice, salt the eggplant and spread onto a lined pan and let the

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GRILLED BAYOU LA BATRE SHRIMP WITH CREAMED CORN PUREE AND ROAST SPRING ONION Creamed Corn Puree 5 ears of corn 3 cups of heavy cream salt and pepper to taste

Clean the corn, remove the husk and silk.

Cut the corn from the cob and reserve both.

Place kernels and cream in a heavy sauce pot.

Using a spoon scrape the cobs over the pot to extract the starch. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Using a food processer or blender puree the mixture and season to taste. Strain mixture.

Roast Spring Onion 6 spring onions 2 tablespoon olive oil salt and pepper to taste

ROAST FUDGE FARMS PORK CHOP WITH THYME ROASTED POTATOES AND SUNBURST SQUASH PAN SAUCE

Preheat oven to 375°F. Trim the tops off the spring onions and reserve. Halve the onions. In a large mixing bowl toss the onions in the olive oil and salt and pepper. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and roast for 15-20 minutes.

Thyme Roasted Potatoes 1 pound red potatoes 2 tablespoons picked fresh thyme 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and white pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425°F. Quarter the potatoes and place in cool water to prevent oxidation.

Drain the potatoes and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the thyme, oil and salt and pepper.

Place the potatoes on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Roast for 12-15 minutes until potatoes are cooked through.

Grilled Gulf Shrimp 2 pounds Gulf shrimp Salt and white pepper to taste Oil

Oil the grill, season the shrimp with salt and white pepper and grill.

Pork Chop and Pan Sauce Pork Chops 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon chopped shallot 2 whole baby squash, sliced ½ cup white wine 3 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon chopped parsley Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425°F. Heat a large skillet.

Season the pork chops with salt and pepper.

Sear the pork chops in oil on both sides making sure not to burn the bottom of the pan. Place the chops on a lined sheet pan and transfer to the oven to finish cooking.

Using the first skillet, place the shallots in the pan and sauté for two minutes. Season the sliced squash and sauté for 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and let reduce by half. Reduce heat and mount the butter into the reduction. Finish sauce with parsley.

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Alabama Farm-City Committee Recognizes Winners

By Jeff Helms and Melissa Martin

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ounty volunteers who excel in fostering understanding and cooperation among rural and urban residents were honored April 11 during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Luncheon in Birmingham.

Cullman County was recognized as the best Farm-City committee in the state for outstanding activities including a farm tour, banquet, proclamation breakfast, farm product spotlight, video contest, Farm-City Web site and balloon release. Cullman County also won the top award for counties in Division 1 (population 35,600 or more), as well as a category award for Best Scrapbook and the Target Award for best incorporation of the national Farm-City theme of “Agriculture: A Growing Story.”

Other winners in Division 1 were: Montgomery County, Best Farm-City Tour; Russell County, Innovative Idea Award; St. Clair County, Best Civic Club Activities and Best Special Activities; and Coffee County, Best Media Coverage/Proclamation, Best Farm-City Dinner, and Runner-Up in Division 1.

Pike County took top honors in Division 2 (population less than 35,600). The Pike County FarmCity Committee also earned the Best Media Coverage/Proclamation Award. Other Division 2 winners were: Cherokee County, Best FarmCity Tour, Innovative Idea Award and Runner-up in the division; Chambers County, tie for Scrapbook Award; Randolph County, tie for Scrapbook Award, Best Civic Club Activities and Target Award; Geneva County, Best Farm-City Dinner; and Henry County, Best Special Activities.

Cullman and Pike counties also received plaques from the National Farm-City Council for winning their respective divisions.

In addition to recognizing outw w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Cullman County Farm-City Chairman Kirk Mancer, left, accepts the award for Best Farm-City Committee from Alabama Farm-City Chairman Jeff Helms.

Winners in the Farm-City Poster and Essay Contest accept their awards. From left are, back row: Grace Smith with Alabama Farmers Cooperative, which sponsors the cash prizes for the winners, McCall Barnett of Marion County, Sarah Swain of Calhoun County, Key’ousha Foster of Pike County, Victoria Booker of St. Clair County and Alabama Farm-City Chairman Jeff Helms; front row: Brodie Lane Johnson of Lawrence County, Sara Buchanan of Etowah County and Ivey Kate Helms of Pike County. Not pictured is Kimberly Medukas of Marshall County.

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standing county Farm-City committees, this year the Alabama Farm-City Committee chose to honor an individual with the firstever Volunteer of the Year Award. This inaugural award was presented to Betty Wilson of Russell County. Mrs. Wilson has served on her county committee for 28 years and has been instrumental in organizing events, recruiting other volunteers and chronicling the activities of the group.

“It is a pleasure to recognize volunteers like Mrs. Wilson who give of their time, energy and talents to cultivate a better appreciation for agriculture among both rural and urban residents,” said Alabama Farm-City Chairman Jeff Helms. “With fewer people living on farms than ever before, it’s more important than ever that we tell the farmer’s story and foster better communication among producers and consumers.”

the state awards by winning first place in their counties.

In the poster contest, Sara Buchanan of Etowah County took first place in the Kindergarten-Third Grade Division, while Ivey Kate Helms of Pike County took first place in the Fourth-Sixth Grade Division.

Second place in the KindergartenThird Grade Division went to Brodie Lane Johnson of Lawrence County, and Kimberly Medukas of Marshall County placed second in the Fourth-Sixth Grade Division.

Poster and Essay Winners Young artists and writers from around the state were honored for their entries in the poster and essay contests during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Luncheon.

This year’s theme for both contests, “Agriculture: A Growing Story,” supports the National Farm-City Council’s new strategy of addressing one potentially divisive issue each year.

The National Farm-City Council chose this theme to coincide with its focus on media myths about agriculture. The contests received a strong response from students, with 133 total entries at the state level. Students qualified for NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Sara Buchanan, Etowah County First Place, K-3rd Grade

Ivey Kate Helms, Pike County First Place, 4-6th Grade 21

First-place winners in the poster contest each received $200, secondplace winners each received $100, and each winner’s school received matching contributions.

Taking top honors in the essay contest were Key’ousha Foster of Pike County in the Seventh-Ninth Grade Division and McCall Barnett of Marion County in the 10th-12th Grade Division. Meanwhile, Victoria Booker of St. Clair County took second place in the Seventh-Ninth Grade Division, and Sarah Swain of Calhoun County took second place in the 10th-12th Grade Division.

First-place winners in the essay contest each received $300, with second-place winners each receiving $200. Each winner’s school received matching contributions.

The winning posters will be featured in the 2012 Alabama Farm-City calendar along with the artwork of 10 other students, who received honorable mentions. Those students were: Makayla Delvecchio, Houston County; Grant Massey, Washington County; Chandan Makwana, Cullman County; Kole Varner, Covington County; Jacob Daughtrey, Chambers County; Logan Shelton, Randolph County; Breannah Kent, Cherokee County; Tristan Connell, Cullman County; Addison Parrish, Clarke County; and Kristopher Cooper, Pickens County.

The Farm-City Committee of Alabama sponsors the annual awards program in cooperation with Alabama Farmers Cooperative and Alabama Ag in the Classroom. As a way to help bridge the gap between rural and urban residents, Farm-City Week is observed nationally each year the week before Thanksgiving. n w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Autauga County Row Crop, Cattle Operation Named Alabama Farm Of Distinction

By Jeff Helms

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diversified row crop and cattle operation in Autaugaville, Ala., was named the state’s 2011 Farm of Distinction during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Luncheon April 11 in Birmingham.

As this year’s winner, Andy and Dawn Wendland of Autauga Farming Company will represent Alabama in the Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest Oct. 18-20 in Moultrie, Ga. Wendland said he’s honored to be recognized, but he was quick to share the credit with employees and family members who have helped tend the farm’s crops and livestock over the last 100 years.

“I feel fortunate to be that third generation that’s kind of taken hold of the reins. Having really good people is a real big part of it, too. That’s been a real asset to us,” Wendland said.

Autauga Farming Company has about 2,500 acres of cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat, as well as about 750 beef cows. The Wendlands were founding members of Autauga Quality Cotton Association, which has grown to become one of the nation’s leading cotton marketing cooperatives -- serving 2,000 producers in nine states. They also joined forces with neighbors to form the Producers Feeder Cattle Sale, which secures premium prices by marketing uniform truckloads of cattle.

Despite good prices for cotton and cattle this year, Wendland said skyrocketing production costs are forcing farmers to find ways to be more efficient.

One way the Wendlands have reduced costs is by transitioning their farm almost entirely to conservation tillage. They also are using GPS guidance and swath control to prevent overuse of fertilizer and crop protection materials.

As Alabama’s Farm of Distinction winner, the Wendlands received a John Deere Gator donated by w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Andy and Dawn Wendland, seated, accept prizes for the Alabama Farm of Distinction from the sponsors. From left are Kenneth Williams of Snead Ag Supply, Jay Hamlett and Lynne Morton of TriGreen Equipment, Lester Killebrew of SunSouth, the Wendlands, Jerry Newby of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Grace Smith of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

SunSouth, Snead Ag and TriGreen Equipment dealers in Alabama. 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 Wendlands an engraved farm sign, and they also will receive a $2,500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo.

The Swisher Sweets Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year will receive $14,000, plus several other prizes.

While Wendland admits farming can be difficult, he feels blessed to work at a job he loves and to be able to raise his kids in a wholesome environment.

“I guess it’s just a challenge in today’s environment to be efficient and productive and economical, and all those things that we try to be,” he said. “ It’s a challenge, but I enjoy doing what I do. I’m always thinking about it and always trying to improve what we do.”

Wendland is a leader in the Alabama Farmers Federation and 22

Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.

He and Dawn are members of the Church Street United Methodist Church. They have five children, Katie, Drew, Will Howard, Dan and Emma.

Five other finalists also were honored during the program, which was held in conjunction with the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Conference.

They were Bud Hopson of Creekstand Catfish Farm in Lee County, Webb and Joy Thornhill of Thornhill Farm in Jackson County, Phillip and Nancy Garrison of GoldVine Farm in Cullman County, Andy and Anne Sumblin of Andy Sumblin Farm in Coffee County and Roy and Becky Jordan of Landrum Creek Farm in Marengo 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.

Farm-City Week is observed nationally each year the week before Thanksgiving as a way to help bridge the gap between rural and urban residents. n NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

By Marc Pearson

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urvivors of the tornadoes that killed hundreds in the South need to prepare for another threat, this one man-made: Fraudsters often target victims in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters.

The violent storms that ravaged six states in April left thousands homeless and unable to access their personal documents. The tornadoes also scattered confidential personal information including bank and credit card statements and social security cards. This material may have blown miles away never to be recovered. Or it may wind up on a stranger’s front lawn.

Members of the Alabama Farmers Federation have free one-on-one access to a fraud specialist with Identity Theft 911. Identity Theft 911 fraud specialists have years of experience helping to protect finan-

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cial, credit and identity data, while maintaining uninterrupted access to financial accounts. Experts with Identity Theft 911 can also help quickly replace important documents.

Should a member become a victim of identity theft, specialists with Identity Theft 911 can help by providing one-on-one guidance through the resolution process and minimize the damage, stress and time lost.

For help, call 1-800-392-5705 Ext. 4651 (Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); all other times call 1-888285-1499 or visit: www.alfafarmersIDTheft.org for more details.

So, even as survivors rebuild their lives, they face the serious danger of identity theft. Here are some steps victims can take to stay safe: • Protect important information 23

and documents. Whether in a shelter or staying with friends and family, never lose sight of these items. They are the key to a person’s identity—and will be needed to prove identity.

• Be proactive and check credit reports by calling 1-877-322-8228 or visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. Consider adding an initial security alert to a credit report, by visiting www.experian. com/fraud/center.html or by calling 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742).

• Ask the post office to hold mail until you’re back home. This will keep thieves from finding sensitive materials left in the mailbox.

Identity Theft 911 is just one of many benefits for members of the Alabama Farmers Federation. For member benefits, visit AlfaFarmers. org and click on Benefits & Membership. n

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Alfa Awards Automobile To Alabama’s Teacher Of The Year

By Debra Davis

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labama’s 20112012 Teacher of the Year, Dr. Gay F. Barnes, a first-grade teacher at Horizon Elementary School in the Madison City School System, received a year’s use of a new automobile courtesy of Alfa Insurance Co. and the Alabama Farmers Federation during a ceremony at the Alfa home office in Montgomery May 12.

Alfa President Jerry Newby presented Barnes Alabama’s Teacher of the Year, Dr. Gay Barnes of Horizon Elementary School in Madison, received a new car courtesy of Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation. From left are the keys to a 2011 Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan, Dr. Joseph Morton, Barnes, Alfa President Jerry Newby Chevrolet Impala as part of her award and Alfa Executive Vice President of Marketing Herman Watts. for being named the Morton praised Alfa’s contribu“I still love to learn new things, state’s top teacher. State Superintions to the Teacher of the Year and I love teaching now as much tendent of Education Dr. Joseph B. Program. as I loved teaching my first class Morton made the announcement of “For years, Alfa Insurance has over 20 years ago,” she said. “My Alabama’s Teacher of the Year durshared our vision of acknowledging greatest contributions and accoming an awards ceremony Wednesday and celebrating the best and brightplishments center on my unwaverevening that honored the final four est in Alabama education,” Morton ing commitment to my students candidates for the honor. said. “Alfa’s commitment to supwho are struggling. I have a passion Newby said teachporting the Alabama Teacher of the and a gift for helping these students ers like Barnes, are Year program has been unwavering succeed.” the key to Alabama’s and, as always, is greatly appreciThis is the 15th year Alfa has future. ated. This year, as presented an automobile to the “As Alain years past, Alfa state Teacher of the Year. During bama’s Teacher continues to the presentation, Alabama Farmers of the Year, express its supFederation Executive Director Paul Dr. Barnes, port for those Pinyan announced that the insurwill have the who inspire ance for the Teacher of the Year car opportunity to learning, spark will be paid for by the Federation. inspire thouimaginations Barnes will spend the majority sands of teachand ultimately of the school year serving as the ers, parents and mold the minds state spokesperson for education, community leaders that will carry Alapresenting workshops, speaking as an ambassador bama forward.” to various groups and representing for education. Alfa and Barnes said she was education and the teaching profesthe Alabama Farmers born to be a teacher, addsion. By winning Alabama’s TeachFederation appreciate the important ing that her “learning seed” was er of the Year, she automatically role she and all teachers play in the planted by her mother early in her becomes the state’s candidate for lives of our children,” Newby said. life.

National Teacher of the Year. n w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

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Federation Digest President Signs Bill To Repeal 1099 Regs

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resident Barack Obama has signed into law legislation officially repealing the 1099 reporting requirement included in last year’s health care law. Under terms of the repeal, businesses will no longer be required to issue 1099 forms to all vendors from whom they buy more than $600 worth of goods or services in any year, beginning in 2012.

“I was pleased to take another step to relieve unnecessary burdens on small businesses by signing H.R. 4 into law,” the president said.

“Small business owners are the engine of our economy and because Democrats and Republicans worked together, we can ensure they spend their time and resources creating jobs and growing their business, not filling out more paperwork.”

The Alabama Farmers Federation and American Farm Bureau Federation backed the 1099 repeal. n

Roby Visit U.S. Rep. Martha Roby of Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District toured farms in the Wiregrass and central Alabama this spring, including the farm of Ed White of Headland, where she learned about the technology farmers use to increase productivity.

County Federation Annual Meetings July 18 – 6:30 p.m.

July 19 – 7:00 p.m.

July 21 – 7:00 p.m.

July 21 – 7:00 p.m.

July 25 – 7 p.m. CST July 25 – 7:00 p.m.

July 26 – 6:30 p.m.

July 28 – 7:00 p.m.

July 28 – 6:00 p.m.

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Coffee Community Room, 1055 East McKinnon St., New Brockton Elmore Wetumpka High School, Wetumpka Montgomery Alfa Home Office Auditorium, 2108 E. South Blvd., Montgomery Pike Alfa Service Center, 1208 South Brundidge St., Troy Russell Old Russell County Courthouse, Seale, AL Clay Red’s Catfish Cabin, Mellow Valley Shelby Alfa Service Center, Columbiana Mobile Mobile County Fairgrounds, 1035 North Cody Road, Mobile Lee Cooperative Extension System Office Kitchen, Opelika 25

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Alabama Gardener

By Lois Chaplin

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alking along the cool of a deep woods creek in summer heightens your senses to nature’s air conditioning. Professional landscape designers use the same landscape elements to create spots in a garden that make you feel a bit cooler in summer. You can create a little of the same in your yard with the use of shade, water and lush foliage. The easiest way is to start with a spot under a tree.

Is there a shady spot in your landscape where you can run some electricity? That helps with two things: creating a breeze and the sound of water. An outdoor fan will blow away summer’s greatest outdoor detractors: mosquitoes. At my house, we place fans in strategic places on the deck to blow the pests away. On hot nights, it makes us cooler, too. I’ve seen locations where an arbor over the seating area provided both shade and a spot from which to hang outdoor ceiling fans and blow pests away.

A refreshing nook in your shady backyard can include a garden pond or water feature. Even a small, prefab water garden can become a big project because of the maintenance to keep it clean, but well is worth it if you have time to clean it out once a year. An edging of stone, a backdrop of shade-loving plants, and a splashing fountain will turn a hole in the ground into a garden oasis.

An easier way to bring in the soothing sound of splashing water is to create a fountain from a large pot. This is where it is important to have an electrical outlet to power a pump in your water feature that

Shade trees and lush foliage heighten the senses to nature’s air conditioning.

keeps the water flowing. The splash is soothing, and the flow keeps the mosquitoes from breeding in it. You can find many plans online for turning a big container into a fountain, or you can buy a garden fountain all ready to go. Either way, the sound of water just makes you feel cooler.

If your garden is sunny, make your own shade. Even a sunny lot usually has a shady spot on the north side of the house where the house casts its shadow. Coupled with shade structure or patio-sized trees such as a full-sized Japanese maple, you can create a shady retreat in almost any spot on your lot. A good garden center can help you select the proper trees. Beware of those that drop blooms if that would annoy you on a patio.

If you enjoy gardening, the nearby bed is a great place to create a shade border with a mix of shade loving annuals and perennials.

When choosing plants, don’t let shade intimidate you. Some gar-

GET GROWING AT THE CO-OP. w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

deners feel like things don’t grow in the shade, but the truth is far from that. You can enjoy flowers, textural contrasts and leafy color in the shade. For example, elephant’s ear, begonia, ferns, plectranthus, impatiens, hosta and coleus are just a few that will combine well in the shade. If you don’t enjoy piddling with plants, keep the planting super simple with a mass of ground covers such as periwinkle or liriope that you can just trim back once a year in late winter. Also add a few shrubs with fragrant flowers such as gardenia and tea olive.

So, don’t let summer run you indoors. We are blessed to live in a warm climate. Create a spot to enjoy it. n ____________________________________ Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

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NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Alfa Honors Legacy Elementary Principal For Using Sweet Memories

By Melissa Martin

gardens, examine living organisms and observe ecosystems at the pond, which was named the Best Environmental Education Program in Alabama.

It’s for her unique, innovative methods that Styles earned her designation as one of two principals honored this year. As June’s honoree, she will Styles receive $1,000 from Alfa Insurance.

Her school, a division of Madison County Schools, will receive a matching award from the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Styles received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University, her Master’s Degree in Administration and Elementary Education from Alabama A&M University, and her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. A member of the AMSTI Advisory Council, she also serves as puppeteer director for Monrovia Church of Christ’s ‘Lads to Leaders’ program.

During 2011, 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. n

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hough it’s difficult to peg which childhood experiences will navigate a person’s trek into adulthood, one Madison County principal’s journey began at a place responsible for sweetened grins on countless children – the candy counter at Big B. “I was placed in a special education class in elementary school due to the problems I was having with math.

It wasn’t until my dad took me with my 30-cents allowance to the Big B candy counter that the world of math opened up for me,” said Legacy Elementary Principal Dr. Claudia Styles. “This was my first encounter with experience-based learning, and it has become the foundation for my philosophy.”

Overcoming childhood difficulties isn’t a unique situation, but encountering challenges during her early years shaped Styles into a more intuitive, strategic leader. Rather than sweeping issues aside, Styles and her Legacy staff have created a unique, experiencebased learning environment for students, including the creation of the Lion News Network and Monkey Mail Post Office. Experience is also gained from the half-acre, fully-stocked pond that serves as a hands-on science lab.

“Legacy’s outdoor learning laboratory . . . has become one of the largest outdoor classrooms in the state of Alabama,” said Styles. Students plant vegetable

David Cole Named Director Of Agricultural Legislation

A

“It has been a blessing to serve as Area Organization Director for Area 7 for the past four years. The membership and county board members that I have had the opportunity to work with have been an integral part in teaching me the principles on which this organization was founded,” Cole said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the farmers of this state, and I am looking forward to serving them in this new capacity.”

Cole added that he is humbled and excited to be selected for this new position.

“I am looking forward to this new endeavor with a lot of enthusiasm and anticipation. I believe the position in which I have been selected is crucial in protecting and enhancing agriculture and the values of our members,” he said. “I feel that it is imperative that I work expeditiously in building a solid relationship with the members of the Legislature on behalf of the Alabama Farmers Federation.”

Cole serves on the Leadership Advisory Board of the National Federation of Independent Business and the Advisory Board of the Pike Agriscience Academy. He and wife Lauren are active members of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery. His parents are Herman and Cornelia Cole, and he has a younger brother, Daniel. n

labama Farmers Federation Area Organization Director David Cole, 31, has been named director of agricultural legislation for the state’s largest farm organization. Brian Hardin, assistant director of the Federation’s Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department, said Cole will strengthen the Federation’s voice at the State House.

“David will bring enthusiasm to this position that will serve the Alabama Farmers Federation well — in the county federations and in the halls of the Alabama Legislature,” Hardin Cole said. “He has a desire to grow and learn the legislative issues important to our members to an even greater depth, and to help develop and implement the policies of our organization.”

A native of Akron, Ala., in Hale County, Cole earned a bachelor of science degree in landscape horticulture from Auburn University in 2004. He owned and operated a landscape design business before joining the Federation staff in 2006. As the Area 7 organization director, Cole worked with Barbour, Bullock, Crenshaw, Macon, Pike and Russell counties. He credits the farmers in those counties for helping prepare him for his new duties.

NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

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Weather Cameras Provided Warnings That Helped Save Lives

By Debra Davis

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he tornadoes that ripped through Alabama recently reiterated just how valuable a first-hand view of an approaching storm can be.

Alfa Insurance is a sponsor for 75 weather cameras in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi that television meteorologists use to give an up-to-theminute live shot of what’s happening in those locations. In Alabama, they are located from Huntsville to Gulf Shores and many spots in between.

Ashley McDonald, chief meteorologist for CBS station WAKA-TV in Montgomery, said she believes the cameras help save lives. The most recent example was when tornadoes From left, CBS-WAKA Meteorologists Micha Harris, Marcy Novak and Chief caused catastrophic damage across Meteorologist Ashley McDonald watch the Alfa weather cameras located the state April 27. throughout the state as the April 27 storm approached.

“Radar is good and gives us a a different camera location to give pany and our employees are very good indication of what is going on, our viewers important information involved in those communities,” Hall but nothing replaces actually seeabout what is happening at that very said. “The weather camera sponsoring what’s happening,” McDonald moment.” ships are a great partnership we have said. “It certainly makes it more real Marlene Hall, media director for with the television stations to proto our viewers and to us here in the Alfa Insurance, said the idea behind vide an important service to the comnewsroom. When you can actually sponsoring the cameras is that Alfa is munities Alfa Insurance serves. There see a tornado coming to your area, involved in and cares about the comare few things that impact more lives you know you need to go to a safe munities it serves. every day than the weather, whether place. The cameras definitely add “Alfa has offices located in all 67 you are a business owner, housewife clarity to what is going on.” counties in Alabama and our comor farmer.”

Newsrooms can switch to camerThe weather also is a critical part as in locations throughout Alabama of the insurance business because of and in neighboring states that also the risks associated with storms, like may give viewers an indiAlabama the ones that hit the state in April. cation of weather that North Huntsville “I do believe the cameras make Mississippi may be approaching Tupelo what is happening more real,” their area.

G “Many of the eo Hall said. “To actually see Atlanta Greenville rg Columbus ia a tornado coming into storm systems that Birmingham Tuscaloosa or through come through our the middle of Cullman state pass through Macon Meridian was unbelievable. The Mississippi before Columbus destruction was Montgomery they reach us in Jackson horrific, and there west Alabama,” Albany were so many people McDonald said.

Dothan Hattiesburg killed and hurting. I “So our cameras do believe the weather in Mississippi Mobile cameras helped save can give us a very real Live/On-Air lives by showing the severpicture of what is headed our Under Construction ity of the storms that were approachway. We have meteorologists in Tentative No Coverage ing and that more people took cover our studio who are constantly watchNot Sponsored By Alfa because of that.” n ing all the cameras and even while I am on the air, they may switch to Mi

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Alfa Sky Cam Network

Last updated Apr. 20, 2011.

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NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

Ground Broken on New Feed Mill Facility at Auburn University

By Katie Jackson

“Today is a milestone in achieving a much needed research and teaching poultry and animal nutrition center. This facility will be a flagship academic-industry feed mill facility for the Southeast,” said Conner. “It will provide a unique opportunity to advance all of our academic programs to enable Auburn to better serve our clientele.”

The Auburn University Board of Trustees recognized the long-standing partnership between Auburn University’s poultry science department and the state’s poultry industry, as well as the leadership the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association provided in supporting this feed mill project. On June 18, 2010, the board passed a resolution naming the main building of this center as the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association Feed Mill and Animal Nutrition Building.

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round was broken March 30 on a new $6.3 million facility at Auburn University that will help animal industries in Alabama and beyond provide the best feed possible.

High-quality, nutritious feed is key to the success of any poultry, livestock or fish farming operation, but despite the essential roles that nutrition and feed play in supporting animal industries, few U.S. universities have focused attention on this subject. Auburn University, which has strong academic programs in the animal sciences, including a comprehensive Department of Poultry Science, recognized that need several years ago and began formulating plans for a cutting-edge animal nutrition facility. Those plans are coming to fruition as construction continues for the Auburn University Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center located north of Auburn off Auburn Lakes Road.

“This new facility significantly advances Auburn’s teaching, research and extension efforts in the critical areas of feed science, technology and manufacturing,” said Don Conner, head of Auburn’s poultry science department.

To ensure the needed capabilities were incorporated into this facility, a technical advisory committee of industry personnel provided critical input on technical specifications. This group, comprised of poultry nutritionists and feed milling personnel, evaluated every design aspect to ensure that both the design and equipment are optimal for meeting the industry’s needs now and well into the future.

“I believe the new Auburn University Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center will be a real asset to the Alabama livestock industry, students and feed mill managers,” said Alabama Farmers Federation Poultry, Pork and Dairy Divisions Director Guy Hall. “The facility uses the latest technology in feed manufacturing and with the current high cost of feed ingredients, farmers are hopeful that the research and extension information from this facility will teach us how to produce more meat with less grain. As the global demand for quality meat products grows, it will be necessary to conserve our limited grain resources by developing new feed manufacturing techniques through research.”

A unique modular facility design is being used to allow for flexibility needed in a research and educational feed mill. Equipment representing industry standards are at the heart of this facility, which is imperative in terms of insuring that this facility will effectively serve the needs of the industry. Major feed mill equipment suppliers are helping equip this facility. The feed mill will be the first poultry science facility at Auburn’s north campus, with a target completion date of December 2011.

NEIGHBORS • JUNE 2011

The new facility will offer the technology and equipment to meet research needs, expand Auburn’s outreach efforts via industry short courses for the feed and poultry industries, provide Auburn students with hands-on training in feed manufacturing and science, enhance outreach and proprietary research programs via contracting/leasing arrangements between Auburn and private companies and will provide feed for Auburn University’s research and teaching animals.

The center is funded through Auburn University monies, private donations and in-kind equipment donations. Fund raising efforts are continuing. For more information on the feed mill, contact Conner at (334) 844-2639 or connede@auburn.edu or visit www.ag.auburn.edu/poul to learn more about Auburn’s Poultry Science Department. n 29

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