18 minute read
Alfa Foundation Awards 100 In-State Scholarships
Alfa Foundation Awards $100,000 In College Scholarships
By Mary Wilson
Alabama students who will be the state’s next engineers, nurses and teachers — among other business professionals — earned $1,000 college scholarships from the Alfa Foundation.
The 100 recipients hail from 52 counties and will attend 21 institutions.
“It’s important for young people to get a good education,” said Alfa Insurance President Jimmy Parnell. “These students represent the future of our state, and I’m glad we can support them through these scholarships.”
Scholarships are awarded based on academics, participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience and goals. The program is administered through Scholarship America and recipients must be Alabama Farmers Federation members.
Throughout its history, the Alfa Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded $850,000 to students studying at Alabama technical schools, colleges and universities. The award may be used toward tuition, fees, books or supplies.
View recipient photos by visiting fb.com/AlfaInsurance.
This year’s recipients and their schools, listed by county, are:
Autauga County
Jackson Manning, freshman
Baldwin County
Madalyn Maurin, freshman, Montevallo
Barbour County
Leland Anderson, freshman, Auburn
Bibb County
John Watkins, sophomore, Alabama
Bullock County
Richard Cochran, freshman, Auburn George Cochran, sophomore, Auburn
Butler County
Samuel Lowery, freshman, Mobile
Calhoun County
Jacob Lee, senior, Auburn
Cherokee County
Bryan East, freshman, Gadsden State CC Claire Williams, freshman, Gadsden State CC
Chilton County
Emma Locke, freshman, Auburn
Choctaw County
Kathryn Wigley, junior, Alabama
Clarke County
Quentin Brown, senior, USA
Coffee County
Lougener Wyrosdick, freshman, Huntingdon
Conecuh County
Avie Etheridge, senior, Troy
Covington County
Madeline Pugh, senior, UNA
Crenshaw County
Adam Carlisle, junior, Auburn
Cullman County
Lillimae Allen, senior, Mobile Andrew Conway, freshman, Auburn Townley Cornelius, junior, Alabama Abigail Kusz, freshman, UNA Ben Tankersley, freshman, Auburn
Dallas County
Elizabeth Adams, senior, Alabama Andrew Morris, freshman, Auburn Sarah Thomas, freshman, Auburn
DeKalb County
Hannah Buffington, sophomore, JSU David Fischer, freshman, Northeast Alabama CC
Elmore County
Richard Burleson, freshman, Auburn Jackson Hand, junior, Auburn Judson Hardin, junior, Auburn Abigail Luster, sophomore, Auburn
Escambia County
Winfred Brittain, sophomore, UAB
Etowah County
Anna Giles, junior, Birmingham-Southern
Fayette County
Maggie Hammack, freshman, UAH
Franklin County
Hailey Cantrell, freshman, Northwest-Shoals CC Destiny Deaton, senior, UNA
Hale County
Conrad Taylor, freshman, Marion Military Institute
Houston County
Bailey Anderson, senior, UAB Gillian Bailey, sophomore, Troy Vivian Crump, freshman, Samford Laura Meadows, freshman, Alabama Addison Reynolds, junior, Troy Hannah Seales, sophomore, Auburn
Jackson County
Lauren Paradise, freshman, Alabama
Jefferson County
Stella Bell, freshman, USA Erin Denenberg, junior, Auburn
Landon Erbrick, junior, Auburn Sydney Gann, freshman, UNA Jackson Harris, junior, Auburn Lacey Walker, junior, Alabama
Lamar County
Annalisa Robertson, junior, Samford
Lauderdale County
Bethany Belue, senior, UNA Jenna Mosley, junior, UNA Kristen Walker, freshman, Southern Union
State CC
Lawrence County
Katie Jett, freshman, Auburn
Lee County
Emily Coshatt, sophomore, Auburn Riley Curtis, freshman, Auburn Kaycie Mashburn, senior, Troy Seth Roarke, freshman, Samford Seth Walker, sophomore, Auburn
Limestone County
Olivia Norwood, freshman, Auburn
Lowndes County
Margaret Holladay, freshman, Auburn
Macon County
Colby Cox, sophomore, Huntingdon
Madison County
Parker Johns, freshman, Auburn Winton Williams, freshman, Auburn Sarah Bates, freshman, Alabama
Marengo County
Mary Sheffield, junior, UWA
Marion County
Anna Ary, freshman, UNA
Marshall County
Jon Royster, junior, Auburn Lucas Sanders, freshman, Auburn
Mobile County
Sarah Campitelli, sophomore, Auburn Marc Marquis, sophomore, Mobile Hannah Miller, freshman, UAB Leah Robinson, freshman, Alabama Nicholas Schock, senior, USA Ryan Waite, freshman, UAH
Monroe County
Carly Black, freshman, Auburn Madeline Hobbs, junior, Troy Ava Hobbs, freshman, Auburn
Montgomery County
Elizabeth Parker, freshman, Auburn Katherine Warren, freshman, Alabama
Morgan County
Gavin Lee, freshman, Auburn
Randolph County
Emery Norred, junior, Auburn Samantha Yarbrough, junior, Auburn
Russell County
Georgia-Lee Smith, sophomore, Auburn
Shelby County
Ross Tolbert, sophomore, Auburn Brooks Tolbert, senior, UAH
St. Clair County
Harper Bell, junior, UAB Madison Comans, sophomore, Samford Sarah Conaway, freshman, Auburn Blakeley Goodgame, freshman, Auburn
Tallapoosa County
Madison Barnett, freshman, Alabama
Tuscaloosa County
Madelyn Clary, sophomore, Shelton State CC Callie Corley, senior, Alabama Rylan Corley, freshman, Alabama Bradleigh Taylor, freshman, Alabama Joshua Wiggins, senior, Alabama
Walker County
Sophia Poolos, freshman, USA Luke Sparkman, freshman, USA
Winston County
Emma Nethery, freshman, Bevill State CC
Farming On The Side:
Finding The Benefits Of Off-Farm Work
By Tanner Hood
Asteady income, insurance and the opportunity to share the good news about agriculture — that’s why nursery owner Scott Poague, 40, is also a full-time agriscience teacher at Elmore County High School.
“I’m passionate about agriculture,” Poague said. “I want to share everything I can with people and show students how our food and fiber are produced.”
Set atop rolling terraces created decades ago, Poague Tree Farm and Nursery has become a staple in Elmore County’s Fleahop community. From roses and hydrangeas to oaks and magnolias, Poague considers his operation a hobby that will eventually grow into a full-time business.
“My plan when I retire from teaching is to have this farm and be able to transition to operating it full time,” Poague said.
During the school year, Poague heads to the farm after the final bell. He then slips on work boots and begins pruning to provide the best possible products for his customers.
“I’m usually not on the farm till 3:30 p.m. because I have to take care of my kids as a teacher first,” he said.
Poague is a member of a growing movement of people who work full-time jobs while operating farms on the side. These farms play an important role in agriculture, an industry at the whim of weather and ever-changing markets. Small farms are an increasingly popular way for young people starting their careers to pursue dreams of working in agriculture.
Take Whitney Blackmon, the Tallapoosa County Young Farmers Committee chairman and manager of Auburn University’s (AU) Beef Teaching Unit.
“It’s what Steven and I truly love to do,” Whitney said of working on the farm alongside her husband. “Agriculture is something we’re passionate about and blessed to do. I’m thankful we get to share that.”
Whitney’s love of agriculture developed while playing on family land as a child. That passion grew while studying animal sciences production management and agribusiness at AU. Today, Whitney and Steven, the Alabama Farmers Federation Area 4 Organization director, operate a commercial beef cattle herd in Camp Hill.
Despite their affinity for agriculture, full-time farming isn’t yet feasible for the Blackmons.
“We don’t have enough land to justify me farming full-time,” Whitney said. “With the cost of land and other materials, you have to take what you can afford, and we’re grateful for what God has blessed us with so far.”
For now, Whitney is content getting a double dose of cattle at home and work. After working with students and a herd raised for research, she comes home, jumps in the farm truck and drives five minutes down the road to feed more cows.
“It’s great being able to interact with the students and help them learn, grow and discover things about themselves and where they want to go in life,” she said. “We try to let our students know what other work options are available for them in agriculture.”
Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer said small farms aren’t just for young agriculture professionals like Whitney and Poague. Many farmers are medical professionals, lawyers, firefighters, bankers and others. They also range from new-tofarming teens to pros with decades of experience. “More and more, young farmers hold down two jobs — on and off the farm,” McBrayer said. “With the increased cost of entering the agricultural industry, this model is one of the best ways to start a farm, minimize risks and hopefully move into a full-time position one day. Whether they are full- or part-time, young or old, we are excited to see farmers working to provide food, fiber and shelter to our growing world.”
Scott Poague prepares an azalea for a customer at his nursery in Fleahop. Whitney and Steven Blackmon juggle off-farm jobs while raising cattle in Tallapoosa County.
The Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed Maggie Edwards as its ag communications specialist July 11. Edwards is a familiar face for the state’s largest farm organization as a former Federation Broadcast Division intern.
In her new role, Edwards will visit farms and create content for Neighbors magazine and the Federation website; produce the biweekly Cultivator leadership e-newsletter; manage the Federation’s social media platforms; and implement special promotional projects.
“Last summer, I was able to get to know some of the kindest, hardest working people in Alabama,” said Edwards, 22. “I believe God has placed me back with the Alabama Farmers Federation for a reason, and I am so excited to serve this organization and tell the stories of our farmers.”
Edwards brings a wealth of agricultural knowledge to the organization, in addition to existing relationships with Federation members. These were cultivated through time as a state FFA officer, her 2021 internship and her childhood on a poultry farm in Woodland in Randolph County. This May, Edwards graduated from Mississippi State University (MSU) with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, leadership and communications with a concentration in agricultural communications. At MSU, she was involved with the Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, was an Ag Ambassador and worked on campus creating social media content for the School of Human Sciences.
Edwards also served as president of MSU’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow organization. Federation Publications Director Marlee Moore praised Edwards for her creativity, humility and passion for serving Alabama farmers. “Maggie gets our members,” Moore said. “She put boots on the ground and spent time with our farmers during her broadcast internship, and as the daughter of a farmer, she understands the simultaneous satisfaction and struggle of farm life. As we build on her skill set for print and digital Edwards communications, I’m excited to see Maggie further her relationships with our members.” Edwards graduated from Woodland High School in 2018 and is the daughter of Greg and Sandee Edwards and granddaughter of long-time Randolph County Farmers Federation board member H.G. Miles. She currently lives in Auburn.
Alfa Honors Alabama Athletes, Coaches During World Games
By Jeff Helms
Outstanding Alabama athletes and coaches were recognized on an international stage by Alfa Insurance® and the Alabama Farmers Federation during The World Games July 13.
Courtney Sides of Elmore County High School in Eclectic and Xavier Sutton of Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School in Montgomery were honored alongside coaches JoVanka Ward of Ramsay High School in Birmingham and Clifford Story of Lanett High School in Lanett.
Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan said the organization was proud to spotlight Alabama high school athletics as part of its World Games sponsorship.
“When we had the opportunity to step up as a corporate citizen and support this great event, one of the first things we said was, ‘We want to celebrate high school athletes and coaches,’” Pinyan said. “Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation have a long history of supporting education and athletics through our partnership with the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), the Bryant-Jordan scholarship program, Alabama’s Teacher of the Year and much more.
“We were excited to recognize student athletes and the coaches who invest so much in their futures as we welcomed world-class competitors to our state.”
The outstanding athletes and coaches were presented awards before the aerobic and rhythmic gymnastics competition at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Legacy Arena. Alfa later hosted a reception for honorees in the nearby Uptown Birmingham dining district. Alfa’s sponsorship also included Athletes’ Night at Jones Valley Teaching Farm.
Sides, who serves with Sutton on the AHSAA Student Leadership Group, said The World Games experience is one she’ll remember for a lifetime.
“It is a tremendous honor and blessing for me and my family to be recognized as Female Athlete of the Year,” said Sides. “It was amazing to see incredible athletes from all over the world come together to compete in the sports they love. It was truly inspiring, and I thank Alfa Insurance, the Alabama Farmers Federation and The World Games for taking time to recognize this small-town girl for doing what she loves.”
During The World Games, Birmingham welcomed 3,600 athletes from 100 countries to compete in over 30 sports. The 11-day event marked the 40th anniversary of the games and only the second time an American city has hosted the competition since 1981. The World Games is composed of 37 international sports federations and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Alabama Farmers Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan helped recognize outstanding Alabama athletes and coaches during The World Games. From left are Pinyan; JoVanka Ward, Ramsay High School; Xavier Sutton, Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School; Courtney Sides, Elmore County High School; and Clifford Story, Lanett High School.
My friend’s mother, Miss Sylvia, is making cornbread. Her house is alive with the smell. The 72-year-old woman cooks cornbread the old-fashioned way. An iron skillet in the oven. Lots of butter.
Sylvia tests the hot bread by poking it with a broom bristle. If the bristle is gummy, she returns the skillet to the oven. If not, it’s Cornbread-Thirty.
I watch this bristle maneuver. She breaks a piece of straw from her broom. I don’t want to ask but have to.
“Is that broom clean?” I say.
“Relax. It’s just one bristle.”
“But is it clean?”
“Defi ne clean.”
So this cornbread might kill me. But then, I’m a guest, I HAVE to eat it.
Still, I love cornbread. My mother used to make it a few times per week. Primarily because it was cheap.
You always knew when it was cornbread night because my mother would make a fresh pot of boiling bacon grease with a few navy beans fl oating in it. She called it bean and ham soup. I call it cardiac arrest stew.
I consider cornbread the fi ngerprint of a good cook. No two make it alike.
The ladies in my childhood church, for instance, made skillet cornbread. The Methodist women across the street made cornbread sticks.
Methodist cornbread sticks were legendary. They were cooked in cobshaped pans and crispy on the outside.
My wife’s mother made cornbread with jalapenos and cheese. It was good with a capital “G."
I have eaten cornbread in almost every state. In Pennsylvania, it was johnnycakes. In West Virginia, hot water cornbread.
The cornbread I had in Kentucky was made with pork cracklings. They called it cracklin’ bread. I called it, “Yes, please, don’t mind if I do.”
The stuff in New Mexico was served with a bowl of fi ve-alarm chili. This chili was so hot it almost killed me.
The cornbread in Texas was 10 inches high, slathered in sweet butter.
The cornbread near Sand Mountain, Alabama, was lace cornbread.
And of course, my wife’s cornbread moves me deeply.
When she brings her cornbread to covered dish suppers, it is still in the skillet, piping hot. People usually smile because they know it’s going to be good. You can see it on their faces.
Just like the face I’m wearing. Miss Sylvia brings out plates and one large dish of butter. Her cornbread is soft, tall and delicate. It is made by the hands of a woman who has reared children, packed a million school lunches, given midnight advice around a kitchen table, planned weddings, and prepared food for her late husband’s funeral.
Her cornbread is everything I love about America and then some.
And though it's contaminated by a bristle, I’ve decided it won't kill me. ■
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.
It’s time to reserve strawberry plugs for October delivery!
• 50 plugs per tray • Plugs have an intact root ball • Plugs establish quickly Best of all Plant plugs in October and harvest sweet strawberries in the Spring!
FREE CATALOG
2022 County Annual Meetings
Crenshaw | Thurs., Sept. 8 | 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center 357 S. Forest Ave., Luverne Dallas | Tues., Sept. 13 | 6:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center 403 Broad St., Selma Lowndes | Thurs., Sept. 8 | 6:30 p.m. Southern Sportsman Lodge 9022 U.S. Hwy. 80 W., Tyler Marengo | Tues., Sept. 13 | 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center 206 Shiloh St., Linden Monroe | Mon., Sept. 12 | 6:30 p.m. Monroe County Ag Center 334 Agriculture Dr., Monroeville Winston | Thurs., Sept. 8 | 6:00 p.m. American Legion Garrison Bonds Post 184 60 New Legion Rd., Double Springs
Moody Sponsored By Alabama Ag Credit Britt
Enjoy this excerpt from an Alabama AgCast featuring Alabama Farmers Federation Creative Technical Director Mike Moody and Katie Britt, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and FarmPAC-endorsed candidate.
Mike Moody: You made securing the Alabama Farmers Federation endorsement a priority in your race. Tell us why that was so important to you.
Katie Britt: We knew it was the most integral part of making our nomination happen. We began conversations and started attending meetings of the Farmers Federation. As you well know, the Federation has the absolute best reputation in this state for its integrity, character, work ethic and values. Outside of our military, there are no better people than our farmers. We knew this would be an important part of the foundation of securing the Republican nomination.
MM: Let’s fast forward a little bit. Picture yourself in office. What are some of the priorities you see when you hit the ground running in D.C.?
KB: First off, it is preserving the values of faith, family and freedom. We know the most important thing in life is our relationship with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and making sure that continues to come first. There are so many things we need to tackle. One is securing our border. You look at what’s happening abroad. We need leaders that understand you achieve peace through strength. We have to become energy independent — and not just independent but energy dominant. We have the natural resources here at our fingertips. Our farmers are seeing the ramifications of this firsthand because we know that energy affects everything from irrigation to fertilizer and all the way to the plate.
MM: We’re so excited you are our voice and you’re going to take that to Washington to fight for the rights of farmers and the values we hold so dear.
KB: Thank you to the entire Federation family. When I say these are the most incredible people, I say that with every ounce of me. There is a reason we won 66 of 67 counties. It is because of people like you, people who are part of the Federation. I am incredibly honored to have earned your support, and I will work hard every day to make you proud.
The General Election is Nov. 8. Learn more about Britt at KatieBrittforSenate.com.
Catch the entire interview on the Alabama AgCast. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts or visit AlfaFarmers.org/agcast. New episodes available every Wednesday.
Much of Alabama’s drinking water comes from surface water, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect waterways. DeSoto Falls is one of the most popular waterways in Alabama and is located in DeSoto State Park.
The Tombigbee River is a valuable water resource in west Alabama.
Get Involved In Watershed Stewardship
By Cole Sikes
Water is one of Alabama’s most valuable natural resources. In its most basic form, water affects nearly all living organisms.
What’s the best way to ensure this vital resource remains protected?
Responsibility.
Much of Alabama’s drinking water comes from surface water. It’s everyone’s responsibility to protect waterways because they belong to all. Watershed stewardship makes all the difference in the longevity of Alabama’s natural resources.
About Alabama Watershed Stewards
The Alabama Watershed Stewards (AWS) program at Auburn University uses a special approach to involve people in addressing local water quality concerns. Each year, this program provides knowledge and tools needed to make a positive change.
Housed under the Auburn University Water Resources Center, AWS promotes healthy watersheds by conducting educational activities led by the Auburn University Water Resources Center and partners. The center is a partnership between the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Water Program and Alabama Water Watch.
AWS offers statewide educational training coordinated with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Additionally, AWS offers online training and resources as it strives to create long-term change by building social infrastructure, localizing water quality issues and providing tangible steps for improvement. Find AWS resources at aces.edu.
AWS Opportunities
AWS will host several training sessions this year. These one-day, in-person workshops across the state focus on specific watersheds and are designed to increase citizen awareness and knowledge about the function of watersheds, potential impairments and local watershed protection strategies. Watershed management planning workshops are other one-day, in-person opportunities to learn about watershed planning.
To see a list of AWS events, visit the Alabama Extension website calendar at aces.edu/calendar, and filter events by searching “Alabama Watershed Stewards.”
Online Course
Those unable to make it to one of the in-person events can enroll in a free online course. Participants move through topic modules and experience video lectures, discussion sections and quizzes. There are 0.7 continuing education units available for those who complete all course requirements. Sign up for the online AWS course at aub.ie/awsonline.
More Information
To find out about upcoming events in the new year, follow the Alabama Watershed Stewards Instagram account or contact stewards@auburn.edu to be added to the mailing list.
