Neighbors Magazine, Jan./Feb. 2023

YOUR PATH to STARTS at AUBURN Agriculture

ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION

Paul Pinyan Executive Director

Jeff Helms | Director of Communications

FEDERATION OFFICERS

Jimmy Parnell | President, Stanton

Rex Vaughn | Vice President | North, Huntsville

Jon Hegeman Vice President | Central, Anniston

George Jeffcoat Vice President | Southeast, Gordon

Jake Harper | Vice President | Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen

DIRECTORS

Dorman Grace | Jasper

Jeff Peek | Athens

John Bert East Leesburg

Steve Lake | Vinemont

Joe Anders Northport

Phillip Hunter | Birmingham

Joe Lambrecht | Wetumpka

Tommy Martin | Moundville

Bill Cook Montgomery

Trip Horne | Louisville

Mark Kaiser | Daphne

Thomas Adams Newville

Ann Whatley | Opelika Jonathan Edgar Wetumpka

Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 or (334) 288-3900. For information about Alabama Farmers Federation member benefits, visit the website 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

MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES 800-392-5705, Option 4 or BWatkins@alfafarmers.org

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Ben Shurett, (256) 997-7922 BenShurett.alfafarmers@gmail.com

DISCLAIMERS: Advertisements in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or Alabama Farmers Federation. Editorial information from sources outside the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of information does not imply an endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

www.AlfaFarmers.org

John DeLoach surveyed damage and subsequent regrowth to his Shelby County strawberry plants following bitter, historic cold temperatures that impacted Alabama in late December.

Photo By Marlee Moore

Marlee Moore | Editor Laura Unger | Graphic Designer

Alabama Couple’s National Award Tops Off Eventful AFBF Convention

By Marlee Moore

Alabama farmers Daniel and Carla Trantham were named the nation’s top young farm family Jan. 9 during American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

This is the first time an Alabama Farmers Federation member family has won the Achievement Award.

“From the moment I saw the state award given at a conference, winning that contest was my goal,” Daniel said. “The national award was the icing on the cake. This is a dream come true for our family.”

The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers who excel in farming and exhibit superior leadership abilities. Participants are evaluated on a combination of their farm’s growth and financial progress, Farm Bureau leadership and leadership outside Farm Bureau.

As winners, the Tranthams of Calhoun County receive $35,000 toward purchasing a Ford vehicle and registration to AFBF’s FUSION Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. The Tranthams were eligible for the Achievement Award after winning the Federation’s Outstanding Young Farm Family contest in August 2022, where

Carla and Daniel Trantham were named the top young farm family in the U.S. Jan. 9 during American Farm Bureau Federation Convention. The Calhoun County farmers won the state award in 2022 and interviewed for the national Achievement Award title in Puerto Rico. Through state and national contests, the Tranthams net more than $100,000 in prizes.

they scored nearly $80,000 in prizes.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell applauded the Tranthams for their hard work, dedication and impressive win.

“Young farmers like Daniel and Carla give me incredible hope for the future,” Parnell said. “They have a tremendous family operation, and we are so proud for the whole family. This award is a testament to the time they have put in and the love they have for agriculture.”

The Tranthams are raising five children — Davis James, Sadie Leigh, Anna Kate, Sawyer Davis and Callie Faye — on the farm in Alexandria where Daniel was raised.

They’re also investing in leadership growth within the Federation. Daniel is the Calhoun County Young Farmers chair and serves on the Federation State Soybean Committee and State Wheat & Feed Grain Committee as an ex-officio member; Carla serves on the Federation’s State Women’s Leadership Committee.

“This organization has changed our future and is changing the trajectory of our kids’ lives,” Carla said.

Since joining the farm full time in 2010, Daniel has doubled, and in some cases tripled, every aspect of the row crop, cattle and feed business.

The Tranthams bag and sell 80 tons of feed and grain weekly at their storefront and through feed stores. Direct marketing reduces price

fluctuations and offers a steady stream of revenue. They also sell wheat straw and Bermudagrass hay while improving yields on 1,000 acres of corn, wheat, soybeans and cotton through irrigation and seed selection. Since 2010, grain storage has doubled, and the cattle herd has tripled to 300 head.

Daniel’s family also operates a trucking company, where Carla manages payroll. The business hauls feed and birds for poultry integrators across the Southeast. The Tranthams give back to their community by coordinating farm days and speaking

to hundreds of schoolchildren about farming annually.

During AFBF Convention, Garrett Dixon of Lee County and Josh Melson of Morgan County represented Alabama in Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture contests, respectively.

The three AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers annual competitions are a major part of the AFBF Convention. During this year’s event Jan. 7-11, thousands of farmers celebrated the theme Mi Familia, or “my family.”

Alabama delegates joined farmers from across the U.S. to elect leadership during the Annual Meeting of American Farm Bureau Women Jan. 7 and Annual Meeting of Voting Delegates Jan. 10. Farmers also voted on policy recommendations to help guide AFBF’s work in Washington, D.C.

The grassroots policy process bore fruit during the conference with AFBF and John Deere signing a memorandum of understanding to ensure farmers’ right to repair their own farm equipment. The original AFBF policy on right to repair was approved in 2019.

Other events included workshops, farm tours and a trade show. Keynote speakers included U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; country musician and philanthropist Big Kenny Alphin; and Life is Good Co. founder Bert Jacobs. AFBF also announced “I Love Strawberries!” as its Book of the Year.

Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell participated in the Parade of States during the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention opening session Jan. 8.

Alabama Farmers Federation Secretary/Treasurer Steve Dunn, standing, made a statement in support of a policy recommendation during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) business session. Decisions the Conecuh County farmer and fellow delegates made will help guide AFBF’s work in Washington, D.C.

Freeze Frame: Farmers Recover From Deep Freeze

By Marlee Moore

Three days before Christmas — with thousands of strawberry transplants in the ground and temperatures beginning to hover around 0 F — John and Kate DeLoach made a tough call.

“There is one day of the year I thoroughly enjoy, and that’s Christmas with Kate’s family in Atlanta,” John said. “We talked it over and decided I needed to stay home. When you’re in production ag, it’s your business; it’s everything. You’re the beginning and the end.”

Farmers across commodities and counties spent the holiday like John — battling a deep freeze across the Deep South. Factoring in wind chill, many saw temperatures near or below 0 F.

For nearly a week, John woke up just after midnight, lit fires and ensured prevailing winds wafted smoke over his rows of strawberry plants, cocooning them in warmth.

“You make your own microclimate,” said John, who postpones using row covers to protect plants till February, when freezes are more likely and blooming plants are most fragile. “I tried to place fires where the smoke would settle across the plants. My granddaddy did this with peach trees decades ago, and it still works today.”

Cattle Comfort

During the freeze, neighboring cattle farmer and former dairyman Randy Bearden tapped into decades of experience keeping animals comfortable.

His goal: Keep cattle out of the mud.

“Instead of using a round bale feeder, we get on the mountainside and roll the hay out,” he said. “We waste a little, but it gives the cattle all the room they need to eat without crowding and rutting up an area.

“In my experience, cattle handle extreme cold better than extreme hot. If they have the body condition and right nutrition, they can survive anything.”

Although winter grazing, like ryegrass, looked brown and brittle after the freeze, a series of warm days helped revive grass quickly.

“We were a little concerned about it, but right at the ground, there was a little bit of green left,” Bearden said. “We knew then we’d be OK. We were thankful to see it coming back.”

Alabama Farmers Federation Beef and Hay & Forage Divisions Director Chris Prevatt said a sharp turn to warm, 60-70 F days was a blessing following the freeze, where cattle farmers broke ice in water troughs and spread extra feed.

“With a little rest, the ryegrass is ready to come right back,” Prevatt said. “Warm weather after the freeze really helped our cattle and hay producers. Our folks will probably have to feed more hay this spring, but ryegrass should keep recovering and get us to the summer grazing season.”

Weathering The Storm

Near Alabama’s Gulf Coast, ready-topick satsumas generally survived the extended freeze. The Federation’s Blake Thaxton said long-term effects on tree structure could affect the citrus crop quality into next year.

Meanwhile, peach farmers expressed concern over chill hours needed to produce a sweet, quality peach. The threshold for chill hours is generally 45 F or below, but extended extreme cold, like that in late 2022, can stunt production.

Additionally, poultry farmers burned more propane and natural gas to keep houses warm and conditions safe for birds. Extended, extreme use of heaters will likely affect farmers’ current flock bottom line.

In early 2023, John DeLoach joined farmers across the state in recovering from a deep freeze that settled across the Deep South during Christmas.

Parnell Reelected Alabama Farmers Federation President

By Marlee Moore

Four hundred seventy voting delegates unanimously reelected Jimmy Parnell of Chilton County to his sixth two-year term as Alabama Farmers Federation president Dec. 5.

During the Federation’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery, Parnell thanked fellow farmers from all 67 counties for their support and trust. As Federation president, Parnell also leads its affiliated insurance company, Alfa.

“I thank you for my reelection,” said Parnell, a farmer whose family is in the timber and cattle businesses. “I love y’all and truly enjoy what we’re doing. There is so much positivity going on inside this whole organization. I am so proud of that.”

Rex Vaughn of Madison County and George Jeffcoat of Houston County were reelected to their sixth two-year terms as North Area and Southeast Area vice presidents, respectively. Both raise row crops and cattle.

Vaughn’s North Area covers Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb,

Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties.

As Southeast Area vice president, Jeffcoat serves farmers in Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Macon, Pike, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.

Four district directors were also elected to three-year terms.

District 2 delegates elected agribusinessman Jeff Peek. The district

covers Peek’s home county of Limestone, in addition to Madison and Morgan counties. He replaces Mark Byrd, a Morgan County row crop and poultry farmer.

Joe Anders will serve District 5 for a third term. The Tuscaloosa County row crop farmer’s district includes Bibb, Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar and Tuscaloosa counties.

Elected to serve District 8 was cattle farmer Tommy Martin of Hale County. The district includes Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Pickens and Sumter counties. He replaces Dallas County cattleman Jimmy Holliman.

Mark Kaiser was reelected to a second term as District 11 director. The Baldwin County row crop and cattle farmer represents Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.

Additionally, Ann Whatley and Jonathan Edgar will serve one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board. They were elected chairs of the State Women’s Leadership Committee and State Young Farmers Committee, respectively.

Jimmy Parnell President

George Jeffcoat Southeast Area Vice President

Rex Vaughn North Area Vice President

Jeff Peek District 2

Joe Anders District 5

Tommy Martin District 8

Mark Kaiser District 11

Jonathan Edgar Young Farmers Committee Chair

Ann Whatley Women’s Leadership Committee Chair

Jimmy Parnell was elected in December to his sixth two-year term leading the state’s largest farm organization. Parnell’s family is in the timber and cattle businesses in Chilton County.

Continuing The Legacy: Farmers Federation Celebrates A New Century

By Maggie Edwards

Passion for preserving agricultural strength emanated from nearly 1,200 Alabama Farmers Federation members as they filled the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center in Montgomery Dec. 4-5.

During the organization’s 101st annual meeting, farmers from all 67 counties elected leaders, heard from officials, celebrated award winners and voted on policy recommendations.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell highlighted the importance of taking time away from home to chart the course for the state’s largest farm organization.

“This is the time of year when farmers have a little more time to get off the farm to fellowship with and seek encouragement from fellow farmers,” said Parnell, a Chilton County farmer. “We are living in tough times, but visiting with each other gives us strength to go back home and keep working hard. This organization has a

strong legacy, and we’re grateful to our grassroots leaders for their past, present and future work.”

During Day 1, attendees viewed Federation and Alfa Insurance annual report videos. Delegates also elected leaders to serve on state commodity committees, the State Women’s Leadership Committee and the State Young Farmers Committee. (See pages 12-13.)

A tribute breakfast Dec. 5 honored Federation leaders who died in 2022. Talladega County Farmers Federation

board member Dell Hill delivered the devotion and brought uplifting words of faith to families who lost loved ones.

Randolph County poultry and cattle farmer Dean Wysner was presented the Service To Agriculture Award during a general session, while Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael F. Bolin received the Cultivator Award. (See page 15.)

Outstanding county Federation boards and retiring commodity committee members were also honored. Individual Leader Awards were presented to members instrumental in establishing or supporting county-level programs. Those leaders, and their areas of service, were:

n Local and Community Services: Donnie Waters, Baldwin County; Ashton Cottingham, Bibb County; Lillian Slay, Chambers County; Billy

Dean Wysner received the Service To Agriculture Award at the 101st annual meeting. The award is the Federation’s highest honor and recognized the Randolph County farmer for decades of leadership within the state’s largest farm organization.

Alabama farmers welcomed Trump Administration counselor Kellyanne Conway to the Federation’s annual meeting Dec. 5. Conway touted the importance of the electoral process and supporting quality candidates.

Gov. Kay Ivey joined nearly 1,200 farmers for the closing session of the Federation’s 101st annual meeting.

Sturdivant, Franklin County; Mary Sudduth, Winston County; Justin Lackey, Talladega County

n Women’s Leadership: Lydia Haynes, Cullman County; Debra Bowen, Randolph County n Public Relations and Communications: Lisa Lake, Cullman County

n Young Farmers: Ben Johnson, Randolph County; Zack Brannon, Winston County Senior Leaders Awards were presented to Frank Grant, Barbour County; Donnie Garrett, Cherokee County; Allen Pickens, Lawrence County; Mahlon Richburg, Lee County; Larry Bowen, Randolph County;

Pat Buck, Sumter County; Dell Hill, Talladega County; Jimmy Hugh White, Talladega County; and John E. Walker III, Tuscaloosa County.

These awards recognize leaders over 70 years old who served as county president, State Women’s Leadership Committee chair or as a state board member.

Thirty-four counties received Awards of Excellence for Federation activities. They were Baldwin, Barbour, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Coffee, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, DeKalb, Fayette, Franklin, Hale, Houston, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Pickens,

Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Walker and Winston counties.

Federation business session and state board elections concluded Monday as Federation President Jimmy Parnell was reelected to his sixth two-year term. (See page 8.)

That afternoon, Agricultural Leaders For Alabama program members presented their capstone project, which focused on FarmPAC. The 16-member class graduated from the organization’s premier leadership program that night. (See pages 20-21.)

Statewide winners of Young Farmers contests were also recognized. The winners represented Alabama in American Farm Bureau Federation contests in mid-January. (See page 11.)

Special guests included Kellyanne Conway, who served as senior counselor to President Donald J. Trump; Gov. Kay Ivey; Attorney General Steve Marshall; and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt.

“The question is not who. The question is what,” said Conway, referencing choosing candidates. “Ask yourself: What is the job description for the president? What issues keep you up at night…that affect your family…your values, your vision?”

During the event, the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation hosted its second annual AgDash 5K and a silent auction, raising almost $25,000 for agriculture education.

Nearly 1,200 farmer-members from across the state gathered in Montgomery Dec. 4-5 for elections, award presentations and the Federation’s annual business session, where policy recommendations were voted on.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., visited with grassroots leaders, including Marshall County Farmers Federation President Stanley Sumners.

In addition to policy discussions and elections, annual meeting allowed farmers from across the state to discuss farm business, ideas and outlooks.

Dallas County Farmers Federation President Jimmy Holliman, right, discussed business with Federation Area 5 Organization Director David Heflin between sessions.

Young Farmers Reap Rewards Of Hard Work

By Marlee Moore

Young Farmers from three Alabama counties left the Alabama Farmers Federation 101st annual meeting Dec. 5 with extensive prize packages, courtesy of generous sponsors.

After an intense Final Four round of competition, Discussion Meet winner Garrett Dixon of Lee County received a four-wheeler from First South Farm Credit. Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting where contestants discuss pressing agricultural issues. Dixon is a row crop and cattle farmer.

Other finalists, named during the Federation’s Farm & Land Expo this summer, were Landon Marks, Cherokee County; Shelby Windham, Dale County; and Chapman Bodiford, Limestone County.

Additional contest winners named during the Farm & Land Expo also received prizes at annual meeting.

Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) winners Daniel and Carla Trantham of Calhoun County received $40,000 toward a Ford truck courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a year’s lease on a John Deere tractor from SunSouth and TriGreen.

The Tranthams have five children — Davis James, Sadie Leigh, Anna

Kate, Sawyer Davis and Callie Faye. In addition to raising cattle and row crops, their family owns a feed company and a trucking business, which services poultry integrators across the Southeast.

OYFF competitors must have half their income subject to production risk and compete through an application, interview and on-farm judging.

As the Excellence in Agriculture contest winner, Morgan County’s Josh Melson received a zero-turn lawnmower from Corteva Agriscience. Melson, whose resume includes work

across Alabama’s diverse agriculture industry, won the contest based on an application and presentation. Excellence in Agriculture competitors receive less than half their income from production agriculture.

Dixon, Melson and the Tranthams also received a Blackstone griddle package, courtesy of the Federation.

The trio of competitors represented Alabama nationally during American Farm Bureau Federation contests in Puerto Rico in mid-January. (See pages 4-5.)

Lee County’s Garrett Dixon triumphed in the Discussion Meet Final Four round, earning a fourwheeler from First South Farm Credit. From left are First South Farm Credit’s Keith McCurdy, Dixon, Federation President Jimmy Parnell and First South Farm Credit’s John Sport.

Morgan County’s Josh Melson was presented a zero-turn mower from Corteva Agriscience as the Excellence in Agriculture contest winner. From left are Federation President Jimmy Parnell, Melson and Corteva’s Jacee May.

As Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family, Daniel and Carla Trantham received a prize package worth nearly $80,000 at the Federation’s annual meeting. The Tranthams have five children and are pictured with Federation and Alfa Insurance President Jimmy Parnell, Alabama Ag Credit President Doug Thiessen and Alabama Farm Credit President Mel Koller.

Leaders Elected To State Women’s, Young Farmers Committee

By Maggie Edwards

Ann Whatley of Lee County and Jonathan Edgar of Elmore County were elected to lead the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) and State Young Farmers Committee, respectively, during the organization’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 4-5.

As committee chairs, they will serve one-year, ex-officio terms on the Federation’s state board. (See pages 16 and 19.)

On the WLC, Debbie Dunn of Geneva County was elected vice chairman, while Rachel Chastain of Talladega County was elected secretary.

Carla Trantham of Calhoun County was elected to serve Region 2. Region 2 includes Autauga, Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.

Elected to serve Region 3 was Dixie

Black from Butler County. Region 3 includes Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties.

Monica Carroll of Dale County was elected to serve Region 4, which covers Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Macon, Pike, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.

During the annual meeting, the Women’s Leadership Division honored outstanding counties. They were Winston County, Region 1; St. Clair County, Region 2; Montgomery County, Region 3; and Dale County, Region 4. Awards of Excellence were presented to these 49 counties: Autauga, Barbour, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Coffee, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Houston, Jefferson,

Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Wilcox and Winston.

Young Farmers, ages 18-35, also rounded out leadership during their annual business meeting.

In addition to being elected chair, Edgar was reelected to serve District 6, which includes Autauga, Bullock, Chambers, Chilton, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Montgomery and Russell counties.

Dillon Turk from Mobile County was elected vice chair and reelected to serve District 8, which includes Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.

District 3’s Ben Johnson of Randolph County was elected secretary.

Landon Marks of Cherokee County was elected to serve as the North At-Large representative. This includes Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan,

Ann Whatley Chair, At-Large

Rachel Chastain Secretary, Region 2

Debbie Dunn Vice Chair, Region 4

Regina Carnes

Lydia Haynes

Carla Trantham

Dixie Black Region 3

Monica Carroll Region 4

Debbie Freeland Region 3

2023

COMMITTEE

Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties.

Natalie Lee of DeKalb County was chosen to serve District 2, which includes Blount, Cherokee, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Marshall and St. Clair counties.

Elected to represent District 4 was

covers Bibb, Greene, Fayette, Hale, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.

As Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF), Daniel and Carla Trantham serve an ex-officio role on the committee.

Eighteen counties were recognized

for outstanding work and active participation. They were Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cullman, Elmore, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa and Winston counties.

Cal Logan from Greene County. This area

Jonathan Edgar Chair, District 6

Ben Johnson Secretary, District 3

Dillon Turk Vice Chair, District 8

James Hereford District 1

Cal Logan District 4

Natalie Lee District 2

Denzil Dees District 5

Emmanuel Bankston District 7

Bart Williams South At-Large

Landon Marks North At-Large

Daniel & Carla Trantham OYFF Winners, Ex-Officio

Farmers Tapped To Serve On State Commodity Committees

serving. That’s a good thing. A lot of folks in Alabama raise sheep and goats, but they aren’t always aware of the Federation and what they could have access to through this group.”

With help from the committees, the Federation dives deep into individual policies and issues that impact each of the organization’s 17 commodities — bee & honey; beef; catfish; cotton; dairy; equine; forestry; greenhouse, nursery & sod; hay & forage; fruit & vegetables; peanuts; pork; poultry; sheep & goat; soybean; wheat & feed grain; and wildlife.

By Maggie Edwards

For the second year, Alabama Farmers Federation voting delegates elected grassroots commodity committee leaders during the organization’s annual meeting. Elections were Dec. 4 in Montgomery.

State committee members put boots on the ground in their communities and for their commodities, said the Federation’s Mitt Walker.

“They know the issues their industries are facing,” said Walker, the Federation’s Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department director, whose staff members work with

commodity committees. “We depend on these leaders to give us advice on policy matters. This then directs our work and our organization’s future.”

State committee members also host commodity-specific educational programs throughout the year.

Serving statewide is a time commitment (each term is three years) but is worth the sacrifice, said State Wheat & Feed Grain Committee member Jeremy Wilson of Talladega County.

“As farmers, we’re always looking to increase yields and increase sales,” Wilson said. “One way to do that is by serving on a commodity committee. It gives you a chance to provide direction on how checkoff dollars are spent. We need representation from across the state. If you’re not on a committee to bring up a need from your area, no one may be aware of it.”

Charlie Thompson of Lauderdale County echoed Wilson.

“I get to meet people I otherwise never would have crossed paths with,” said Thompson, who serves on the State Sheep & Goat Committee. “I’m glad we have younger people who’ve been elected to the committee and that there were so many interested in

In addition to annual meeting elections, State Catfish Committee members were elected during the Catfish Industry Update Meeting in Greensboro Jan. 10, while affiliated organization the Alabama TREASURE Forest Association elected leaders later that month. The Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association and Alabama Peanut Producers Association will elect leaders in February during respective conferences in Gulf Shores and Dothan. Learn more at TREASUREForest.org, AFVGA.org and AlPeanuts.com.

State commodity committee members who rotated off their committees were honored Dec. 5 for serving the maximum nine years.

They are:

n Beef – Billy Hixon, Pike County

n Hay & Forage – Winford Parmer, Autauga County

n Equine – Tina Hammonds, Lowndes County; Amy Hegeman, Calhoun County

n Sheep & Goat – Kirk Smith, Blount County

n Pork – Joe Bradley, Randolph County; Roland St. John, St. Clair County

n Poultry – Greg Edwards, Russell County; Chris Upchurch, Clay County

n Cotton – Ricky Wiggins, Covington County

n Greenhouse, Nursery & Sod –Jason Powell, Chilton County

From left, Lynne Hardee, Monroe County; Emory Mosley, Washington County; Philip Hardee, Monroe County; and Jerry Fielding, Coosa County, discussed the timber industry before State Forestry Committee elections.

Toni Flowers, standing, addressed delegates during State Equine Committee elections.

Federation Honors Bolin For Steadfast Service

By Marlee Moore

Adeep conviction to uphold the law of the land earned Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael F. Bolin the Alabama Farmers Federation Cultivator Award, presented during the organization’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5.

The Cultivator Award honors leaders who foster relationships to benefit farmers, members and rural communities.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell hailed Bolin’s moral compass, which has helped restore integrity to the court since his 2005 swearing-in.

“Justice Bolin reflects the conservative values our members live out on their farms and in their communities each day,” Parnell said. “It is a privilege to have supported Justice Bolin throughout his time of service on the Alabama Supreme Court, and it is an honor to recognize him for making tough decisions, rooted in the law, that make Alabama better. We are grateful for the legacy he leaves on the court.”

Bolin first earned the Federation’s endorsement in 2004 and retired in January after three six-year terms on the state’s highest court.

“I have been blessed so much to have Alfa on my side,” said Bolin, 74. “The first people I met with after having my family’s blessing to run were members of the Farmers Federation.

“Alfa has an army of men and women who believe in good government. They are genuinely interested in the well-being of my state, and that gives them the spirit to go out and help good candidates who respect the law.”

Bolin is a personable public servant focused on protecting the sanctity of life, helping create strong families and upholding the Constitution — qualities Federation members embody and appreciate.

Now-retired Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael F. Bolin received the Alabama Farmers Federation Cultivator Award in December. Inset: Federation President Jimmy Parnell, left, presented the award to Bolin, who retired in January after 18 years on the bench.

“I have great respect for the organization,” Bolin said. “Their philosophy is there in every case — to do things based on the rule of the law. They know that if you don’t like the rule of the law, you go to the legislature and fight to change it.”

Bolin, who attends St. Peter the Apostle Church in Hoover, credits career success to faith and family, particularly guidance from his late father, Franklin, who grew up on a farm in Lamar County. Bolin’s background brims with experience in family court and adoption cases, a major focus during his time as Jefferson County probate judge from 1988-2004.

Making his daughter proud fuels Bolin, too. He and wife Rosemary adopted Leigh Anne in 1992.

“I want my daughter to have the legacy that her father was a good man,

tried to do the right thing and was a straight shooter,” Bolin said.

Bolin is a stickler for fair judgments, particularly in the adoption arena. He authored the Putative Father Registry Law in Alabama, which protects the rights of all parties in adoption proceedings; received a national award from Angels of Adoption in Washington, D.C.; and served in leadership within the Alabama Probate Judges Association. He’s also shared wisdom and encouragement with countless families navigating the complexities of adoption.

“It’s been a great ride, but I’m not sure I would have been on the train without that first endorsement from Alfa,” Bolin said. “And what I’m telling you is the truth from my heart. I’ll treasure this award. It will have a center place in my desk.”

Whatley Leads State Women’s Leadership Committee

By Marlee Moore

Four decades ago, Ann Whatley helped author Alabama Ag in the Classroom’s (AITC) inaugural teaching manual and led workshops on ag-centric curriculum inclusion.

Whatley still leads the charge for ag education as the 2023 Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) chair, a role fellow members elected her to during the organization’s annual meeting in December.

“This is a wonderful group of people to count as friends,” said Whatley, who lives with her husband, Charles, in Lee County. “They’re salt of the earth. I got into leadership on the committee because I wanted to lead the devotional at state meetings. I didn’t realize how close we would all become, but I am so grateful for it.”

Whatley is a former educator who’s been involved in Federation activities since marrying Charles in 1968. She began helping with the Miss Alabama Agriculture pageant and talent contests before her service morphed into WLC activities, including AITC.

“When I first started out, we did lots of activities, and today, teachers actually get to go out and see farms during AITC Summer Institute,” Whatley said. “It’s important for us to educate our children. I may not be the person driving the tractor on our operation, but I have a background in early childhood education and know that if we teach the children, we teach the people.”

Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood praised Whatley’s support of WLC members and contest competitors.

“Mrs. Ann is certainly one of the Women’s Leadership Division’s biggest cheerleaders,” Earwood said. “Her enthusiasm to promote all things agriculture is endless. The encouragement she shares with Women’s Leadership Committee members across Alabama is most sincere and speaks volumes about her character.”

Whatley brings a wealth of agricultural knowledge to the WLC. She and Charles raised their three children — Tom, Andrew and Virginia — on family land near Beauregard. Over the years, the Whatleys milked dairy cows; had a

U-pick fruit and vegetable operation; built a horse arena for rodeos; and planted Christmas trees. They’ve found their niche in pine plantations.

Today, the Whatleys welcome community members, and their three grandchildren, to their property for what they call “mini-agritourism.” Visitors experience old-school agriculture, including barbecue cookouts, cane syrup making and blueberry picking.

As State WLC chair, Whatley represented the Federation during American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January and will speak at other county, state and national events. She’ll serve a one-year, ex-officio term on the Federation’s state board, which also oversees Alfa Insurance.

“There are so many different things behind the scenes that I’m excited to learn about,” Whatley said. “It’s an honor to get an inside look at what goes on and continue making friends with people across the state.

“I said this when I ran for my term on the state committee, ‘If I had car trouble in any county in Alabama, I know someone who could come help me.’”

Clockwise from far left: Ann Whatley is the 2023 State Women’s Leadership Committee chair; Whatley will work with the Federation’s Kim Earwood to coordinate successful programming for members; Whatley and husband Charles live in Lee County.

Left: Jonathan Edgar lives in Deatsville on his family farm with his wife, Lark, and daughter, Perry.

Above: Jonathan Edgar got his start in Federation activities at a young age thanks to his parents’ involvement on the county and state level. He and his father, Richard, left, work together on their family’s row crop farm. The elder Edgar is the Elmore County Farmers Federation president.

Elmore County’s Edgar Leads State Young Farmers

By Maggie Edwards

Jonathan Edgar’s childhood was chock-full of Alabama Farmers Federation experiences, providing a wealth of knowledge the seventhgeneration farmer looks forward to using as State Young Farmers Committee (YFC) chairman.

“It is exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time,” Edgar said. “I’m passionate about this organization and love the direction it’s headed. I cannot wait to serve our members.”

Edgar was unanimously elected by fellow YFC members during the Federation’s annual meeting in December.

“I got involved with my county Young Farmers program as soon as I turned 18,” Edgar said. “As I grew up, I realized this organization was worth my time. I have built relationships with other farmers and politicians. That’s invaluable.”

Passion and perseverance pushed Edgar to return to his family farm full time in 2015 after working for Thompson Tractor Co. as a mechanic. He works with his father, Richard, on

their farm, where they grow cotton, corn, soybeans, wheat and hay.

Edgar lives in Deatsville with his wife, Lark, a case manager for the South Central Alabama Development Commission, and their 3-year-old daughter, Perry.

Edgar said he looks forward to serving peers during Young Farmers Conference in Birmingham Feb. 24-26; while hosting the Young Farmers Golf Tournament; and attending county meetings. As the state committee chair, Edgar serves a one-year, ex-officio role on the Federation’s board of directors.

Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer said he is excited to help Edgar positively impact farmers ages 18-35 across the state.

“Jonathan has been a huge asset to the state committee during his time representing District 6,” McBrayer said. “He sees the value in using his voice to enact change, and I believe he will inspire other young farmers to step up and get involved with this organization.”

Edgar’s goal is to encourage joint district and county meetings throughout the state. He’s also passionate about the importance of State YFC members attending county meetings and mentoring county leaders.

“I want to help county leaders understand they are not alone,” Edgar said. “The state committee is here for each of our members. We’re all here to help them.”

Edgar was elected to serve as the State Young Farmers Committee chair during the Federation’s annual meeting.

Elite Program Culminates For Young Leaders

By Maggie Edwards

F rom visiting decision-makers in Washington, D.C., to deep-diving into Alabama Farmers Federation dynamics, Agricultural Leaders For Alabama (A.L.F.A. Leaders) has transformed the lives of 16 participants.

A.L.F.A. Leaders Class V concluded its journey during the Federation’s 101st annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5. The class was announced in December 2019.

“Besides networking with my fellow classmates and Federation staff, one of the most important parts was the seminars,” said graduate Dillon Turk, who manages his family’s Martin’s Nursery in Mobile County. “Each of our six seminars focused on a different aspect, from politics to personal development. We came out of each

seminar having learned something about ourselves or ways to identify and solve problems.”

Turk’s fellow classmates included farmers, Extension agents, agriscience educators, business owners and more, each bringing unique qualities and backgrounds to the table.

Participants ages 25-45 were trained in agricultural policy, industry leadership and communications. Class V benefited from six intensive seminars revolving around Federation operations, state and national government, Alabama agriculture and successful leadership. An agricultural leadership experience in the United Kingdom rounded out their sessions.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell hailed the program, which has cultivated local, state and national farm and government leaders.

“We are proud to invest in these young leaders,” Parnell said. “We see the impact A.L.F.A. Leaders and similar programs have had on our organization.

The 16-member A.L.F.A. Leaders Class V graduated from the intensive leadership cultivation program Dec. 5. Front row from left are Dillon Turk, Mobile County; Rachel Chastain, Talladega County; Grace Ellis, Autauga County; and Scott Woodall, Jackson County. Middle row from left are Anna Glover, Hale County; Will Gotcher, Colbert County; Gannon Nunley, Franklin County; Ryan Cox, Chilton County; and Drew Wendland, Autauga County. Back row from left are Zack Brannon, Winston County; Garrett Dixon, Lee County; Brad Cox, Fayette County; Brady Peek, Limestone County; Mitchell Henry, Lawrence County; Andrew Brock, Marshall County; and Lucy Edwards, Houston County.

Grace Ellis and Lucy Edwards visited with U.S. Rep. G.T. Thompson, R-Pa., a leader on the House Ag Committee, during meetings in the nation’s capital.

This time and financial investment will pay dividends for decades to come.”

Interacting with policymakers and American Farm Bureau Federation staff in the nation’s capital opened class graduate Lucy Edwards’ eyes to the Federation’s influence nationwide.

“There is a powerful relationship between the Federation and elected officials in D.C.,” said Edwards, an Extension coordinator sponsored by Houston County Farmers Federation. “These leaders really took time to engage with us and learn more about issues Alabama farmers are facing.”

A.L.F.A. Leaders Class V also participated in a capstone project centered around increasing involvement in FarmPAC, the Federation’s political action committee focused on state endorsements. They presented a proposal to Federation leaders during the organization’s annual meeting.

Rachel Chastain, a farmer and agriscience educator at Helen Keller School in Talladega County, said the program fine-tuned her public speaking skills.

“When we have elected officials

come through my school, I have a platform that allows me to be an education advocate and an agricultural advocate,” she said. “This class helped give me the confidence and skills I needed to better educate others.”

Turk, Edwards and Chastain agree A.L.F.A Leaders changed their lives.

“This program helped open my eyes to the bigger picture of agriculture and advocating for the industry,” Chastain said. “I also learned how inclusive the

Federation is. Whether you are an agriscience teacher or a row cropper, there is a place for you.”

Turk said the time commitment — six weeklong sessions — was worth the sacrifice.

“It is time away from work and family, but it is beneficial to you, whether you’re an agribusinessman or farmer,” Turk said. “Most importantly, I’ll work with, for and around these 15 folks throughout the rest of my life.”

A.L.F.A. Leaders Class V members Ryan Cox, Dillon Turk, Brad Cox and Mitchell Henry met with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, center, during legislative visits in Washington, D.C. Discussions with House and Senate leaders opened participants’ eyes to the legislative advocacy process.

Tight Margins, Farm Bill Discussions Dictate 188th Congress

With control of the U.S. Senate settled in an early December runoff, the 188th Congress is governing with some of the tightest margins in history in both chambers.

Farmers and congressional allies are also focusing on a new farm bill in 2023, with historically high input costs and labor shortages top of mind.

More than half the members of the U.S. House have never voted on a farm bill, which could complicate an already difficult prospect, said the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Mitt Walker. Authorization for most farm bill programs expires Sept. 30.

“Education and outreach to new members of Congress is a focus for the Federation this year and will be mirrored by state Farm Bureaus all over the country,” said Walker, the Governmental & Agricultural Programs Department director. “It is critical all members of Congress realize the farm bill is about food security for our nation. Food security is critical to national security. With continued unrest around the world and inflation continuing to strain consumers’ pocketbooks, it is vital

that we pull together to pass a farm bill good for farmers and consumers alike.”

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and U.S. Rep. Dale Strong are new additions to Alabama’s delegation. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville will continue to serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore will serve on the House Committee on Agriculture.

Walker said Alabama’s delegation is well-positioned to help farmers.

“Having two members serving on their respective ag committees is important to the farmers of this state,” Walker said. “We’re also thankful for our other members who are well-suited to champion Federation priorities, including Sen. Britt and Reps. Jerry Carl, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Strong, Gary Palmer and Terri Sewell.”

With Republicans winning a majority in the U.S. House, chairmanship of the House Committee on Agriculture passes to U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson,

R-Pa., a familiar face to Federation members following his multiple visits to the state.

“Chairman Thompson is a great friend and has expressed his desire to pass a farm bill on time, which can be a challenge, while staying committed to passing a farm bill that works for all crops and regions,” Walker said.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., continues to hold the gavel as chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., will remain the committee’s highest-ranking Republican.

Moore Tuberville

Yeager Touts Soybean Sustainability At International Expo

By Marlee Moore

The world wants more U.S. soy. That’s the message Alabama farmer Wendy Yeager heard time and time again in a flurry of foreign languages last October while representing the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) at an international retail and consumer food show in Paris.

“When people found out I was a farmer from the U.S., they immediately switched their conversation over to me at our booth,” said Yeager, who raises soybeans, peanuts, cotton and other row crops in Dallas County. “You can Zoom and FaceTime all you want, but you will never replace a good handshake and a face-to-face conversation. In Paris, I learned the importance of being present.”

U.S. soy fuels thousands of food products featured at the Salon International de l’alimentation (SIAL) — from pork and poultry to snack bars and beverages.

The show drew more than 265,000 participants from around the world. This was USSEC’s first year hosting a booth, where Yeager joined Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Matt Lohr and USSEC Regional Director for Europe and Middle East/North Africa Brent Babb to share insights about sustainability, innovations and the future of soy farming.

“Every person we talked to sincerely enjoyed hearing about American

farm practices,” said Yeager, whose three-year term on the United Soybean Board (USB) ended in December. “The contacts we made can only strengthen relationships and grow interest and dependence on U.S. soy — the most sustainable, consistent soybeans in the world.”

Yeager also serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation State Soybean Committee. Federation Soybean Division Director Carla Hornady commended Yeager’s work representing fellow farmers.

“Wendy has never met a stranger, and her enthusiasm was put to great use for our industry at SIAL,” Hornady said. “Wendy is a homegrown leader in the Alabama Farmers Federation, and we’re proud to work with her, and for farmers like her, every day.”

In addition to media interviews, Yeager talked with leaders and agricultural power brokers. This included representatives from the Foreign Import Commission office, where she learned about shipping challenges and buyer concerns, and Louis Dreyfus Co., a global agricultural merchant and processor interested in sustainability, market challenges and deforestation.

She also visited the home of the U.S. Ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, first for a reception and later as a special guest during a cottoncentric couture fashion display.

While part of the soy delegation,

one of Yeager’s most impactful conversations was with Morocco’s largest dairy farmer. (His herd is 4,000-plus.)

“He found out I was a farmer from America and that I not only grow soybeans but peanuts, too,” Yeager said. “I had just finished up peanut harvest before leaving for Paris, so I had thousands of photos and videos on my phone. We probably talked for an hour. Then the prime minister of Morocco, who was also at the table, wanted to talk, too. I felt honored to have that conversation.”

Yeager boarded her flight to Paris on just a handful hours of sleep. Coordinating logistics for her weeklong absence from husband Jamie and daughters Casey and Lil in between peanut and soybean harvests was challenging, Yeager said.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” she said. “It was a real sacrifice to leave, but this trip brought some things to the surface for me that I’ll watch more closely now. We have no idea the work that goes on behind the scenes at ports with freight traffic. We hear things on the news about the Mississippi River being low, and suddenly, I was in another country and people were bringing up the Mississippi River because it’s backing up ships. That was eye opening.

“Overall, I was truly honored and humbled,” she continued. “I never thought a farm girl from Orrville could travel on a trip like this.”

Alabama soybean farmer Wendy Yeager visited with farmers and decision-makers from Morocco during an international retail and consumer food show in Paris last fall.

Wendy Yeager shared her firsthand knowledge of soy’s sustainability story with food industry innovators and leaders at the expo in Paris.

New Labs To Improve Testing For Farm Inputs, Products, Soil

Alabama farmers will soon benefit from three new labs in Auburn, which will replace outdated facilities that are integral to safeguarding farm inputs, products and soil.

Groundbreakings in November laid the foundation for the Pesticide Residue Lab, State Chemical Lab and National Soil Dynamics Laboratory.

“More efficient, effective labs with the latest technology will directly impact Alabama farmers,” said Mitt Walker, the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Governmental & Agricultural Programs Department director. “These labs will ensure farmers are producing the highest quality products while growing safe food, fuel and fiber on healthy Alabama soils. We are grateful for these improvements and are excited to see the labs in action.”

New Pesticide Residue and State Chemical Labs will help the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) compete with similar facilities across the U.S. The current location has

been in operation for over 50 years and was retrofitted from an animal diagnostics lab.

The Pesticide Residue Lab protects public health by reliably analyzing agricultural commodities for pesticide remnants. Samples submitted to the lab include eggs, milk, poultry, beef, fish, vegetables, water, soil and value-added foods. The lab also analyzes unusual samples, those with difficult chemistry or samples with legal implications to protect consumers and maintain Alabama farmers’ competitiveness.

While operated through ADAI, the lab also provides an independent source of data and analytical expertise to expand Environmental Protection Agency testing.

Hosted in the same space, the State Chemical Lab conducts analytical testing related to feed, fertilizer and liming materials distributed in Alabama. Chemical testing can help ensure farmers get their money’s worth when purchasing soil amendments. The lab

also helps farmers rule out feed as a potential cause of illness by testing samples for contaminants.

At Auburn’s nearby Research Park, the National Soil Dynamics Laboratory was built in 1935 and expanded in 1962. The lab develops tools, practices and products to better manage soil to increase farm sustainability and profitability. This includes investigating soils’ impact on crop growth, pastureland and general conservation.

Gov. Kay Ivey, fourth from left, joined agricultural leaders and other officials to break ground on new pesticide and chemical labs in Auburn last fall.

Youth Leadership Conference Builds Leaders Worth Following

By Maggie Edwards

Ninety-six high school freshmen and sophomores from across the state gathered at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana Nov. 14-15 for the Alabama Farmers Federation Youth Leadership Conference.

Students enjoyed team-building activities and outdoor recreation while hearing from Mike Lutzenkirchen of the Lutzie 43 Foundation and participating in leadership workshops facilitated by high-energy, high-impact trainer Rhett

Laubach.

“In a nutshell, we bring students in to learn a lot about leadership development, but along the way, we want to make them advocates for agriculture,” said Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer, who helped organize the annual conference. “No matter what county or background you come from, we need good leaders for our community and state, and we need good voices for agriculture.”

Youth Leadership Conference, free for attendees, was sponsored by the

Federation, Alfa Insurance, Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation, Alabama Ag Credit and local Farmers Federations. The Federation received a record number of applicants this year —

The conference theme was Leaders Worth Following.

Students participated in high-energy workshops facilitated by Rhett Laubach. During the conference, students focused on leadership and team building.

Youth Leadership Conference brought 96 high school freshman and sophomore students to the Alabama 4-H Center Nov. 14-15. Students engaged in leadership activities, heard from inspirational speakers, learned ways to advocate for agriculture and made connections with fellow young leaders.

well over 200.

During the two-day conference, students were challenged to step out of their comfort zones, find their strengths and realize their influence on others. Federation State Young Farmers Committee members also shared agricultural career insights and advice during a panel.

Laubach encouraged students to be their B-E-S-T, or “better every single time.” Laubach pushed students, such as Jamyracle Williams, to understand

leaders are observers, trustworthy and positive.

“Everybody can be a leader, but not everyone has the tools or the voice to be a leader,” said Williams, a student at Marbury High School in Autauga County. “I found my voice here.”

Fellow attendee Lyndee Meadows did, too.

“I grew up in agriculture raising and

showing cattle and pigs,” said Meadows, a student at Woodland High School in Randolph County. “I will use everything I learned from this conference and take it back into my agriculture experiences to promote and share it with others.”

Applications for the 2023 Youth Leadership Conference will be available in September, with the conference held in November.

Students enjoyed outdoor recreation — which also cultivated teamwork skills — during Youth Leadership Conference.

Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer, left, helped coordinate the Youth Leadership Conference, where freshmen and sophomore students learned about teamwork and ag advocacy.

Down To Earth: Alabama Farmers Prioritize Efficient Land Use

Above: Grazing cattle expands land for food production, said Bill Lipscomb. Cattle consume forages on non-arable lands unsuitable for other food crops.

Right: Specialty crop growers use greenhouses to raise fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants in a sheltered, temperature-controlled environment.

By Maggie Edwards

They aren’t making any more land. What’s there is what we’ve got,” said Autauga County farmer Bill Lipscomb.

Lipscomb is a third-generation farmer whose 3L Ranch focuses on quality beef cattle production through genetics, herd management and smart land use.

“There are a lot of aspects of cattle that contribute to using our land in a smart way,” said Lipscomb, an Alabama Farmers Federation State Beef Committee member. “Cattle can utilize land crops can’t, and they transform grass that people can’t eat into nutritious protein.”

3L Ranch also finds value in rotational grazing and overseeding annual ryegrass. This allows the farm to run more cattle per acre.

“In the last 15 years, we have broken our large pastures into smaller ones, which leads to rotational grazing,” Lipscomb said. “This practice impacts more than cattle. It benefits the soil and cuts down on erosion.”

Cattle production isn’t the only Alabama agricultural industry that supports smart land use.

Jason Powell with Petals From The Past, a greenhouse and nursery in Chilton County, said he’s always looking for ways to improve efficiency.

“We have three main areas we focus on to practice smart land use — water, pest control and weed management,”

Powell and his father, Arlie, implemented a drip irrigation system in their fruit gardens, which directly deposits moisture to plants. Conversely, they don’t use irrigation systems for ornamental plants.

“We are illustrating we don’t have to tax our water resources to establish great gardens if we utilize plants that can handle fluctuating water and temperature,” Powell said. “We also have gutter systems and dry stream beds that

Powell said. “Water management impacts all of our land, pest management directly impacts fruit production, and weed control impacts the nursery.”

allow us to use water resources more efficiently.”

The poultry industry plays a part in using land efficiently. Thanks to improved genetics and technology, it takes 72% less land to raise poultry today than in 1965, according to the National Chicken Council.

Chickens are humanely and safely grown in houses, which saves water, energy and manpower and allows farmers like Corey Hill to repurpose chicken production byproducts.

“We also utilize chicken litter (a natural fertilizer) on our pastures, which impacts the land and cattle,” said Hill, a poultry and cattle farmer who serves on the Federation’s State Poultry Committee. “Using this as fertilizer allows for more nutrients to hit the soil, making a better food source for the cattle.”

Row crop farmers use chicken litter, too, to fertilize fields. They also rotate crops like cotton and peanuts to reduce soil erosion and improve water

quality. This practice reduces tillage — or turning the soil. Healthier soil means cleaner air and water. Farmers

Legal Notice

To: Directors, officers, delegates and members of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association

You are hereby notified that the directors of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, in accordance with Section 1, Article IV, of the By-Laws of the Association, has scheduled its annual meeting as follows:

Time: 11:15 a.m. Thursday, February 2, 2023

Place: Volunteer Building, National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, 231 South, Dothan, Alabama

Modern chicken houses allow chickens to be raised with carefully formulated feed, access to clean water, room to grow and professional veterinary care.

also use practices like planting cover crops. Cover crops are planted between growing seasons, and they improve soil, increase organic matter and enhance water filtration.

Sustaining for the future, protecting the land and using resources efficiently is key for producers. Lipscomb, Powell and Hill are just a few examples of Alabama farmers who see value in being Down To Earth.

“The thing that opened our eyes is the importance of longevity,” Powell said. “We have to make sure we aren’t depleting the resources but rather are helping build and support the land.”

Visit DownToEarthAL.com to learn more.

Deal Retires After Decades Serving, Encouraging Others

W

hen Boyd Deal joined the Alabama Farmers Federation 17 years ago, he hoped to serve Wiregrass farmers well.

“I grew up on a farm,” Deal said in his new-hire press release. “I always knew being an area organization director would be a way I could give back to the farming community.”

Deal retired Nov. 30 after mentoring, encouraging and serving countless Area 8 farmers, community members and Federation colleagues. Area 8 includes Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties.

Deal, who first joined the Alfa Companies as a claims adjuster in 1985, built on relationships cultivated through Alfa in his role of field man. He and nine counterparts delivered materials to service centers; surfaced legislative candidates; visited county leaders on

the farm to strengthen relationships; and brought county concerns to the state level.

“We’re in the relationship business,” Deal said. “That’s what I enjoyed and will miss the most.”

Deal was raised in Zion Chapel and graduated from Troy University in business administration just months before joining Alfa. He married wife Leah in 1990. They have two sons, Bradley and Tyler; a daughter-inlaw, Mackenzie; and two grandchildren, Buck and Remy.

Deal’s two decades as an adjuster paved the way for better connecting Alfa and Federation goals in Area 8. His understanding of the work ethic of Alfa sales specialists, then called customer sales representatives (CSRs), led to creating company-wide CSR of the Month and Year contests.

In addition to investing in strong relationships with farmers, Deal and Leah made special efforts to encourage fellow staff, like Preston Roberts.

“Boyd was more than a coworker; he was and is a mentor,” said Roberts, the Federation’s agricultural legislation director who started his career as a field man. “He routinely checks in with me and my wife, Mandy. He encouraged me to really get to know my county leaders and gave guidance on the best ways to serve our people. But he also made me a better man, Christian, husband and father. Boyd changed my life, and I’m better for knowing him.”

In retirement, Deal will continue to impact others as a deacon at Ariton Baptist Church and through Second Chance Ministries, a nonprofit he founded to mentor youth with absent parents (Deal lost his father at age 10).

“Everyone wants to make a difference,” Deal said. “I hope I’ve been a good employee and friend and made a small difference in someone’s life.”

Deal

Simply Southern Spotlight

Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch

he Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch in Camp Hill is one of four Alabama Sheriff Youth Ranches in the state. Each ranch provides Christian, family style residential homes for at-risk children and youth. Candice Gulley is the director of ranch life and a house parent at the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch.

TTell us more about the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch.

Candice Gulley: We’re not just a group home. We take it one step further and incorporate farm living into taking care of children. We have 60 acres for our cattle to roam, a chicken coop and pasture for horses and goats. We think it’s vitally important to help our kids develop a good work ethic and sometimes literally put their hands to the plow and be proud of what they accomplish. We’re building life skills here so our kids can transition into adulthood and be successful.

How long have you been here at the ranch?

CG: I’ve been here 12 years, and over that time, I’ve cared for 87 teenage girls. A lot of our kids come to us from different backgrounds. I tell my children — those I’ve raised as well as my biological children — it’s not just blood. There’s a connection that happens when you learn to depend and count on somebody and that person becomes your family. The ranch really becomes a place they can call home for the rest of their lives.

How does a child come to live at the ranch?

CG: One hundred percent of our children have endured some type of trauma, and that looks like different things to different people. Sometimes that’s a disruption in the home environment, or sometimes it’s more severe. We want to make sure we are able to provide an environment where they can feel safe and loved and where they can grow. Very few of our girls stay for the long haul; the ideal goal is for the children to be able to end up back home with their families.

Simply Southern’s segment about this story aired on broadcast stations Jan. 21 and 22 and on RFD-TV Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m. Central. For more information, visit www.simplysoutherntv.net.

Stations and Times

Saturday, Central Time

Market Station Time

Columbus, Ga. WLTZ 38 5:00 PM

Sunday, Central Time

Mobile WPMI 15 6:00 AM

Birmingham WBMA 33/40 6:30 AM

Huntsville WAFF 48 9:00 AM

Montgomery WAKA 8 10:30 AM

Dothan WTVY 4 10:30 AM

RFD-TV: Wednesdays • 3 p.m. Central

ALWAYS ON: SimplySouthernTV.net

Do many of the children have farming backgrounds?

CG: Many of our kids come from populated cities, so when they step here on the ranch, it’s almost like taking a step back in time. They get to enjoy what nature offers. We do things a little slower. Not every kid walks around here with a cellphone in their hand.

What lessons do you ultimately hope children learn during their time at the ranch?

CR: I hope we can teach these young people to take your past and use it as a stepping stone for your future. Use it to help build you up; don’t use it as a stronghold to hold you back. Look to your future. If we can do that, then we’re doing something.

How can other folks help the ranch achieve its mission?

CR: When we’re fully operating, we have 22 girls and six or seven staff members who are focused on those children. That means, sometimes, it’s hard to get the grass cut in April. We really like sweat equity around here. Whether it’s cutting grass, bush-hogging or helping us fly tag our cattle, when volunteers help manage the property, that gives our house parents more time to spend with the girls.

Simply Southern TV is sponsored by

HEMP Still Growing In Alabama

By Katie Nichols

as in high tunnels or greenhouses.

I

ndustrial hemp has been a hot topic for Alabama farmers since it was approved for statewide production through the 2018 Farm Bill. The heavily regulated industry has required collaboration of commercial, university and state entities to provide grower support.

While the crop is still relatively new for Alabama farmers, it’s one of the oldest agricultural crops cultivated worldwide — dating back to 10,000 B.C.

Katelyn Kesheimer, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System entomologist, leads the charge on Extension’s hemp team.

“In the early days of industrial hemp production, there was a ‘hemp craze’ in the United States,” she said. “The two most recent farm bills (2014 and 2018) changed the landscape for hemp production. Numbers of licensed growers and acres of production climbed steadily from 2017 to 2020, when the U.S. began to see a drop in acreage.”

This was due to several factors, including growers shifting to smaller markets, too much product on the market, price drops and labor and equipment costs.

Alabama Industrial Hemp

Hemp is grown for several reasons and in various ways. It can be cultivated in fields, on plastic or in pots, as well

Industrial hemp for grain and fiber production is grown from seed in a high-density plant population. Hemp for cannabidiol (CBD) extraction is generally grown indoors using transplants.

Kesheimer said more than 90% of industrial hemp in Alabama is grown for floral material and CBD. There is little to no grain production in the state.

Hemp Production Today

“Although we’ve been growing hemp in Alabama since 2019, there are still many challenges to hemp production in our state,” Kesheimer said. “The biggest hurdle facing researchers and growers is the fact that we need more local, regional and national data.”

Two of the most prevalent issues for Alabama growers are diseases and pests. To help growers in many Southern states navigate challenges, a multistate working group is sharing data to determine distribution and occurrence of common diseases and pests.

This group surveys agronomy, entomology and plant pathology specialists from government, industries and universities. They share information from the 48 contiguous states related to indoor and outdoor production in any cannabis cropping system.

As with every row crop, there are inherent challenges and risks. Some risks involved with industrial hemp production include the lack of a standardized market, price uncertainty, competition, substantial up-front costs, contractual risks and regulatory changes.

Alabama Extension and Auburn University researchers continue their work with industrial hemp, including variety trials. Research and trials are limited by regulatory restrictions.

“As we look toward 2023, we will continue researching at the agricultural experiment stations in Shorter, Mobile and Auburn,” Kesheimer said. “I anticipate another decrease in the number of Alabama hemp growers as many pivot to medical cannabis.”

LADY

Miss Lola places casseroles on the table. She forms neat rows. The table is full. There is enough Southern fare to sink the U.S.S. Humdinger.

There are old women everywhere. They are buzzing through the room making sure things happen.

Miss Lola walks with a hunched back and resembles the late Kathryn Tucker Windham. She makes coffee in the Baptist Bunn machine.

The church roof has just been replaced. The fellowship hall was supposed to be renovated, but they ran out of money.

“New roof is expensive,” remarks Miss Lola. “The others wanted new appliances and floors, but all we could afford was the roof and refrigerator.”

For supper, Miss Lola sits beside me.

“Who fried this chicken?” someone asks.

“Ruth,” Miss Lola says. “But hers ain’t as good as mine.”

Humility isn’t Miss Lola’s only affliction. She has rheumatoid arthritis. Her condition prevents her from doing things she loves. Like cutting chicken or manning skillets. It has not, however, affected her delicate tastes.

“This chicken’s too soggy,” she adds. “Mine was never soggy.”

The macaroni and cheese is equally as magnificent. It comes from Miss Lola’s niece, who just turned 15.

The kid used her grandmama’s recipe and made the old woman proud.

When Miss Lola finishes eating,

she gathers plates and silverware from people who have finished eating. Some servants never quit.

After supper, the room empties. Save for a few women. Those who stay behind are mostly gray and white.

I stay, too. Miss Lola and I fold tables and nearly amputate three of my favorite fingers. This makes her laugh.

Later, she stands at at the sink, scrubbing. Well, she’s TRYING to scrub. Her knobby hands can’t quite cut the mustard.

Her granddaughter says, “Lemme do it, Grandmama.”

She takes a seat. She is out of breath, but it doesn’t stop her from making pleasant conversation. To sophisticated ladies like Miss Lola, dead air is a sin.

She’s from the old world. She knows things. She’s been attending this church since childhood. She got married here, dedicated babies here. She buried one husband and a son here. One day, she tells me, they will lay her to rest here.

She is among the last of her generation. She is a church lady. And she shares recipes with her granddaughter so she will live forever in the form of a casserole.

She stares at her granddaughter with eyes that practically sing.

“I’m sorta glad they didn’t renovate this old fellowship hall,” she says. “Old things are a lot more special, don’t you think?”

Yes. I do. So are women like you. ■

Columnist and novelist Sean Dietrich shares tales of common people, the human spirit, traditional regional music and life in the American South through his podcast series at SeanDietrich.com.

( YOU )

You just turned a $2 million research investment into $460 million per year in extra income. Yes, YOU did.

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Moving Soy Forward. Moving You Forward.

Flowers: Variety Is The Spice Of Life

By Andrea Ramey

Let’s talk about the birds, the bees and the flowers on the shrubs and trees.

In the flower and pollinator relationship, flowers have been courting birds, bees and an assortment of other pollinators since long before humans figured out their language of love. A flower’s creative methods of attracting an intended pollinator’s attention rivals those of a Shakespearean suitor. Flowering plants compete for pollinators by using a variety of petal colors, shapes, scents, food rewards and mimicry.

The color, shape or fragrance of a flower can sometimes be a clue to the

type of pollinator that will be attracted to the plant. Hummingbirds can’t smell but can see color and, like most birds, are attracted to warm, bright colors like red, orange and yellow. Butterflies are drawn to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms. Nighttime pollinators, including bats and moths, are drawn to strongly scented, white or pale-colored flowers, which are easy to locate because they reflect moonlight. Bees are attracted to an array of colors but more commonly to yellows, blues and purples.

Flower shapes are designed to match their preferred pollinator’s landing abilities and requirements for access to nectar and pollen. The shape and petal markings can create a landing zone or can be shaped for insects that don’t aspire to graceful landings. Narrow or tube-shaped flowers usually attract hummingbirds or long-tongued butterflies and bees. Wide-open or cluster flowers attract a wider variety of

other insect pollinators.

Flowering plants need to get pollen from one flower to another to reproduce. The nectar within the flower, and sometimes the pollen itself, lures the birds, bees and insects into the petals. There, they pick up grains of pollen on the hairs of their bodies. They are rewarded with sweet nectar for the small price of transferring that pollen to the next flower they visit.

Orchids are a good example of a flower that uses creative duplicity in achieving pollination goals. Some mimic the appearance of the pollinator’s female counterpart through portraying the shape, color, hair and even scent produced by a willing mate. They can also look and smell like other favored food sources, including rotting flesh (for flies), and then offer no nutritious treat at all.

By whatever means of beguilement the flower employs, the enchanted pollinator is inevitably placed in contact with the pollen and soon becomes the flower’s next pollinator.

n To plant perennials or in perennial places since pollinators are creatures of habit and will return.

n Mixing it up when planting trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and annuals.

n Dialing in on key plant families like mint, aster, carrot, rose, holly, heather and bean.

Humans exhibit a penchant for pollinators through planting selections. Gardeners can try:

Hummingbirds are attracted to warm, bright colors like red, orange and yellow.

Orchids use mimicry to attract pollinators.

W

elcome back to my kitchen!

The coming of February often finds us firmly entrenched in comfort food season as we wait out the last strains of winter and look forward to spring. With that in mind, I’m sharing a few dishes sure to find a home among your comfort food favorites.

First up is Broccoli Cheese Chicken Casserole. This busy-day dish is a complete meal in one, with no preparation required. Simply mix up all the ingredients (including the uncooked rice), spoon the casserole into a pan, and bake. This is a hearty, filling dish loaded with flavor and is ready to go in the oven in a matter of minutes.

Coming in second, but no less

beloved, is Creole Turkey Pot Pie. This recipe is an easy way to turn leftover turkey into a flavorful and decadent meal. The turkey is combined with onions, garlic, peppers, celery, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and a thick, scratch-made, savory sauce to create a homestyle supper your family will love.

Y’all know we have to have a little something sweet to round things out! I’m thrilled to share Denise Henry’s Lemon Squares in this issue. Denise and her late husband, Mike, raised five children on the family cattle farm in south Montgomery County. While their family is most known for delicious beef dishes, this sweet treat is a win, too. Her lemon squares make delicious use of a

Lemon Squares

By Denise Henry, Montgomery County

Prep Time Cook Time Makes 20 mins 30 mins 18 bars

Ingredients

For the crust

1 (15.25-ounce) box lemon cake mix 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 egg

For the filling

1 (1-pound) box powdered sugar (about 3 3/4 cups), divided 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened 2 eggs, room temperature

Instructions

For the crust

Heat oven to 350 F. Mix cake mix, softened butter and egg until just combined. Pat evenly into a 9-inch-by13-inch baking pan.

For the filling

Reserve about 1/3 cup of powdered sugar and set aside for the topping. Thoroughly mix remaining powdered sugar, cream cheese and eggs in a large bowl and pour over crust. Bake 30 minutes. When cool, cut into squares and dust with reserved powdered sugar.

lemon cake mix, and fans of the classic gooey butter cake are sure to find a place in their heart — and stomachs — for this similar dessert bar.

I hope these recipes inspire you to get in the kitchen with your family and help everyone linger just a little longer at the dinner table. Remember, we are blessed by the food on the table, but the greatest blessing resides in the people sitting around it.

Stacey Little is a foodie, recipe developer and cookbook author whose Southern Bite blog helps families put simple, down-to-earth food on the table while preserving Southern cooking for future generations. See more recipes at southernbite.com.

Broccoli Cheese Chicken Casserole

Prep Time Cook Time Servings 20 mins 1 hr 8

Ingredients

1 (10-ounce) package frozen broccoli florets, thawed and drained (about 2 1/2 cups fresh)

2 cups instant rice

1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup

1 (10.5-ounce) can broccoli cheese soup

1 (10.5-ounce) can cheddar cheese soup

2 cups water or chicken broth

Salt

Pepper

3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 pounds)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

30 butter-flavored crackers, coarsely broken (I used Ritz)

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 F. Lightly spray a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, stir together broccoli, rice, cream of chicken soup, broccoli cheese soup, cheddar cheese soup and water or broth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken and stir to combine. Pour mixture into prepared dish.

In a small bowl, combine butter with cracker crumbs, then sprinkle over the casserole.

Wrap tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered an additional 30 minutes or until the rice is tender and chicken is cooked through. Cool about 10 minutes before serving.

Stacey’s Recipe Note

To prevent the filling from bubbling over and spilling in the oven, place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet before putting in the oven.

Creole Turkey Pot Pie

Prep Time Cook Time Servings 35 mins 30 mins 6

Ingredients

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 large onion, diced

2 small potatoes, peeled and diced

1 bell pepper, seeded and diced 2 carrots, peeled and diced 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken or turkey broth

1 cup whole milk

1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, drained 2 cups chopped cooked turkey

2 teaspoons Creole seasoning

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 F and lightly spray an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion, potatoes, bell pepper, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.

Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir to combine. Cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth and milk, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook about 5 minutes or until thickened. Add tomatoes, turkey and Creole seasoning (you can add more to taste). Stir to combine.

Pour mixture into the prepared dish and cover with thawed puff pastry. Cut a few slits in the top of the pastry. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.