Neighbors Magazine June 2018

VOLUME 43,

NUMBER 6

A Membership Publication of the Alabama Farmers Federation

June/Summer 2018

_____________________________________

Debra Davis, Editor Laura Unger, Graphic Designer Mike Moody, Graphic Designer ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan, Executive Director Jeff Helms, Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jimmy Parnell, President, Stanton Rex Vaughn, Vice President/North, Huntsville Dean Wysner, Vice President/Central, Woodland George Jeffcoat, Vice President/Southeast, Gordon Jake Harper, Vice President/Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn, Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Brian Glenn, Hillsboro Donald Hodge, New Market Donald Sewell, Southside Rickey Cornutt, Boaz Joe Anders, Northport Phillip Hunter, Chelsea Joe Lambrecht, Wetumpka Meador Jones, Gallion Bill Cook, Montgomery Steve Stroud, Goshen Sammy Gibbs, Atmore Chris Carroll, Ariton Debbie Roberts, Fayette Ben Maples, Elkmont

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In This Issue

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.

4

Outstanding Young Farmers

9

Dairy Good Milk

13 Farm-Inspired Jewelry

16

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001.

16 Ribs Worth A Road Trip 19 FarmPAC Voter Guide

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

36 Serving Up Sweet Corn

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

On The Cover

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 A member of American Farm Bureau Federation JUNE/SUMMER 2018

36

Celebrate farmers like Michaela Sanders of Blue Ribbon Dairy in Elmore County during June Dairy Month.

Photo by Debra Davis

Trying to grow your business?

Advertise in neighbors magazine Ben Shurett, (256) 997-7922 BenShurett.alfafarmers@gmail.com 3

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Outstanding Young Farm Family Finalists Selected

By Marlee Moore and Debra Davis

T

hree finalists are vying for the title of Alabama’s 2018 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) — and more than $70,000 in prizes — during on-farm judging this summer. The contest, organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation Young Farmers Division, spotlights members 18-35 years old who derive more than half their income from on-farm production. The OYFF will be announced at the Commodity Producers Conference in Montgomery Aug. 4.

The OYFF prize package includes $35,000 toward a new Ford truck courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere 825i Gator sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor provided by John Deere, Ag Pro, TriGreen Equipment and SunSouth. New sponsor Register Barn Co. will provide the OYFF a 30-by-40foot pole barn. Alabama’s OYFF also receives an expense-paid trip to the national competition in New Orleans in January 2019.

Runners-up each receive $500 from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit. Finalists were selected after interviews at the Young Farmers Conference in March.

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Grant

The Family Butler County

C

had and Heather Grant love watching their kids play on a grassy hill next to six sprawling poultry houses on their farm in rural Butler County. For them, their farm is about as close to heaven as it gets.

“When I was in high school, if you had told me I would be a poultry farmer one day I would have laughed at you,” Chad said. “All I wanted to do was be a mechanic. But right now, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than raising my children on a farm.”

If not for the beautifully landscaped sign along the county road, it’d be easy to miss their Southern Comfort Farm and the broiler houses tucked behind the hill.

Their children — Abigail, 7, Levi, 5, and Will, 3 — enjoy spending time with their parents on the farm, fishing and at the ballfield.

The Grants said the farm provides the flexibility they wanted when they started a family.

“Last year, Chad helped coach Abigail’s softball team, and this year he’s helping coach Levi’s T-ball team. With most jobs, he wouldn’t be able to do that,” said the stay-at-home mom.

Chad and Heather bought four poultry houses from his dad, Craig, in 2014. Two years later, they bought two from Chad’s brother, Casey. Chad also does land clearing and bulldozer work for area landowners.

“We’ve made a big investment in technology on our farm, and it pays,” said Chad, pointing to computerized systems used to monitor the farm remotely. Updated water systems help their chickens gain weight and increase profits, he said.

The couple, who grow for Koch Foods, Inc. in Montgomery, said they want to expand their goat herd and eventually add beef cattle to the farm.

“I’ve got to continue to invest in my farm if I want to stay on top,” Chad said.

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JUNE/SUMMER 2018

F

or Gannon and Kristin Nunley, FFA string band set the stage for loving more than music and each other.

FFA fueled their agricultural passion, and in 2012, the first-generation farmers bought six chicken houses in Vina in Franklin County.

“Poultry is a good business for people like us,” said 34-year-old Gannon, who grew up wanting to farm. “We’re not inheriting land or equipment. It’s a way to start carving out a multi-generational farm.”

They raise 9-pound broilers — about 456,000 annually — at Nunley Farms and have cleared land to pasture around 50 commercial and registered cattle.

“Since we don’t have a lot of acreage and we’re landlocked, we’re trying to get as much return per acre as possible,” said Gannon, who serves on the State Poultry Committee and Franklin County Farmers Federation board.

A former Franklin County Young Farmers chair, Gannon worked in plumbing and electrical wiring before approaching a local farmer about buying his operation. “I remember driving by and thinking, ‘Man, I’d like to have this place,’” Gannon said. “We kept pursuing and did a lot of praying and searching.

When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”

Auburn University graduate Kristin carries farm experiences to Hamilton High School in Marion County, where she teaches agriscience and advises FFA. “The students see that we’re not just reading about ag in a textbook,” said Kristin, 34. “I’m living it every day.”

Gannon and Kristin focus on the next generation by hiring high school help — and by investing in 7-year-old Cooper and 4-year-old Adalie.

“We try to show them the big picture as much as possible,” Gannon said. “We can lay our heads down at night knowing…someone got to eat today because we did a good job.”

The Nunleys are involved in music ministry at Red Bay Freewill Baptist Church, where Gannon chairs the board of trustees.

The

Clay County

W

hen Chris and Jordyn Upchurch look at Rockin U farm, they see more than cattle and poultry houses. It’s a gift of heritage for the farm’s fifth generation, a son due in September.

“I like the challenge of starting with a chick or calf and seeing the growing process,” said 31-yearold Chris, a fourth-generation Clay County poultry farmer. “I enjoy farming as a family and look forward to raising our little boy on a farm and instilling in him the value of hard work.”

Chris started his cattle herd at age 13 with seven cows. He married fourth-generation farmer Jordyn in 2015, and today, their farm encompasses over 300 acres, 130 cows and three poultry houses.

They partner with Jordyn’s father on C&J Farm, a trucking and poultry house clean-out business. The business annually hauls around 600 loads of poultry house bedding and manure, a natural fertilizer.

“Few people work this closely with family.

That’s special,” said Jordyn, 24, a Jacksonville State University graduate. “Getting to raise our kids on the farm is a big deal to me. If I worked in town, we wouldn’t get to do this together.”

Recent farm diversification includes baleage — over 3,500 bales in 2017 — and testing to improve hay quality.

“Coming out of a hard winter, our cows were in better shape this year, and our costs decreased tremendously,” said Chris, an Auburn University agricultural economics graduate. “We even had hay leftover to sell for extra income.”

Off the farm, they promote agriculture and small-town life in Lineville through the Clay County Young Farmers, county cattlemen’s association and Lineville Baptist Church. Chris also serves as State Poultry Committee second vice chairman.

“When I get up in the morning, I don’t have to go to work. I get to go to work,” Chris said. “It all goes back to working together as a family.” n

Nunley

The Family Franklin County JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Upchurch Family

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North Area Vice President Rex Vaughn, left, greets Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Alabama Farmers Discuss Farm Bill Plans With Ag Secretary

By Debra Davis

efficient, most effective and most customer-focused agency in federal government,” he said.

Other discussions included farm bill cotton provisions, trade impacts on agriculture, milk price programs and crop insurance.

Perdue toured Spruell’s farm, where he saw a new furrow irrigation system. The system includes a holding pond, fed in part from a nearby stream. A gravityfed system supplies pond water to nearby row crops. Unused water is pumped back to the holding pond.

“This is a very innovative thing,” Perdue said. “You may see something like this in the Mississippi Delta, but you don’t usually see this in Alabama and Georgia. It shows how innovative and creative agriculturists are across the country.”

Spruell said it was an honor to host Perdue, Aderholt and others.

“We count on Rep. Aderholt and other elected officials to make our views known in Washington, especially when policy is being made,” Spruell said. “Visiting with farmers face-to-face and seeing what’s happening on our farms helps reinforce that message.”

Aderholt and Perdue met about 100 farmers and local leaders for lunch in Hamilton. They later joined Gov. Kay Ivey in Winfield for the announcement of a $3 million USDA broadband grant for Tombigbee Communications, part of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative.

The $10 million project will bring high-speed internet to Winston, Fayette, Lamar and Marion counties. n

.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue met with Alabama farmers May 3 to hear their ideas for the farm bill Congress is drafting. Perdue held the mid-morning meeting at the request of Alabama’s U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, who chairs the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

About 20 farmers attended a round-table discussion with Perdue at Sam Spruell’s Marion County farm near Guin.

“I’m here to listen,” said Perdue, who leads the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “I want to know what the federal government can do to help your productivity

and your profitability.”

Alabama Farmers Federation North Area Vice President Rex Vaughn of Huntsville inquired about rumors that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would be streamlined or combined. Perdue confirmed that plan, but said combining the software and technology of the agencies will take time.

“In civil service, sometimes you hear, ‘That’s not my job,’ but when it comes to FSA and NRCS, farmers are always our job,” Perdue said.

He noted farmers may visit one agency then the other to file farm program requirements.

“I want our farmers to be able to say USDA is the most

Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan​, right, with U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt and Gov. Kay Ivey at the broadband announcement.

From left, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt​, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue and Sam Spruell at the agriculture round-table discussion held at Spruell's farm near Guin.

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Blue Ribbon Dairy Elmore County's Dairy Delicious Destination

By Marlee Moore

J

ust like the cream in its on-farm-bottled milk, Blue Ribbon Dairy in Kent is rising to the top — of people’s grocery lists, that is.

“Every morning I wake up and I’m like, “OK, let’s take care of the girls today,” said Michaela Sanders, a fourth-generation farmer

herd in 2005. “People want to know where their food comes from. I tell them all they have to do is come to the farm. You can watch the whole process if you stay long enough.”

Her day starts at 4:30 a.m. with milking, followed by chores.

Pasteurizing, cooling and bottling milk are daily duties, too, for Sanders with help from mom P.J. Duke.

Michaela Sanders milks cows twice daily at her Blue Ribbon Dairy in Elmore County. The fourthgeneration dairy farmer pasteurizes, bottles and sells milk on her farm and in local stores.

who opened Blue Ribbon Dairy in November 2017.

“The girls” are Sanders’ 19-cow dairy herd, which churn out milk customers purchase in grocery stores, farmers markets and at the family dairy between Tallassee and Eclectic in Elmore County.

“The only way I could get back into the dairy business was doing my own processing,” said Sanders, whose family sold its Lott Dairy JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Around 4 p.m., customers show up to feed calves and watch afternoon milking in the white-washed, flat-level barn Sanders’ great-grandfather built in 1946.

They’re customers like Anne Simmons, who visited the dairy with daughter Charlotte this spring.

After feeding calves, she left with two gallons of Blue Ribbon Dairy’s creamy Grade A milk.

“Michaela is open to letting the 9

kids run around and learn more about what’s going on,” Simmons said. “We wanted to support someone local and do something new. It’s just a fun day to come get fresh milk.”

Sanders, who attended Auburn University, worked in dairy promotion before opening Blue Ribbon Dairy. She showed dairy cattle growing up and, thanks to grandfather C.D. "Buddy" Lott, routinely brought home blue ribbons.

Lott passed away before the farm-to-bottle dairy opened, but his encouraging spirit still fuels Sanders’ dedication to dairy.

“I’m thankful I had a grandfather who provided me a place to live out my lifelong dream,” she said. “He said, ‘I’ve told you what to do. I’ve taught you how to do it. Y’all just have to learn how to do the bottling.’”

Businesses like Blue Ribbon Dairy add value to dairy in an era where sales are sliding, said the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Guy Hall. Thirty years ago, nearly 400 dairies dotted Alabama.

Today, there are less than 40.

“I think this could be the future of milk production in Alabama,” said Hall, the Federation’s Dairy Division director. “Blue Ribbon Dairy’s name recognition and proximity to Montgomery should boost the business because the public can see production of a wholesome, local product.”

Blue Ribbon Dairy is open Monday-Friday from 2-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 2-4 p.m. at 5290 Chana Creek Road, Tallassee, Alabama 36078. To learn more, follow the farm on Facebook and Instagram. n w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

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labama Catfish Producers, a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation, is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Catfish Restaurant Challenge to recognize delicious catfish dishes.

Nominate your favorite restaurant that serves tasty, nutritious U.S. farm-raised catfish.

Judges will visit four finalists with each restaurant owner receiving a plaque.

The winner, announced in August — National Catfish Month, will receive a trophy and cash prize, along with being featured in Neighbors magazine.

Visit AlabamaCatfish.org for a complete list of rules.

The nomination deadline is June 12, 2018.

Nominate your favorite restaurant at AlabamaCatfish.org or on the Alabama Farmers Federation Facebook page

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Harvest Jewels

By Jill Clair Gentry

F

arming and jewelry may not have much in common, but after running both a farm and a thriving jewelry business, Rosemary Corte says peanuts and pendants aren’t as different as they seem.

For years, she and husband Jay partnered to run their peanut and sod farm plus a shipping container business. Jay, a fifthgeneration Baldwin County farmer, is a Baldwin County Farmers Federation director. He handled the farming, and Rosemary kept the books. Their children, 20-year-old Jay and 15-year-old Hallie, grew up working on the farm, too.

In September 2015, Rosemary decided she needed a creative outlet and started a high-end jewelry business.

Aptly named Harvest Jewels, it honors her family’s life together on the farm.

“My best friend from

Rosemary quickly realized her farm experience was an asset.

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

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boarding school and college was a jewelry designer, and she came to visit that summer,” Rosemary said.

“I talked her into getting back into the jewelry business with me. We decided if it didn’t work, at least we’d have some beautiful jewelry for ourselves. We had no idea it would go so well.”

Rosemary quickly realized her farm experience was an asset.

“You can be the most creative person on earth, but if you can’t run the backside of your business, you’re never going to be

successful,” she said. “Handling the business side of our farm and container business taught me how to work with people, manage employees, manage money, set priorities and communicate well with all types of individuals.”

Harvest Jewels has become Corte’s full-time job, and her jewelry is popular all over the Southeast at boutiques and trunk shows.

Harvest Jewels’ style is best described as elegance with an edge.

Rosemary said her goal is for each piece to work well with a T-shirt and jeans or an evening gown. Each creation has a diamond-encrusted lobster clasp and real, high-quality gemstones set in oxidized sterling silver.

“I want these pieces to go from daytime to nighttime,” she said.

“Most of our pieces can be worn with or without a pendant, so you can wear it without the pendant during the day and then add a pendant to make a statement in the

evening.”

Customer Carmen Kirchharr of Fairhope said she gets compliments whenever she wears her Harvest Jewels pieces.

“Each piece is unique and stunning,” Kirchharr said. “I used to shop at another jewelry store, but since I’ve found Harvest Jewels, I haven’t bought anything from there. I went back to that store the other day, and the owner asked me, ‘Have you been cheating on me?’

I showed him my Harvest Jewels pieces, and he was blown away.”

Although Rosemary no longer works on the farm, she wants to use Harvest Jewels to give back to farmers. She designed a popular diamond-covered peanut pendant and plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from each pendant to the National Peanut Board.

“We love the peanut industry,” she said. “It’s been good to us.”

Find store locations, information about trunk shows and shop online at HarvestJewels.com. n

Commodity Producers Conference Comes To The Capital City

A

labama’s diverse agricultural commodities take the spotlight during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 46th Commodity Producers Conference in the Capital City Aug. 2-5.

Much-anticipated tours of farms and industries depart Montgomery and branch across central and southeast Alabama during the

conference. Also on the agenda is an economic outlook discussion with American Farm Bureau Federation Market Intelligence Director John Newton. Other seminars focus on the farm bill, forest products, horse health, forages, food security and more. Contests in the Women’s and Young Farmers divisions continue throughout the meeting.

Blue Tour

Green Tour

Orange Tour

Pike County is the hub of the Blue Tour, which kicks off at KW Plastics, the world’s largest supplier of all-plastic, one-gallon paint containers. The next stop is Golden Boy Foods, followed by lunch at the Pike County Cattlemen Building. Tours of Pike County’s Virtual High School and Whaley Pecan Co. wrap up the day.

Wildlife and conservation headline the Green Tour, which begins at the Wehle Land Conservation Center in Bullock County, a Forever Wild tract.

Attendees then head to Sedgefields Plantation to learn about bird dog field trials. The day ends in Tuskegee at the Wildlife Group, a nursery dedicated to wildlife.

The Orange Tour features two diversified farms in Goshen in Pike County.

First up is Riverview Farms, a row crop and broiler chicken operation with a niche market for locally grown corn. Then it’s on to JKH Farms, which uses its poultry fertilizer on cropland, pastures and hayfields.

The day ends stepping back in time at the Pioneer Museum.

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Purple Tour The River Region is highlighted on the Purple Tour, beginning with the Alabama Supreme Court and State Law Library, Alabama’s second-oldest library.

Touring 100-year-old Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base is next. Lunch and a tour at SweetCreek Farm Market, whose barbecue was named Best in the River Region, ends the day.

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The second Alabama Farm & Land Expo is back the afternoon of Aug. 4 and is open to the public.

At the closing banquet, the 2018 Outstanding Young Farm Family will be announced.

Entertainment from Southern gospel trio Heartline will conclude the conference. Register by June 18 at AlfaFarmers.org. n

Red Tour Moore & Davis Nursery, a 25-acre container nursery in Macon County, kicks off the Red Tour. Jordan-Hare Stadium at Auburn University is up next, offering an overview of managing the athletic turf at Pat Dye Field.

Lunch at Ag Heritage Park is followed by a tour at Whippoorwill Vineyards in Tallapoosa County.

Yellow Tour The Yellow Tour focuses on Montgomery County and begins at Foxwood Farms, an equine facility.

Then it’s on to AL Farms, a purebred Boer goat farm. Lunch by Michael’s Catering precedes a tour of the Henry family’s Pintala Cattle Co., which uses alternative forages for cattle. The last stop is at Campo Del Rio Ranch, a commercial feeder calf operation.

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PRESENTED BY Bama’s Best Pork Ribs judges Daniel Tubbs, Bob Plaster and Susan Swagler snacked on championshipwinning ribs at Smokin’ on the Boulevard in Florence in Colbert County.

Smokin’ On The Boulevard Racks Up Bama’s Best Pork Ribs Title

By Marlee Moore

D

ry-rubbed, hickory-smoked, no-sauce-needed ribs from Smokin’ on the Boulevard in Florence racked up the title of Bama’s Best Pork Ribs in an inaugural contest sponsored by the Alabama Pork Producers.

Jeff Carter and Karen Hill opened the roadside stand six years ago, where they cook St. Louis-style ribs low and slow in a fertilizerbuggy-turned-smoker. They said they were honored to be named Bama’s best, but accolades aren’t their priority.

“The awards don’t mean anything in comparison to our customers coming back again and again,” said Carter, whose champion restaurant received $500 from the Alabama Pork Producers.

“If you’re willing to put the time in, anyone can cook like this. It affirms that we’re doing the right thing when customers say, ‘You’ve made my day again.’”

The ribs are massaged with w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

a secret, world championshipwinning dry rub before heading to a 150-degree smoker. Carter bumps up the heat by 10 degrees hourly for more than 10 hours. The result: Pull-off-the-bone tender ribs covered in a slightly spicy glaze.

While ribs are its specialty, Boston butts, chicken with white sauce, smoked bologna, pork tenderloin, brisket and smoked cabbage round out the menu.

Smokin’ on the Boulevard is open Thursday-Saturday.

Bama’s Best Pork Ribs received over 900 nominations for more than 100 restaurants on Facebook this spring. Heard’s BBQ & Soul Food in Maplesville in Chilton County, one of four finalists, snagged the People’s Choice Award for receiving the most nominations.

Wiley’s Smuteye Grill in Smuteye in Bullock County and Whillard’s BBQ & Grill in Marion in Perry County rounded out the Final Four.

The restaurants were pitted against each other during judging April 18-19. Judges were 16

Alabama pig farmer Daniel Tubbs, competitive cook Bob Plaster and Alabama NewsCenter restaurant reporter Susan Swagler.

Swagler said the finalists served up barbecue brilliance worth the drive — even if it’s across the state.

“I was just blown away by the flavor and quality of ribs they are serving at all four places,” she said.

“I was humbled by the stories of these barbecue cooks and incredibly impressed with the support of their local communities. These are good people serving honest-to-goodness great food.”

The Alabama Farmers Federation’s Guy Hall said the contest highlighted an iconic cut of meat just in time for summer road trips and grilling season.

“The Alabama Pork Producers was proud to uncover some of the finest pork rib restaurants in the state,” said Hall, the Federation’s Pork Division director. “Each had excellent rib recipes that would make your month water, and all four are worth a road trip.” n JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Smokin’ on the Boulevard in Florence won the 2018 Bama’s Best Pork Ribs contest, sponsored by the Alabama Pork Producers. Judges Susan Swagler, Alabama NewsCenter restaurant reporter; Daniel Tubbs, Alabama pig farmer; and Bob Plaster, competitive cook, visited the Final Four restaurants April 18-19. From left are Plaster, Swagler, owners Jeff Carter and Karen Hill, Tubbs and Alabama Farmers Federation Pork Division Director Guy Hall.

Smokin’ Hot Finalists

Heard’s BBQ & Soul Food in Maplesville in Chilton County was a finalist and People’s Choice Award winner in the 2018 Bama’s Best Pork Ribs contest. Owners Shakira and Roman Heard serve St. Louis-style ribs cooked on high heat with a sweet tomato-based sauce.

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Whillard’s BBQ & Grill in Marion in Perry County was a finalist in the 2018 Bama’s Best Pork Ribs contest. Susan and Greg Horton use a mustard rub, spicy seasoning from Louisiana and a hickory-wood smoker for the restaurant’s ribs.

17

Wiley’s Smuteye Grill in Smuteye in Bullock County was a finalist in the 2018 Bama’s Best Pork Ribs contest. Owner Wiley McWhorter’s ribs seasoning has one ingredient — saltwater.

He and lifelong friend Cathy Scroggins serve up fall-apart-tender ribs at the restaurant. w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Attorney General

Alice Martin

Secretary of State

State Treasurer

State Auditor

John Merrill

John McMillan

Jim Zeigler

Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Public Service Commission, Place 1

Public Service Commission, Place 2

Rick Pate

Jeremy Oden

Chris "Chip" Beeker Jr.

U.S. Congress District 2

U.S. Congress District 4

U.S. Congress District 5

Martha Roby

Robert Aderholt

Mo Brooks

FEDERAL

*Only endorsed candidates with primary opposition are listed. General election endorsements will be published in the November Neighbors.

Lt. Governor

Will Ainsworth

Vote on Tuesday, June 5

Alabama Farmers Federation

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Political Action Committee

STATEWIDE

T

he opportunity to vote is among Americans' most valued rights and most important civic duties.

Each election cycle, county Farmers Federation leaders interview candidates and recommend endorsements.

We provide this guide as a tool for members and encourage you to study the positions of all candidates and vote your convictions.

Please exercise your right to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary Tuesday, June 5.

Governor

Kay Ivey

19

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

STATEWIDE

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice

Alabama Supreme Court Place 1

Alabama Supreme Court Place 4

Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Place 1

Lyn Stuart

Brad Mendheim

Jay Mitchell

Christy Edwards

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY COUNTY

DEMOCRAT

Autauga

Kelvin Lawrence, HD69

REPUBLICAN

Baldwin

Harry Shiver, HD64 Chris Elliott, SD32

Barbour

Melanie Hill, BOE2

Bibb

April Weaver, HD49

Blount

Wes Kitchens, HD27

COUNTY

Butler* Calhoun

Barbara Boyd, HD32

Cullman

Scott Stadthagen, HD9 Corey Harbison, HD10 Paul Bussman, SD4

Dale

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Wes Allen, HD89 Rich McAdams, BOE8 Tommy Hanes, HD23 Wes Kitchens, HD27 T.J. Maloney, HD39 Steve Livingston, SD8 Andrew Jones, SD10 Mike Holmes, HD31 Ronda Walker, SD25

T.J. Maloney, HD39 Del Marsh, SD12 Melanie Hill, BOE2 Debbie Wood, HD38 Randy Price, SD13

Elmore

Cherokee

T.J. Maloney, HD39 Andrew Jones, SD10

Escambia*

Chilton

April Weaver, HD49 Terry Martin, HD81 Elaine Beech, HD65

Clarke

Elaine Beech, HD65

Clay

Cleburne

Prince Chestnut, HD67

DeKalb

Chambers

Choctaw

REPUBLICAN Ronda Walker, SD25

Dallas

Bullock*

DEMOCRAT

Crenshaw

Etowah

Rich McAdams, BOE8 Craig Lipscomb, HD30 Andrew Jones, SD10

Fayette

Kyle South, HD16

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Ron Johnson, HD33 Randy Price, SD13

Franklin

Jamie Kiel, HD18

Geneva

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Jeff Sorrells, HD87

Melanie Hill, BOE2 T.J. Maloney, HD39 Randy Price, SD13

Greene* Hale* Henry

Dexter Grimsley, HD85

Melanie Hill, BOE2

Houston

Dexter Grimsley, HD85

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Jeff Sorrells, HD87

Coffee

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Rhett Marques, HD91

Colbert

Humphrey Lee, HD3 Jamie Kiel, HD18

Jackson

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Ron Johnson, HD33 Terry Martin, HD81

Paid for and distributed by Alabama Farmers Federation, PO Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191.

Conecuh* Coosa

Rich McAdams, BOE8 Ritchie Whorton, HD22 Tommy Hanes, HD23 Steve Livingston, SD8

Covington* w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

20

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Place 2

Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1

Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2

Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3

Terri Thomas

Richard Minor

Chris McCool

Bill Cole

COUNTY

DEMOCRAT

REPUBLICAN

COUNTY

Jefferson

Rod Scott, HD55 Louise Alexander, HD56 Rolanda Hollis, HD58 Mary Moore, HD59

Tim Wadsworth, HD14 Kyle South, HD16 Dickie Drake, HD45 Jim Carns, HD48

Montgomery Kelvin Lawrence, HD69 Ronda Walker, SD25 Thad McClammy, HD76 Malcolm Calhoun, HD77 John Knight, SD26

Lamar

Kyle South, HD16 Tracy Estes, HD17 Gerald Allen, SD21

Morgan

Lauderdale

Humphrey Lee, HD3 Jamie Kiel, HD18

Pickens

Gerald Allen, SD21

Lawrence

Humphrey Lee, HD3 Paul Bussman, SD4

Pike

Wes Allen, HD89

Randolph

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Randy Price, SD13

Lee

Pebblin Warren, HD82 Pat “Patsy” Jones, HD83

Limestone

Perry

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Debbie Wood, HD38 Randy Price, SD13

Russell

Rich McAdams, BOE8 Parker Moore, HD4 Tom Butler, SD2

Lowndes

Kelvin Lawrence, HD69

Macon

Pebblin Warren, HD82

Madison

Laura Hall, HD19

DEMOCRAT

Parker Moore, HD4 Scott Stadthagen, HD9 Prince Chestnut, HD67

Pat “Patsy” Jones, HD83

Shelby

Dickie Drake, HD45 Jim Carns, HD48 April Weaver, HD49 Matt Fridy, HD73

St. Clair

Craig Lipscomb, HD30

Rich McAdams, BOE8 Mike Ball, HD10 Ritchie Whorton, HD22 Tom Butler, SD2 Sam Givhan, SD7 Steve Livingston, SD8

Talladega

Barbara Boyd, HD32

Ron Johnson, HD33 Del Marsh, SD12

Tallapoosa

Pebblin Warren, HD82

Melanie Hill, BOE2 Terry Martin, HD81

Tuscaloosa

Kyle South, HD16 Gerald Allen, SD21

Walker

Tim Wadsworth, HD14

Marion

Tracy Estes, HD17 Paul Bussman, SD4

Washington

Elaine Beech, HD65

Wilcox

Kelvin Lawrence, HD69

Marshall

Scott Stadthagen, HD9 Wes Kitchens, HD27

Winston

Adline Clarke, HD97 Sam Jones, HD99 Vivian Figures, SD33

Monroe

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Melanie Hill, BOE2

Sumter*

Marengo*

Mobile

REPUBLICAN

Willie Gray, HD102 Jack Williams, SD34

Tim Wadsworth, HD14 Tracy Estes, HD17 Paul Bussman, SD4

Elected Office Codes

BOE = State Board of Education HD = State House District SD = State Senate District

Harry Shiver, HD64

21

Alabama Farmers Federation

Political Action Committee

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Auto

. d a e h A d a o R e h T r o Freedom F AlfaInsurance.com

RED POWER

ROUND UP

By Debra Davis

and other cotton equipment manufactured by IH when pickers harvest specially prepared fields of cotton on the coliseum grounds.

“International Harvester produced the first commercially available mechanical cotton picker

area, women’s activities, tours of Montgomery, special seminars n international antique tractor and food stands. In addition to and equipment show will mechanical equipment, there will be at Montgomery’s Garrett be mule-drawn equipment and Coliseum showgrounds June blacksmith demonstrations.

13-16. The 29th annual Red Power An antique tractor parade Round Up is the world’s largest from Garrett Coliseum to the showcase of International Alabama State Capitol and Harvester (IH) products. historic downtown Montgomery Sponsored by Alabama is planned for June 13. The parade Chapter 23 of the IH Collectors will be on Dexter Avenue in front Club Worldwide, the event will of the Capitol at 11 a.m. feature offset tractors manufac“This show is really about tured by IH from 1939-1982. preserving our ag heritage,” “Offset tractors, such as Bodine said. “It will be the largest the Farmall A, Farmall Cub, collection of antique tractors in Farmall B and variations on our state and one of the largest the concept, were designed ever for the Southeast.” with the engine set to one side The Alabama Farmers of the machine,” said show Federation is sponsoring the chair and Chapter 23 President parade. Federation Executive Randy Bodine of Auburn. “The Director Paul Pinyan said he’s operator’s seat was built on the excited about a broader focus on other side allowing maximum an ag event in Alabama. visibility for the farmer “This is going to be a great while planting, cultivating or event for our state, and it’s nice harvesting crops.” to have the national spotlight on Vintage International cotton pickers will be among the featured exhibits at the show. They will operate in daily The show is expected to agriculture in Alabama,” he said. parades as well as cotton picking demonstrations right on draw visitors from throughout Admission is $10 per day or the show grounds. the U.S. and several foreign $25 for a four-day pass (12 and countries. Last year’s show in under free with an adult). Parking Des Moines, Iowa, attracted more 75 years ago,” Bodine said. “When is free, and showgrounds are open than 42,000 people. Bodine said he it went into volume production 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Show buildings are expects the economic impact of around 1950, it revolutionized how open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this year’s show to top $30 million cotton was harvested.”

For more information, visit for the state.

Other show attractions are rpru2018.com or contact Bodine at Red Power Round Up also will vendors, product exhibits, IH trucks (334) 749-4958 or show vice chair highlight antique cotton pickers and Scouts, parts, a children’s Gary Bell at (256) 303-9525. n

A

75 Years

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

23

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

FFA Grant Bulks Up Hog Business For Aycock

By Marlee Moore

I

f 16-year-old Will Aycock has his way, the folks of Albertville will soon eat high on the north Alabama-raised hog.

Aycock is the sole Alabamian to receive a $1,000 National FFA grant this year, which he plans on using to bulk up the quality of his sounder of swine. He’ll harvest, process and sell the hogs as sausage at the Albertville Farmers Market this summer.

“I want people to know they can come and see the whole process of raising hogs,” said Aycock, a third-year grant recipient who lives in DeKalb County’s Whiton community. “It takes lots of time, money and feed to raise a hog. I want consumers to see and ask questions about farming.”

Selling farm-raised sausage to consumers is one aspect of Aycock’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), the real-world component of agriscience education. FFA and classroom experience are the other elements.

Aycock’s father, Gary, is among four agriscience teachers at Albertville High School (AHS), where the younger Aycock is a sophomore.

The 22-year veteran teacher and FFA adviser said his son’s SAE has evolved.

“He’s developed an SAE into a product for the public,” Gary said, noting 152 grants were allocated nationwide this year. “He’s gone from a breeder to a producer of consumer goods.”

Aycock began his SAE in eighth grade, but the project’s foundation was laid earlier.

Showing lambs launched his foray into agriculture at just 4 years old. He traded in his lambbracing stance for a show pig stick two years later and began showing, raising and breeding pigs.

“My SAE isn’t just a project,” said Aycock, the Alabama FFA North District reporter and AHS w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

FFA chapter president. “It’s a lifestyle. I’m using my FFA skills to plug in experiences at home.”

When he’s not caring for animals, Aycock plays guitar or jump-starts his college studies through dual enrollment. He also volunteers at a veterinary clinic, a career path he said he hopes to pursue.

Aycock also shows pigs and has won scholarship money through the Alabama Pork

Will Aycock is using a $1,000 grant from National FFA to expand his dream of raising and selling pork at a local farmers market.

Producers at the Alabama National Fair livestock shows.

These days, the Aycock pig barn and pen is home to six show pigs, eight sows and one boar. Purchasing a registered Yorkshire breeding gilt is on Aycock’s checklist, a transaction that’ll eat up most of the grant, which was sponsored by lender Rabo AgriFinance.

Product from the new gilt’s progeny will be sold next year, but until then, Aycock’s other stock is ready to supply bulk and link sausage thanks to processing at a U.S. Department of Agriculturecertified facility in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

24

Aycock said his SAE goal is threefold — breed and raise quality hogs; deal fairly and honestly with consumers; and make a difference in his community.

Alabama FFA Executive Secretary Andy Chamness said he’s enjoyed seeing Aycock’s SAE transform.

“Will is a fantastic example of the work ethic and passion that every FFA member should possess,” Chamness said. “He deeply cares about agriculture and FFA and always reaches out to help others.”

A couple decades ago, DeKalb County was the largest hog-producing county in Alabama, Gary said. Changing growing practices shifted production to states like Iowa and North Carolina, though Alabama farms market about 327,000 pigs annually.

Aycock’s smaller-scale approach is rooted in his county’s agricultural history as his pig barn was part of a larger farm in years past.

His FFA experience is steeped in history, too. After all, his dad and mom Wendy introduced him to FFA at State Convention when he was 3.

“I remember seeing the older kids in their blue jackets,” Aycock said. “Now I’m one of those kids.”

To learn more or buy product, contact Aycock at (256) 677-8095. n

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CATCH

By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South

I

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t’s hotter than Hades right now.

You should feel it. It’s one of those weekend mornings when the crickets are awake before nine. Even they know it’s hot, and they like it.

The birds, too. There must be a gazillion different kinds, singing songs about the weekend. Bluebirds, catbirds, yellow hammers, chickadees, and whichever others live in my front yard. It’s like a church choir out there—minus the organ and collection plates.

The moisture in the air has turned into steam. I can taste it. It tastes like toilet water and Floridian pine needles.

I feel like I’m suffocating in a big sweaty puddle.

It’s magnificent.

My fishing gear sits on the porch behind me. My wife hates seeing it by the door, but I leave it out here for reason. I want to remind myself that there are more important things I could be doing.

Then again, it could be I’m too lazy to put it away.

As it happens, I caught several fish this weekend. Pretty ones. But I threw them all back. To tell you the truth, I don’t know why I did that. That’s not like me, going around liberating fish.

But the older I get, the more I find myself releasing them.

As a boy, this was a sin. In fact, only

a few months before Daddy died, I remember him saying, “Whenever God gives you a good fish, you don’t thumb your nose up at it.”

It’s funny, the things you remember from childhood.

Anyway, I’m not a child anymore.

And I’m not thumbing my nose at fish; I’m letting them go. There’s a difference.

After all, people can’t hold on to everything—neither good nor bad. The folks who try are usually afraid. Take me, for instance, I’ve been afraid a lot.

Fearful children hold on to every ugly thing that ever bites their hook.

They save it all, right in the boat, letting things flop around, until there isn’t room for passengers.

Afraid.

Well, it takes someone special to teach you how to throw fish back.

Someone who can hurl bad things back to where they came from. Who reminds you that you’re supposed to spend your years learning new jokes, eating chocolate ice cream, and singing with the radio.

If you’re lucky enough to find a soul like this, you’d better tell them how much they mean to you. And soon.

Because eventually, you’ll have to throw them back, too.

I’d go tell her now, but I can’t.

She sleeps late on weekends. n

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.

Farm Specialists Help Growers Maximize Coverage, Reduce Risk

By Marlee Moore

I

n 2013, the Cornutt family of Marshall County raised a spacious red barn on the foundation of an old poultry house. Rickey Cornutt added the barn to his Alfa Insurance policy and moved on raising corn, wheat, soybeans and cattle.

But nearly three years later, Cornutt, with help from Alfa Farm Services Representative Bryan Hornbuckle, saw an oversight — the nonexistent poultry house was still insured under the policy of his mother, Carolyn.

“It was a blessing for Bryan to come out and go over our farm policy,” said Cornutt, an Alabama Farmers Federation state board member. “It saved us money and added more insurance to our policy. You hope you never use the insurance, but when you need it, you’re grateful.”

Hornbuckle is one of 10 Farm Services representatives, licensed insurance agents who perform comprehensive farm reviews. Farm Services Supervisor Shane Wootten said their goal is simple — help farmers strategically maximize protection and minimize risk.

Alfa Insurance Farm Services Representative Bryan Hornbuckle met with the Cornutt family of Marshall County Feb. 20 in Boaz. From left are Hornbuckle, Alabama Farmers Federation state board member Rickey Cornutt, Nathan Cornutt and Chris Cornutt.

“One in three farms has an outbuilding or equipment needing to be insured or removed from the policy,” Wootten said. “When our guys visit a farm, they get a sense for what farmers need, whether it’s better liability coverage, an umbrella policy or changing the coverage amount on a depreciated piece of equipment.”

While working around the family’s busy schedule, Hornbuckle fine-tuned the Cornutts’ policies. First up: Recouping payments to Carolyn, an Alfa customer since 1964. Employer’s liability coverage was added, and Rickey’s brother Chris and Cornutt Farms LLC were added to the policy. All barn and equipment coverages were re-evaluated, several farm locations were added, and the Cornutts chose to more than triple farm liability coverage.

“I feel like to be a successful farmer, you need plenty of coverage because you never know what could happen,” Cornutt said.

Hornbuckle said many producers say farm reviews are the first time they understand the coverage they have — or don’t have.

“To do a thorough review, we have to learn about your farm and the risks you might have,” he said.

“We walk around the farm, note the equipment and buildings on the policy and see what needs to be added or deleted. If we see something we can’t insure, we let the farmer know how to correct it.”

The review depends on farm size and the farmer’s schedule. Representatives try to re-evaluate farms every three or four years.

“Bryan took care of us,” Cornutt said. “After consulting with him, we took out a $1 million umbrella policy. That’s a good bit of money, but we felt for our size operation, it would help us sleep better.

Sometimes I wonder if it’s enough.”

Contact a local Alfa agent to learn more. n

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26

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

Durdin Promoted To Federation Director Of External Affairs

T

he Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed longtime employee Matthew Durdin to its management team April Durdin 23, when he was promoted to director of external affairs.

“As an area organization director, I enjoyed our grassroots political involvement, especially working with candidates who mirrored the values of our members,” Durdin said. “I’m excited to be back in the field, where I’ll work with Federation leaders and future political leaders through the election process.”

In his new role, Durdin will lead the Federation’s Research Consultants efforts and provide strategic direction for the organization’s electoral actions, said Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan.

“Matthew brings enthusiasm and vision to the management team,” Pinyan said. “We look forward to working with him to strengthen our political and research activities.”

The Auburn University agricultural economics graduate joined the Federation in 2000 as an area organization director in northwest Alabama. He most recently served as legislative programs director for the state Senate since 2013 and is a graduate of the Alfa Leadership Academy.

The Jacksonville native lives in Auburn with wife Nicole and their children, 16-year-old Jackson and 14-year-old twins Anne Marie and Will. The Durdins attend Auburn United Methodist Church. n

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

27

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

IT’S NOT JUST CHICKEN FEED

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2018 ANNUAL MEETING DATES, TIMES & LOCATIONS COUNTY AUTAUGA BLOUNT CALHOUN CHEROKEE CHILTON CHOCTAW CLARKE COFFEE COLBERT COVINGTON CRENSHAW CULLMAN DALE DALLAS ELMORE ETOWAH GENEVA HENRY HOUSTON JACKSON LIMESTONE LOWNDES MADISON MARSHALL MOBILE MONROE PIKE SUMTER WALKER WASHINGTON WILCOX

DATE Wed., Aug. 15 Thu., Aug. 16 Thu., Aug. 9 Fri., Aug. 10 Tue., Aug. 14 Tue., Aug. 21 Tue., Aug. 28 Tue., July 10 Mon., Aug. 27 Thu., Aug. 23 Thu., Sept. 13 Thu., Aug. 9 Mon., Aug. 13 Tue., Sept. 11 Tue., July 17 Mon., Aug. 13 Tue., Aug. 21 Tue., Aug. 7 Thu., Aug. 30 Tue., Aug. 7 Thu., Aug. 16 Tue., Sept. 4 Mon., Aug. 6 Tue., Aug. 28 Thu., July 26 Thu., Aug. 30 Thu., July 12 Mon., July 16 Tue., Aug. 28 Mon., Aug. 13 Thu., July 26

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

TIME 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM

BUILDING Autauga County Ag Center Frank J. Green Building Calhoun Co. Federation Office Dean Buttram Senior Center Alfa Service Center Alfa Service Center Alfa Service Center Community Room Hospitality House NWS College Oakwood Lodge Alfa Service Center Cullman Farmers Federation Building Dale County Government Building Alfa Service Center Wetumpka High School Etowah County Federation Office Geneva County Farm Center Wiregrass Research & Extension Center Alfa Service Center Jackson County Federation Office First National Bank Southern Sportsman Lodge Early Works Museum Marshall County Federation Office Jon Archer Center Monroe County Soil & Water Building Alfa Service Center Alfa Service Center Walker County Farmers Federation Bldg.

Alfa Service Center Gaines Ridge 29

ADDRESS 2224 Hwy. 14 W 415 5th Ave. East 1535 Pelham Rd. S 229 Dean Buttram Ave. 301 1st St. N 229 S. Mulberry Ave. 148 S. Jackson St. 1055 E. McKinnon St. 800 George Wallace Blvd.

13725 Brooklyn Rd. 357 S. Forest Ave. 307 Main Ave. SW 202 Hwy. 123 S 403 Broad St. 1281 Coosa River Pkwy.

125 Broad St. 2765 E. State Hwy. 52 167 E. State Hwy. 134 1038 Ross Clark Circle NE 23625 John T. Reid Pkwy.

1880 US Hwy. 72 E 9022 US Hwy. 80 W 404 Madison St. SE 1333 Blount Ave. 1070 Schillinger Road N 334 Agriculture Dr. 1208 S. Brundidge St. 106 Marshall Street 903 Airport Rd. S 54 Court Street 933 AL - 10

CITY Autaugaville Oneonta Jacksonville Centre Clanton Butler Grove Hill New Brockton Muscle Shoals Andalusia Luverne Cullman Ozark Selma Wetumpka Gadsden Hartford Headland Dothan Scottsboro Athens Tyler Huntsville Guntersville Mobile Monroeville Troy Livingston Jasper Chatom Camden

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

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Don’t forget about the Built Ford Tough F-150 Sweepstakes!** Text the word SWEEPS to 46786*** to enter! *Program 36238: $500 Bonus Cash offer exclusively for active AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NM, NC, ND, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. Offer is valid through 1/2/2019 for the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2017/2018/2019 model year Ford vehicle. Not available on Shelby GT350®, Shelby® GT350R, Mustang BULLITT, Ford GT, Focus RS and F-150 Raptor. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be a member for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase. Limit one Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease. Limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per Farm Bureau member during program period. See your Ford Dealer for complete details and qualifications. **NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF U.S. OR D.C., 21 YEARS OR OLDER WITH VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE TO ENTER AND A CURRENT FARM BUREAU MEMBER. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 9/30/2018. For entry and official rules with complete eligibility, prize description and other details, visit www.FordFarmBureauAdvantage.com. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, One American Road, Dearborn, MI 48126. ***Autodialed marketing messages will be sent to the number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase or entry. Message and data rates may apply.

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Alfafarmers.org/perks Benefits are subject to change without notice.

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Visit fordspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/al and chose your vehicle of interest, Ford or Lincoln, to take advantage of this exclusive special offer today! *Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. Must be an eligible Alabama Farmers Federation member for at least 30 consecutive days and a resident of the United States. This offer may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Limit one $500 Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease. Limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per member J U N Eprogram / S U M Mperiod.

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Alabama Extension Beef Basics

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Alabama beef producers used online courses, iBooks, and webinars to improve on-farm management and reported an estimated savings of

$

93

per head of beef cattle.

We Believe in Farm Profitability

ROI = 53:1

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The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Everyone is welcome! Š 2018 by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. www.aces.edu ACES-2432

Pollinators Irreplaceable Puzzle Pieces

By Katie Nichols

C

hampions of the green and growing, pollinators play an irreplaceable role in gardens, flowerbeds and cropland.

More than honey makers and hive-builders, bees are essential to the most important layer of the food chain — pollination.

“Honeybees never send a bill,” said Alabama Urban Extension Agent Sallie Lee. “It seems many people have taken their services for granted far too long.”

Bees are essential to pollination of one-third of the food humans consume. Lee said in many foreign countries where pollinator populations were harmed, orchard workers are paid to climb into fruit trees with feathers to pollinate.

Higher agricultural production costs wouldn’t allow U.S. producers to pay people to complete a job pollinators have done free for so long.

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Bees sting — but there’s no truth to the saying “the only good bee is a dead bee.” Pollinators are important. Without bees, humans would go without many favorite foods, fruits and flowers.

Lee said while the U.S. has valuable native pollinators, no native bees produce harvestable honey, and not all are equally effective pollinators. For years, honeybees were thought to have originated in Africa, but a recent study suggests an Asian origin.

European settlers are the first known transporters of bees into the U.S. “All bees pollinate,” Lee said.

“Honeybees are unique in their mobility for pollination and their ability to be managed in hives.”

Called flying livestock by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, honeybee numbers are enormous in a hive. Their power in numbers

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allows bees to pollinate crops from one side of the country to the other.

One such example is the almond crop in California.

“Eighty percent of the world’s almond crop is grown in California,” Lee said. “The volume of almonds produced requires one-half of the country’s bees to do the job. For this reason, when it’s time to pollinate almond trees, tractor-trailer loads of bees can be seen traveling across the country to California.”

As many become aware of pollinators’ value, others, like producers and home gardeners, are taking steps on larger scales to protect them.

Bees are important. Heed application instructions on labels — particularly those intended for insect control, and provide an opportunity for pollinators to feed locally.

No matter the operation’s size, Lee said following those guidelines can potentially improve the state of Alabama’s pollinator population. n

Protecting

Pollinators

1 2

Overcome the fear of bees.

Most bees only sting if threatened, or if honey is being harvested from their hive.

Use insecticides and herbicides carefully. While many major companies take steps to protect pollinators, misuse of inputs in the yard and garden is a big issue. Read the label and apply according to directions.

3

Attract and feed pollinators.

An entire landscape can be a pollinator garden — filled with herbs, shrubbery, trees and perennials.

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Photos by: Van Chaplin

By Lois Chaplin

D

oes the word hibiscus bring to mind a beautiful, red, summer flower? One that’s bought every year? If so, there’s a nice surprise in store. A few of the other hibiscuses are members of the extensive mallow family. Those have characteristics of hibiscuslike flowers but will come back each summer, unlike their tropical cousin.

Texas star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), also called swamp hibiscus, is native to the Southeast and bears bright red flowers, too. It can grow to 8 feet and bears 4- to 5-inch red flowers in the summer.

This plant is taller than it is wide, growing in a clump of sturdy, upright stems that give it a strong vertical form. While the bloom is star shaped, hybrids of this hibiscus such as Midnight Marvel look a lot more like their tropical cousin.

Seashore mallow (Kosteletzkya virginica) dazzles with so

many 3-inch pink, hibiscus-shaped flowers in mid-summer it’s hard to see foliage. It has many lateral branches, spreading to about 5-feet tall and 6- to 8-feet wide each season, and dies back with the frost. As the name infers, it grows naturally along the seashore and salt marshes of the coastal plains as far north as Delaware, making it a good choice for beach landscapes.

However, seashore mallow thrives in many soil types, providing it doesn’t dry out while it’s in bloom.

It’s a striking choice for a sunny flower border.

Rose mallow is an old-fashioned perennial derived from marsh mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, which is native to the Eastern U.S. The white flowers with a red center are about 5 inches in diameter, but it has been hybridized so much that its blooms may be the size of a dinner plate. Plants grow upright on strong stems 5- to 7-feet tall.

Because they’re so tall with large blooms, the stems often need staking for support during summer showers. There are many selections of rose mallow that include various shades of red and pink.

All these hibiscus relatives tolerate many soil types, but are a great choice for overly moist spots where other things often rot. They need full sun for the best flowering, and all attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Dependable and easy to grow, they offer something different for the garden without special care. Cut to the ground after freezing weather browns the stems. Plants sprout anew from the ground in spring.

Planting can start now or wait until fall when cool weather makes it easier to keep newly set plants alive. Nurseries offering a good selection of native perennials should have at least one of these, or ask a favorite nursery to order.

Plants are also available online. Be sure to verify the scientific name.

Like other hibiscuses, these flowers close in late afternoon, so locate plants where blooms can be enjoyed with a morning coffee. n Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

HOT DEALS - SUMMER SAVINGS • WWW.ALAFARM.COM w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

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Jay, 16, tries different varieties each year. His favorite so far is Obsession, a tender variety that must be harvested by hand.

“That’s definitely the hardest part — getting up early on those hot, wet summer mornings and going out to the fields to pick it, but he does it, and his customers love it,” Shannon said. “He even sold to a restaurant last summer.”

Shannon, a science teacher at Meridianville Middle School, teaches students to grow corn and other crops as part of a hands-on curriculum that pairs science concepts with agriculture.

“It’s called Fostering Environmental and Agricultural Scientists for Tomorrow (FEAST),” Shannon said. “The students grow crops like corn and strawberries, and we study the science going on behind it.

It’s so great to see kids — my own and my students — be exposed to growing their own food. It teaches them a lot of responsibility, as well as makes science come alive.” n PARTY TEXAS CAVIAR Courtesy of Shannon Moore Start-to-finish: 30 minutes

By Jill Clair Gentry

S

weet corn is the vegetable world’s sweetest offering.

Every bite bursts with a simple sweetness and crunch that makes the Southern summer staple better than candy.

In Alabama, sweet corn season begins in June and ends in September and is one of the most popular summer vegetables at farmers markets and roadside stands. Preparation is simple and fast, and sweet corn makes a perfect side for just about any meal.

Madison County’s Shannon Moore has been cooking with sweet corn since she was a little girl.

“I learned a lot of my corn

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recipes from my grandmother,” she said. “She always made her creamed corn with half sweet corn, half field corn, and it was just the perfect level of sweetness.”

Shannon’s husband Brandon grew up growing and cooking sweet corn, too, so the couple was eager to support their oldest son Jay when he decided to start growing and selling sweet corn five years ago.

“It’s his summer job — he does everything, and we are so proud of him,” Shannon said. “He manages the books, plants the seeds, harvests it, takes orders and even delivers to his customers now that he can drive.”

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2 14-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed 14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed 14-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes, drained 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 bunch of green onions, sliced 1 orange bell pepper, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 3 jalapenos, minced 1 cup fresh grape or cherry tomatoes, halved 3-4 ears fresh grilled corn, cooled and removed from cob Dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 3 cloves garlic 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

In a large bowl, mix all vegetables. Combine dressing ingredients and pour over vegetables; gently stir. Best if refrigerated an hour before serving.

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

GRILLED SWEET CORN Courtesy of Shannon Moore Start-to-finish: 45 minutes Serves 8

SIMPLE CORN MAQUE CHOUX Courtesy of Brandon Moore Start-to-finish: 20 minutes Serves 4

8 ears fresh sweet corn Several tablespoons vegetable oil 1 stick butter, softened Herbs (optional) Salt and pepper to taste

Heat charcoal or gas grill.

Use the boiled corn on the cob recipe to prepare corn, allowing the corn to sit for 10-15 minutes after adding to the boiling water.

Remove corn from water and pat dry. Lightly coat corn with vegetable oil. Scrape grill grates, then apply oil to the grates using a paper towel and tongs to prevent sticking.

Grill corn until charred. Remove from grill.

If desired, mix butter with 1-2 tablespoons of herbs, such as parsley and chives, and season corn with herbed butter and salt and pepper to taste.

SOUTHERN CREAM-STYLE CORN Courtesy of Shannon Moore Start-to-finish: 1 hour Serves 8

!

16-20 ears fresh sweet corn 1 cup water 6 tablespoons bacon drippings 3 tablespoons flour Salt to taste

2 tablespoons bacon grease or olive oil 2/3 cup chopped celery 2/3 cup chopped bell peppers 2/3 cup chopped onions Cajun seasoning to taste 1 package of Conecuh sausage, sliced 1 recipe Southern cream-style corn

In a large skillet, heat bacon grease or oil and saute celery, bell peppers and onions. Add Cajun seasoning and Conecuh sausage. Cook until sausage is browned. Stir in cream-style corn. As mixture begins to bubble, turn on low heat to keep warm until ready to serve.

This variation of cream-style corn turns a side dish into a full meal and works especially well with sweet corn from the freezer.

Husk and silk corn; wash. In a large bowl, slice corn kernels off the cob. Use the knife to scrape the cob to extract as much milk as possible (16-20 ears should produce at least 1 quart).

Add 1 cup water to the corn mixture.

Heat bacon drippings in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat, then add flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes. Add corn mixture to skillet and reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until corn has thickened. If corn becomes too thick, add more water. Stir often.

ELOTÉS (GRILLED MEXICAN STREET CORN) Courtesy of Brandon Moore Start-to-finish: 45 minutes (15 minutes active) Grilled sweet corn Butter Kosher salt Mexican Cotija cheese (or Parmesan) Tajin seasoning Mayonnaise (optional)

Butter Salt to taste

After grilling sweet corn, season with butter, salt, cheese and Tajin, which is available at most supermarkets on the international foods aisle. This is the secret to salty, tangy street corn popular in some Latin American countries. For an even tangier taste, smear mayonnaise on the ear before adding the other ingredients.

JUNE/SUMMER 2018

BOILED CO RN ON TH E COB Courtesy of Shannon M oore Start-to-fin ish: 30-45 m inutes (20 minutes 6-8 ears fres active) h sw

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eet corn

Shuck corn , then clean brush, rem well with a oving all co vegetable rn silks.

Bring 4 quar ts of water into boiling to a boil; pl ace ears water and im mediately tu heat. Allow rn off the corn to sit fo r as few as for firmer co 15 minutes rn, or 30 m inutes for m corn. Serve ore tender with butter and salt.

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