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.
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In This Issue
4 | Meet Outstanding Young Farm Family Finalists 13 | Farmer Co-op Delivers Directly to Doorsteps 18 | Weaver Brothers Cut Into Meat Processing Market 21 | Kids Kollege Introduces Youth to Agriculture
24 | Make the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Count 10 On The Cover
For farmers like Daniel Trantham, the theme of summer has been persistent planting problems. Rain delayed his wheat harvest, while more moisture pushed soybean planting and critical field work into July.
Photo By Maggie Edwards
27 | Best Practices to Bait, Battle Fire Ants
YOUNG FARM FAMILIES VIE FOR TOP TITLE
OYFF competitors are between the ages of 18 and 35 and earn more than half their income from production agriculture. Contestant scores are based on farm growth, Federation involvement and civic service.
The Wendlands, Porters and Dixons were chosen following an application and interview during Young Farmers Conference in February. The OYFF will be named Aug. 16 during the Federation’s Farm & Land Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
By Marlee Jackson
Three hard-working families are in the running to earn the Alabama Farmers Federation’s top title for young farmers.
Finalists in the Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest are Drew and Lauren Wendland, Autauga County; Jacob and Misty Porter, Clay County; and Garrett and Robin Dixon, Lee County.
“It’s a privilege to know these families and recognize their drive and commitment to serving others,” said Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer. “Drew, Jacob and Garrett are strong men of faith who are leading their families with integrity. Likewise, Lauren, Misty and Robin are helpmates for their husbands and compassionate mothers who are raising the next generation of farmers.”
He added, “I’m convinced these aren’t just the best farm families in our state. They are the best this country has to offer.”
The OYFF prize package is worth more than $80,000. It includes $40,000 toward a Ford vehicle courtesy of Alfa Insurance and the Federation; a John Deere Gator from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor from John Deere, SunSouth and TriGreen.
The first runner-up family will receive a 250-hour lease on a Kubota tractor from Kubota. Corteva Agriscience will provide a custom chemical package for the second runner-up family. All finalists received custom cedar chairs from The Best Adirondack Chair Co.
While a substantial prize package and bragging rights are on the table, McBrayer said the OYFF contest is about more than accolades.
It’s a training ground for leaders.
“If you look back at the men and women who have competed in this contest, you see active leaders in their communities, in agriculture and in this state,” McBrayer said. “We are proud to invest in these families’ growth and look forward to seeing how they impact Alabama for years to come.”
The OYFF will represent Alabama during national competition at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Anaheim, California, in January.
THANK YOU, SPONSORS!
On Drew Wendland’s first date with his now-wife, the Auburn University sophomore was fun…but reserved.
Then, Lauren asked about Drew’s family and their farm in Autaugaville.
“I could just see his eyes lighting up telling me about ‘home,’” remembered Lauren.
She soon visited Autauga Farming Co., where cotton burst from bolls, cows nuzzled calves and Drew’s tight-knit family welcomed her into the fold. Just over a decade later, Drew and Lauren are making their mark on the farm while raising its sixth generation — Mills, 5, Smith, 4, and Rhett, 1.
As the farm’s crop production manager, Drew honors his agricultural heritage while improving each element that impacts agronomy. His father, Andy, and his youngest brother, Dan, have other duties, divvied by strengths and experience.
“My job is to never let the plants have a bad day,” said Drew, 31. “Every minute a plant stresses, yield or potential goes away, and it doesn’t come back.”
Drew’s shrewd decision-making maximizes efficiency, profitability and stewardship. Since returning to the farm in 2016, he’s created detailed budgets for cotton, corn, oats, sesame, soybeans and wheat, plus pasture and hayfields. Post-harvest data analysis gauges success.
A critical component of Drew’s production playbook is just that — an annually revised manual that documents techniques, anticipates issues and offers solutions by crop.
That’s been important as the farm’s workforce transitioned from seasoned employees to seasonal workforce with H-2A guest workers. As the de facto HR manager, Drew crafted standard operating procedures to ensure the team is informed and effective.
Meanwhile, Lauren brings balance to workers’ 10-month stints in the U.S.
“Now that I’m a mama, I think about what would happen if I sent my boys overseas to work on someone’s farm,” said Lauren, 31. “It takes a lot for these guys to come over here, and they deserve to be cared for and treated with respect.”
Compassion helps Lauren minister to others — whether taxiing her farm kid
The Wendland Family
AUTAUGA COUNTY
trio to the field, serving at Church Street Methodist Church in Selma or advising patients as a nurse practitioner. She’s a steadfast helpmate for Drew, too.
“Drew is very patient, and you can hardly farm without patience because there are a lot of things out of our control,” Lauren said. “He takes what God gives and rolls with it. Drew may have a hard day on the farm, but when he’s home, those little boys have no idea because he is in ‘daddy mode,’ and the patience continues.”
Drew is also tenacious. The second of five children, Drew developed a competitive spirit early, said his older sister, Katie Wendland Nichols.
“Drew sees something that he wants to do and goes after it with every fiber of his being,” Katie said. “That’s carried over into the way he is as a farmer and as a dad. He dreams big all the time and takes necessary steps to get to the end goal.”
Drew and Lauren’s oldest son exhibits that determination. Though just 5, Mills has already painstakingly planned for and added a small blueberry enterprise to the farm.
They’re supporting Mills’ entrepreneurship — an approach modeled by Drew’s grandfather, the late
Milton “Buzz” Wendland.
“If you have something you’re good at and think you can contribute it, my family has always encouraged us to do that,” Drew said. “Dan has done that with the cow herd. They let me do that with bringing technology into row cropping. Mills is just starting earlier.”
Ties to the farm community tighten the thread of agriculture woven through the Wendlands’ life. They serve within the Autauga County Farmers Federation and its Young Farmers program, plus national organizations and state entities, like the State Hay & Forage Committee. Drew is a graduate of the elite A.L.F.A. Leaders program Class V.
A man of faith, Drew finds inspiration in wisdom handed down from his great-grandfather, Will Howard Smith.
“He said of his father, McQueen Smith, that everything he did was marked with firmness, self-discipline, self-restraint, a high regard for right and wrong, and ambition to succeed in all undertakings,” Drew said. “For 31 years, I’ve been able to see my dad and my granddad exemplify those characteristics. I just hope and pray those are the same characteristics I leave in people’s mind when they remember me.”
The Porter Family
CLAY COUNTY
With rolling pastures, red poultry houses and black cattle nestled in foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Porter Farms is peaceful, productive and practically picture perfect.
It’s also testament to the power of childhood dreams.
“When I was a little boy, every time we would go to Walmart, I wanted to get a toy tractor and add it to my ‘farm,’” said Jacob Porter, 31. “I saw myself farming (as a career); I just didn’t know how it was going to happen.”
Jacob’s father and paternal grandfather raised hogs until the early 2000s, while his maternal grandparents were cattle farmers. Despite that strong foundation, market shifts and family members’ declining health curtailed hopes of continuing an active operation.
A farming future meant starting from near scratch.
Jacob began Porter Farms as a teen with a couple head of cattle — a herd that expanded while he earned a degree in electrical technology.
Today, the farm near Lineville in Clay County annually produces more than 3 million pounds of poultry and includes cattle, haylage and hogs.
It’s a fulfilling lifestyle, said Jacob’s wife, Misty.
“I love everything about it — being outside, being goal oriented,” said Misty, 32. “Whatever we’re doing, even if we’re just checking fences, we’re together.”
Despite growing up in rural Clay County, Misty was introduced to farm life when she and Jacob began dating in high school. She’s since learned to drive a tractor and care for livestock — skills their sons Olen, 6, and Asher, 1, are learning from the onset.
Misty shares farm lessons with her kindergarten flock at Ashland Elementary School, too.
“I want my students at school to experience what my kids at home get to experience,” Misty said.
Last year, an Ag in the Classroom grant helped her purchase an incubator and brood house. The mini farm is paying dividends, she said, noting the joy pint-sized pupils found studying the chicken life cycle.
Misty’s calm demeanor and can-do attitude bless her students and family, Jacob said.
“I tell her all the time God won’t let anything happen to her because He knows I can’t do it by myself,” Jacob said. “She’s the best mom there is. She keeps us in line, keeps everything
flowing and keeps the boys where they need to be.”
On the farm, the Porters’ priorities include decreasing debt while increasing financial stability. They’ve looked inward for solutions, too.
A low feed conversion rate helps them remain competitive in the local poultry complex. Cattle weaning weights have grown because of bull selection, high-quality feed and carcass data review. Poultry litter is recycled as natural fertilizer, and equipment investments turn a profit thanks to custom haylage work.
Misty credits her husband’s dedication and drive to the decade’s worth of improvements.
“Jacob is hardworking, determined, goal-oriented and goes after what he wants,” Misty said. “He’s also selfless. If someone calls for help, he’s the first one there.”
In addition to serving his faith family at Barfield Baptist Church, Jacob is the local fire department assistant chief and a board member of Clay County’s Emergency Communications District, which manages 9-1-1 services. He serves on the State Young Farmers Committee and State Poultry Committee, and he and Misty are leaders in Clay County Young Farmers.
While many peers see Jacob’s quiet countenance, underneath lies a deep love for family — and larger-than-life personality, said his older sister, Anna Porter Morrison.
“He is not reserved, believe it or not,” Anna said with a laugh. “With his people, he’s very outgoing. He’s honestly the class clown for our family.”
The brother-sister duo partner in raising hogs, a venture born of supply chain issues and a return to their farming roots. Anna and other family members often pitch in during busy seasons — a gift of time Jacob holds dear.
As Jacob watches his sons play with decades-old toy tractors in the shadow of a barn, he’s humbled by God’s providence.
“As you grow older, you see things happen…and you realize there’s only one way they happened, and that’s God,” Jacob said. “The Lord blessed me in ways that I’m undeserving of. I thank Him every day for it.”
As dawn breaks on their Lee County farm, a special peace falls over Garrett and Robin Dixon.
They’ll soon divide and conquer the day, with Garrett managing their cotton and peanut farm and Robin beelining to her agriscience classroom at Smiths Station High School.
But first, they give thanks for the blessing of raising their family in the quiet country community of Salem.
“Seeing sunrises and sunsets, the coolness of air after a summer shower, crisp fall mornings in a cotton field and hearing the quail call — those are experiences you only get growing up on a farm,” said Garrett, 34.
The Dixon children reap rewards of their parents’ vocations. Chandler Jane, 3, often asks Garrett a flurry of questions from the tractor’s buddy seat while 1-year-old Cash waits his turn.
“I love teaching them why we do things and the importance of what we do,” Garrett said. “My hope is if one or both want to come back to farm, they have an easier starting point than I had.”
Garrett’s childhood was flush with rides in the cotton picker next to his grandfather, Bob Ed Gullatte. By the early 2000s, however, family land no longer produced row crops.
Determined to incorporate agriculture into his life, Garrett purchased cattle in 2008. Six years later, he graduated from Auburn University and tried his hand at growing soybeans. The crop performed poorly, but lessons gleaned were priceless, Garrett said.
By 2016, Garrett had leaned into farming full time and focused on a crop his family had grown for more than a century — cotton.
Garrett gradually picked up additional ground and grew his agronomic skills. In the decade since, he’s juggled daily duties while preparing for big-picture projects he’s since implemented, like building a shop and installing irrigation. While abundant rain this year means pivots haven’t rolled across fields, the irrigation is critical infrastructure to Garrett’s otherwise-dryland farm.
He’s also invested in technology, implemented cover cropping and moved toward a sustainable cotton and peanut rotation. He’s taken on custom work for nearby farmers, too. Those
The Dixon Family
LEE COUNTY
relationships, and Garrett’s strong network of farmer friends, have helped expand his farm footprint.
Robin often ferries their children to the field, runs farm errands and helps Garrett parse through big business decisions. That’s in addition to teaching animal sciences and floriculture, plus advising an FFA chapter.
“Robin may be the greatest asset we have on the farm — even more than irrigation,” Garrett quipped with a grin. Naturally reserved, Robin credits a high school agriscience teacher with drawing her out of her shell.
“Because she inspired me so much, I wanted to be that for someone else,” said Robin, 33, who grew up in rural Florida and met Garrett while studying animal sciences at Auburn University. “I didn’t have a whole lot of knowledge of agriculture, so she taught me that, too. I want to help students come out of their comfort zones and do something they never imagined they could do.”
The Dixons’ farm journey hasn’t been without adversity. As drought, depressed markets and damaging storms hit the farm in the last decade, they’ve persevered and sought wisdom from their Creator.
“You just act on faith,” Garrett said.
“Like the widow and the oil in the Old Testament, you keep emptying that cup and know that the Lord will provide.”
Memorabilia in the Dixon Farms office chronicle the Lord’s faithfulness to his family, plus their farm heritage. Garrett’s ancestors settled in Salem more than 150 years ago.
Scattered among photos are plaques paying homage to service and leadership. Garrett and Robin are involved in county Young Farmers, at First Baptist Church of Opelika and on the Alabama Peanut Producers Association board. Garrett serves on the Lee County Farmers Federation board and State Cotton Committee. He was State Young Farmers Committee chair in 2019 and graduated from the elite A.L.F.A. Leaders program Class V.
Garrett’s younger sister, Mary Kendall Dixon, has an office just across the hall in the renovated wooden farmhouse. She said her brother’s charisma, kindness and even-keeled nature give him a knack for serving others.
“He has this ability to see potential in you that you don’t see in yourself, and he’s able to pull that out,” Mary Kendall said. “I’m proud that Garrett is doing what God has called him to do and that has turned out to be on the farm.”
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Big, Beautiful Bill Delivers Lifeline for Farm Country
By Marlee Jackson
With increased reference prices, additional base acres and improved disaster assistance, President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” fulfills his promise to offer a critical lifeline for American farmers.
Trump signed the landmark legislation, which includes new and extended tax cuts, July 4.
Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell hailed the legislation’s hard-fought passage in the U.S. Senate and House.
“This bill not only preserves tax savings for all Americans; it also provides relief for farmers who’ve endured low commodity prices and high production costs waiting on a farm bill for almost two years,” Parnell said. “While no legislation is perfect, failure to act would have meant the largest tax hike in history and continued financial crisis for agriculture. We appreciate the leadership of Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, along with Reps. Robert Aderholt, Barry Moore, Gary Palmer, Mike Rogers and Dale Strong, in getting this to the president’s desk.”
The bill increases spending on farm bill safety net programs by about $66 billion, with $50 billion provided through Price Loss Coverage (PLC) for row crops. This is largely offset by reducing over-payments and tightening eligibility through increased work
requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The increase in PLC reference prices, and other enhancements to PLC and Agriculture Risk Coverage, take effect for the 2025 crop year. Prior to this legislation, reference prices had stagnated for a decade while production increases skyrocketed.
The legislation also lowers crop insurance premiums and provides new funding for trade promotion, agricultural research, animal health and disaster assistance.
Ag-related provisions include:
n Raising reference prices 10% to 20% per commodity.
n A one-time voluntary allocation of 30 million new base acres.
n Increasing Title 1 payment limitations from $125,000 to $155,000 while adjusting them annually for inflation.
n Modifying the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) to include a 100% payment rate for predation losses due to black vultures (a federally protected species which has been known to kill cows and baby calves), as well as a supplemental payment for loss of unborn livestock. LIP includes a 75% payment rate for losses due to adverse weather.
n Changing qualification for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). Farmers would be eligible for one monthly payment if the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates a D2 (severe drought) level
for four or more weeks or two monthly payments if D2 for any seven out of eight weeks.
n Expanding Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) eligibility to include catfish at a minimum payment rate of $600 per acre and honeybees when mortality exceeds 15%. For program year 2024, the mortality threshold was 24%.
n Establishing the Poultry Insurance Pilot Program for contract poultry growers experiencing loss due to extreme weather.
n Funding the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program at $15 million per year for fiscal years 2025-2031.
Federation National Affairs Director Mitt Walker said the bill is particularly important with two farm bill extensions in the rearview mirror. U.S. House Ag Committee Chair G.T. Thompson, R-Pa., has floated fall farm bill discussions, though experts say there’s limited hope the plan bears fruit this year.
“The modernized safety net this program provides will have a real, positive impact on Alabama farm families,” Walker said. “It gives our farmers a glimmer of hope as they struggle to hang on for another crop year.”
The bill additionally offers sweeping tax cuts, modernizes the air traffic control system, expands domestic fuel production capacity and boosts defense spending.
Wet Weather Woes: Rain Stalls Spring Harvest, Summer Planting
By Tanner Hood
Large puddles pooled within rows of corn at Forrest Anders’ Morgan County farm in late June — a sign of the persistent wet weather that’s plagued Alabama farmers since early spring.
“Since the first of the year, we’ve received nearly 36 inches of rain, with 25 inches in the last eight weeks,” Anders said. “Our annual rainfall average is only 54 inches.”
Near-constant moisture has led to soggy fields and sticky situations for row croppers like Anders who have struggled to plant and maintain healthy summer crops.
“We were able to plant some of our corn crop in early April but haven’t been able to get back in the field since,” Anders said as sprinkles began falling. “We’ve missed our optimal window for planting spring crops and the time planted crops need to mature.”
Although fields of green corn stalks fill horizons across the state, the harsh effects of wet weather are evident upon closer inspection. On Anders’ farm, some stalks stand over 7 feet tall. Others are barely knee high. Some fields stand bare where torrents of water washed away freshly planted seed.
“We need drier weather, but every farmer is scared of drought,” Anders said. “It’s a double-edged sword — one extreme or the other.”
More than corn has been affected by unusual rain. Calhoun County’s Daniel
Trantham said he’s struggled with winter wheat harvest and subsequent soybean planting.
“It rained every day our winter wheat was ready for harvest in June,” Trantham said in early July. “I began planting soybeans directly behind the wheat, and even if the skies clear, I’d still be pushing the July 15th deadline for crop insurance.”
To help offset issues related to delayed planting, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency extended the prevented planting deadline from June 15 to each crop’s acreage reporting due date.
Cotton acres have taken a hit, too, a one-two punch due to rain and depressed commodity prices.
“I had my cotton seed and chemicals purchased and delivered,” Trantham said. “I sent it all back because I couldn’t use it. This rain is hurting my rotation because we couldn’t plant cotton.”
Trantham said farmers around him faced similar situations, though many in northeast Alabama are only equipped to plant cotton.
Muddy ground has also caused issues for hay producers. DeKalb County
farmer Thomas Ridgeway said the first cuttings of hay were delayed due to excessive rain.
“We are getting the latest start to the season I know of because we couldn’t get a four-day window to cure any hay,” Ridgeway said in July. “We’re at least a minimum of a month behind, and many farmers have lost out on a valuable hay cutting. We’re also seeing breakthroughs of undesirable weeds because so much water has run through the ground.”
Alabama Farmers Federation’s Carla Hornady said farmers plagued by wet weather would welcome sunshine and heat. Meanwhile, south Alabama farmers have reported perfect conditions for cotton and peanuts, said Hornady, a commodity director who work with row crop farmers.
Though he appreciates federal support, Trantham said he and fellow farmers look upward for relief.
“It’s hard,” he said. “You take what the Lord deals out and try to keep going. The Lord blesses us. We just have to look at the big picture and try not to focus on the hard time right in the moment.”
Trantham
Anders Ridgeway
Roberts Tapped for New Role on Federation Policy Team
Preston Roberts’ political prowess and passion for agriculture have been assets to the Alabama Farmers Federation for the past 11 years.
He’ll continue providing steady leadership and serving farmers as the External Affairs Department assistant director. He moved into that role July 7.
Roberts’ ability to build relationships with legislators, stakeholders and farmers is invaluable, said Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin.
“Preston understands the importance of our organization’s grassroots policy,” Hardin said. “Whether in the halls of the State House, at county Federation meetings or on a farm, Preston goes to work every day to help Alabama farmers.”
resources God has given him to serve others. It’s my privilege to see Preston grow into this position.”
The Shelby County native graduated from Auburn University with a degree in fisheries and allied aquaculture and previously worked for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. He began his Federation career in 2014 as Area 7 organization director, where he served Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Lee, Macon, Randolph and Russell counties.
Hardin continued, “He listens to their needs and is a wise steward of the
He joined the External Affairs Department in 2019 as director of agricultural legislation. Last year, he received his Juris Doctor from the Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and was admitted to the Alabama State Bar. Roberts has been a steadfast champion of farmers and rural Alabama.
His thorough research, reputation and reliability quickly positioned him as the go-to contact for media during the last legislative session’s push to authorize Alfa Health Plans. The landmark legislation is expected to be life-changing for farm families and small business owners across the state.
“Serving the members of the Federation has been the honor of my life,” Roberts said. “It’s a privilege to work every day to improve the lives of the men and women who are the backbone of our society. I look forward to continuing to serve in this new role.”
He added, “I am grateful for the opportunity to assist our team as we continue to build on the Federation’s grassroots success in shaping state policy that supports Alabama’s farmers and rural communities.”
Roberts and his wife, Mandy, are raising children Sam, Ben and Lucy in Auburn. They attend First Baptist Church of Opelika.
Roberts
Farmers Create Co-op for Convenient Grocery Shopping
By Maggie Edwards
Anetwork of north Alabama farmers is providing a convenient way for consumers to fill their pantries with local products.
Customers began placing orders when the Farmer Co-op kicked off in April. Limestone County’s Kristen Stebbins of Stebbins Family Farm realized the need for deliveries and pitched the business idea in February.
“I did a social media survey in January asking the public what keeps them from buying local,” Stebbins said. “The answers stopped me in my tracks. People said they didn’t know where to shop, didn’t have time to shop and wanted deliveries. That’s when I knew I had to figure out how to do this.”
Her first call was to Marshall County’s Hunter Tolleson, whom she met through local farmers markets and Sweet Grown Alabama. He and wife Erin own Grown
By Grace Farms and offer flavorful, seasonal produce to the co-op.
“I was immediately on board and encouraged Kristen to go for it,” Tolleson said. “People do Walmart pickup all the time. Why not order fresh products and have them delivered straight to your door?”
More than 125 items from 14 farmers and makers are available at FarmerCo-op.com. The user-friendly website offers categories that range from protein and pantry staples to baked goods and boxes of produce.
“We have enough options so people can get everything they want with customizable orders,” said Stebbins, who supplies the co-op’s eggs and baked goods. “It’s important that
Dylan and Kali Gilbert raise cattle and their daughters, Aurora and Magnolia, in Cullman County at Blue Ridge Cattle Co. They were among the first producers who joined the Farmer Co-op.
everything is produced, grown, raised or made in Alabama. We want the supply chain to be as short as possible to positively impact our personal communities.”
Among those Sweet Grown Alabama products offered is Blue Ridge Cattle Co. beef raised by Cullman County farmers Dylan and Kali Gilbert. They were Stebbins’ second call when the business brainstorming began.
“We know we can make it easier for busy families like us to support local, so that’s what we are striving to do,” Kali said. “The Farmer Co-op has made it more accessible for people. It’s also great for our family to have the consistent business.”
The Gilberts run their farm as a small-scale feed lot and are avid advocates for agriculture. They agree the program is a great outlet for agricultural literacy.
Farmers & Makers
CULLMAN COUNTY
Blue Ridge Cattle Co.
D&Y Farms
Fortenberry Farms
DEKALB COUNTY
All Things Sourdough
LAUDERDALE COUNTY
Sherrill Family Farms
LIMESTONE COUNTY
BluBailes Farms
Lucas Ferry Flower Farm
Stebbins Family Farm
MARSHALL COUNTY
Grown By Grace Farms
J&C Local Farms
Morgan Farms
Rural Roots Coffee
Short Creek Homestead W&W Farms
Scan to learn more.
“People are farther removed from the farm today than ever,” Dylan said. “People want to know where their food comes from. This allows us to give this side of production ag a story.”
Customers inside the Farmer Co-op delivery area can receive orders to their door in three easy steps: Sign up, shop local and enjoy. Delivery perimeters stretch from Muscle Shoals to Boaz and Ardmore to Warrior with hopes to expand. Consumers are encouraged to create an account, select frequency of delivery and customize their order.
Items are delivered once a week. Farmer Co-op’s Facebook page features weekly updates on seasonal produce.
From coffee and cut-flowers to lamb and lavender, the co-op has something for every family, Stebbins said.
“My goal is for this to be a year-round service,” she said. “I would love to see the idea of this become more common nationwide. Small
farms are important. We are capable of feeding a lot of people. This program keeps us going, it keeps us alive. I’m excited to see what the fall season
The Stebbins brothers — Ben, 16, and Mike, 11 — are a big help on delivery days. They give their mother, Kristen, a hand supplying local groceries to consumers’ doorsteps.
Erin and Hunter Tolleson of Grown By Grace Farms in Marshall County provide Farmer Co-op customers with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
YOUR SOYBEANS ARE THE RIGHT FEEDSTUFF FOR
ANIM ALS
Alabama’s 2,500 family poultry farms are our state’s No. 1 agricultural industry. And they count on over 2.3 million tons of your soybean meal a year as a high-protein ingredient in their feed. That’s 98 million bushels of your soybeans every year. As your Alabama Soybean Checkoff, we’re working with the Alabama poultry industry to make sure this stays one good-looking figure. Learn more about the story of soy at unitedsoybean.org/hopper.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALABAMA CATFISH FARMER OF THE YEAR Jimbo Hall
J
imbo Hall has spent 28 years working in the catfish industry — the last 16 as farm manager for Alabama Catfish Inc. Before that, he spent time with Southern Pride Catfish in Greensboro, Black Belt Aquaculture in Newbern and John Deere in Greensboro. As Alabama’s Catfish Farmer of the Year, he represents the hard-working men and women who produce delicious, nutritious, clean U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish.
He and his wife, Heather, have been married 32 years. They have three sons and eight grandchildren and are members of Greensboro Baptist Church.
A CUT ABOVE: Weaver Meat Processing Produces Family Traditions
By Tanner Hood
Customers find fine service and family tradition tucked away among the cattle pastures and poultry houses of south Morgan County at Weaver Meat Processing.
Brothers Titus and Stanley Weaver have taken the once-small, Hartsellebased family business to new heights while never losing sight of where it all began.
“My grandfather, Eli, was struggling with a dairy farm in Orrville back in the ‘80s,” said Titus, 29. “The whole family was big-time hunters, and they had a venison bologna recipe and started making it for neighbors who were also struggling. Before they knew it, they put up a little building and moved out of the kitchen to start processing deer in a more commercial setting.”
As the business grew, Eli’s son
Leonard became involved. In 1997, Leonard moved the family, and business, north.
“When Dad first moved here, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to do meat processing,” said Stanley, 31. “He considered several options, such as chicken houses, but finally decided on a butcher shop. We’re extremely thankful he chose butchery because we’ve been in the business for a long time, and we still love it to this day.”
Titus and Stanley are part of the third generation to process beef, pork and venison for customers. Their five brothers and two sisters have earned their processing chops, too.
“Every single one of us boys grew up cutting meat here in the butcher shop,” Stanley said. “We’d start with small tasks at around 4 or 5 years old and progress as we got older. Working with our family has been a tremendous blessing.”
Selecting the right cut takes a keen eye and years of experience — skills Titus Weaver has developed at his family’s meat processing business in Morgan County.
Stanley Weaver, left, and his brother, Titus, have worked in the meat processing industry since they were old enough to hold a knife. Now, they’re taking Weaver Meat Processing to new heights.
Although none received “formal” knife training, they cut their teeth through practice and shared experiences.
As the Weaver men have grown, so has the scale and scope of the operation. In 2024, Weaver Meat Processing harvested over 1,000 head of cattle; nearly 1,300 pigs; and a new personal record of 4,763 deer.
The Weavers have also raised the stakes by adding a 6,000-square-foot facility and becoming U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected.
Stanley said they are the only USDA American Marketing Services Remote Grading certified processor in Alabama — providing a sharp edge in a competitive market. The Weavers digitally upload photos that are graded remotely without an inspector on site, another way to trim fat and increase efficiency.
“We anticipate working closely with farmers to provide data from our remote grading to ensure they make good decisions to have the best genetics, feed-out programs and livestock to create an exceptional product,” Titus said.
Providing quality service and meat is only part of the Weaver story as they continually pour into their community. The Weavers give back through Bama Beef for Those in Need, a partnership with local farmers and Alabama Farm Credit. Cattle producers can donate livestock to be processed free of charge by the Weavers. The meat is then distributed to nearby food pantries.
“We also have customers drive from Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and south Alabama to have their livestock processed here,” Titus said. “(Social media) influencers who ship meat nationwide use our services, and we believe we’re helping develop communities every time those customers take that product home and sell it.”
However, developing a successful business isn’t without a slice of challenges.
“Small producers struggle to sell trim meat because it’s not the popular cuts like steaks and bacon,” Stanley said. “We’re trying to do more research with value-added products like sausages, jerkies, snack meats and others to help
move the trim.”
As the business grinds on, the Weavers are grateful for God’s providence.
“The family and team here are very thankful for what God has done for us and for His guidance,” Titus said. “As we pray about how to grow the business,
we’re so thankful that He is there every step of the way to give us peace if we’re willing to follow Him.”
Scan to learn more.
The Weaver brothers know there are more than two ways to slice it when carefully crafting quality cuts of beef, pork and venison at Weaver Meat Processing.
Weaver Meat Processing in Hartselle has grown from a small custom processor to include a retail shop selling finely crafted and packaged cuts of beef and pork. The family business also stays true to its deer processing roots under the oversight of brothers Stanley and Titus Weaver.
Ag in Action: Community College Creates Ag-Centered Experience for Children
By Maggie Edwards
Eighty-five elementary-age students filled the Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) Wadley campus in June eager for an enriching early college experience.
The institution’s Kids Kollege summer camp welcomes first through sixth graders and has become a staple in the area, said SUSCC’s Shondae Brown.
“We look at this as community outreach,” said Brown, the SUSCC publications director. “The team at Southern Union wants as many people as possible to be on the campus. Our goal is to give them a taste of what it’s like to be a student here. We structure classes where professors instruct participants and show them subjects they would learn in college.”
Brown said. “They can’t just go to the grocery and get eggs and milk. That comes from somewhere. The theme resonated with a lot of the kids being from a rural area, but it was nice to introduce different areas of agriculture to them and show how farmers sustain our lives.”
Each year, Kids Kollege has a theme for the week-long program to teach new and innovative ideas. The 2025 theme was Ag in Action, Brown said.
“It’s important students realize how vital farmers are to our existence,”
Top: Michaela Sanders Wilson welcomed Kids Kollege attendees to Blue Ribbon Dairy in Elmore County. Bottom:
The Hodnett family of Tallapoosa County participated in the on-campus Farm Day. Jody Hodnett, left, explained pig breeds to students.
Farming was on display in art, science, dance and music classes.
An on-campus Farm Day allowed for hands-on experience.
Local farmers volunteered, while representatives from The Dairy Alliance and Alabama Forestry Commission focused on interactive lessons.
The Hodnett family of Tallapoosa County promoted pork and exhibited swine during the event.
“It’s important for us to share insights to the swine industry because young people today are growing up without a connection to where food comes from,” said Jody Hodnett, who works at SUSCC and is a member of the Alabama Farmers Federation State Pork Committee. “Events like Kids Kollege give us the chance to educate children and spark interest in agriculture while correcting misconceptions.”
Randolph County Young Farmers (RCYF) members Jake and Sheena Gay were vital to the Farm Day, too.
“The RCYF’s involvement was to provide the children an unforgettable experience learning about agriculture,” the couple said. “Everyone is involved in agriculture at least three times a day. It’s important for these kids to know someone grows their meals — and even their clothes.”
Students also loaded onto charter buses to experience farm life at Blue Ribbon Dairy in Elmore County.
Attendees witnessed the milking process with dairy owner Michaela Sanders Wilson, made butter and tasted farm-fresh ice cream.
“We hope their experience in Kids Kollege is so memorable they will want to come back and be a Southern Union Bison,” Brown said. “Our records show that almost 60% of all students who attend Kids Kollege later attend Southern Union in some form. We’re happy to provide this opportunity and appreciate the support of the SUSCC Alumni Association, SUSCC employees and community members.”
Edwards Promoted, Named Associate Editor of Neighbors
After three years racking up numerous bylines while sharing the story of Alabama farmers, Maggie Edwards has a new title noted on the Neighbors magazine page 3 masthead.
Edwards’ associate editor role is part of her promotion to agricultural communications manager at the Alabama Farmers Federation, effective July 7.
“It’s a joy to serve Alabama farmers,” said Edwards, 25. “Telling the story of agriculture is an honor. I’m grateful for each farmer who has welcomed me to their farm and graciously smiled in front of my camera lens. The Federation is my home, and the members and staff feel like family. I’m thankful God placed me here three years ago. I’m excited to continue serving the organization in my new role.”
2022 as agricultural communications specialist after interning with the organization and its “Simply Southern TV” in 2021.
Edwards is often seen juggling her professional camera and smartphone while chronicling events and sharing updates on social media.
Under her leadership, Federation social media channels have reached new heights. E-communications work, including commodity newsletters, has expanded, while the Cultivator e-newsletter has positively impacted readers. Edwards also has a knack for public speaking and is a frequent guest at FFA events, youth leadership development workshops and Federation meetings.
digital communications, AlfaFarmers.org and Neighbors.
A staunch supporter of Alabama agriculture, Edwards’ greatest asset is her ability to connect with others, said Federation Publications Director Marlee Jackson.
“Maggie is one of those people who just shines,” Jackson said. “Her genuine appreciation for our farmers has only grown in her three years with this organization. Few people are as gifted as Maggie at connecting with new friends, getting them comfortable in front of a camera and telling their story well. I’m excited to see her tackle this well-deserved promotion with her trademark enthusiasm.”
Edwards joined the Federation in
She’ll build on those skills as agricultural communications manager, with additional responsibilities for
Edwards holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, leadership and communications from Mississippi State University. A former state FFA officer, Edwards was raised on a poultry farm in Woodland in Randolph County. She currently lives in Auburn.
USDA Wages War to Slow New World Screwworm
attle farmers are hopeful recent investments could control the New World screwworm (NWS) parasite and its current northward migration from Central America.
“The U.S. has defeated NWS before, and we will do it again,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “We do not take lightly the threat NWS poses to our livestock industry, our economy and our food supply chain. We have the proven tools, strong domestic and international partnerships, and the grit needed to win this battle.”
NWS impacts warm-blooded animals like livestock and wildlife. Flies lay larvae near or on animal wounds; larvae then burrow into the flesh and cause extensive, often deadly, damage.
NWS is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, countries in South America and southern Central America.
Cases have spread north into Mexico, with one reported in Veracruz in early July. That’s less than 400 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border. To deter screwworm movement, the U.S. halted imports of live cattle, horses and bison through the border May 11 and again July 8.
In June, Rollins introduced a plan to enhance U.S. Department of Agriculture efforts. Tactics include stopping the pest’s movement in Mexico, protecting the U.S. border, maximizing readiness, taking the fight to the screwworm and implementing innovative techniques.
A boon comes through a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. It will supplement a production facility in Panama, plus one in Mexico slated to open next year.
Adult screwworm flies are the size of a common housefly. They have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along their backs.
The sites will produce sterile male flies, which will then be released into
large NWS populations. That eventually results in unfertilized eggs — slowing movement of the screwworm. This eradicated NWS from the U.S. in 1966.
Though the threat is still outside the U.S., Alabama Farmers Federation’s Chris Prevatt encouraged farmers to implement health management plans now with assistance from veterinarians and Extension experts.
“This is an external and internal parasite that we are going to have to control,” said Prevatt, the Federation’s director for beef, equine, sheep and goat. “It’s going to require management. It’s going to require getting your livestock up more frequently and checking them. We have to develop really good management protocols so we can deter this parasite.”
Prevatt said while summer fly season is going strong, seasonal hope is in sight. The larvae cannot survive below 46 degrees F, deterring movement in the late fall and winter for most of the southern U.S.
Pinpointing Pollinator Populations During the Great Southeast Pollinator Census
By Mary Wilson
They flutter by and buzz around doing important work: pollinating flowers and crops. Now, it’s time for them to land and be counted during the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Aug. 22-23.
People in Alabama and four other Southeastern states can collect and input data for the census. Bethany O’Rear, a home horticulture agent with Alabama Cooperative Extension System, serves as the Alabama census coordinator.
“From bees and butterflies to wasps and moths, learning more about the total population of pollinators is important,” said O’Rear, who represents Alabama Extension at Auburn University.
“Anyone in Alabama can make the census happen. It only requires 15 minutes of your time to count pollinators. You can participate at your home or farm or head out to a park, botanical garden, school garden or any place that has pollinator-friendly plants.”
How to Participate
Before the census begins, those wishing to participate should pay attention to plants pollinators prefer. Select one such plant to observe for 15 minutes Aug. 22 or 23. Visit gsepc.org to review an insect identification guide and print counting sheets.
During the observation, use the counting sheet to tally the number of times a pollinator lands on the plant. If the same insect lights more than once, count each landing as an observation.
Divide data into eight categories: butterflies or moths, bumble bees, honeybees, small bees, carpenter bees, wasps, flies and other insects. Submit data to the Great Southeast Pollinator Census at gsepc.org.
“This is such a quick and easy way to be a citizen scientist, and it’s a really fun activity for families or students in a classroom,” O’Rear said. “We encourage everyone to take some time out of their day and enjoy being surrounded by nature during the census.”
History of the Census
The program started in 2019 at the University of Georgia as the Great Georgia Pollinator Census. It then changed names and
expanded to include observations from citizen scientists in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. This is the first year Alabamians have been invited to participate. O’Rear said data collected through the census has proved invaluable to researchers, and she’s happy Alabama is now included.
“Insect pollinators are responsible for helping grow about 35% of food crops worldwide, which correlates to every third bite of our food,” O’Rear said. “They’re extremely important creatures, but they’re also fragile. We owe it to them to do what we can to protect their populations, which in turn ensures we have plentiful food and beautiful flowering plants.”
More Information
The Great Southeast Pollinator Census and Alabama Extension offer numerous educational resources. Find them at gsepc.org, or go to aces.edu and search for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census.
FIELD PEAS
Aback porch. Rural Alabama. I’m with an elderly woman named Jenny. She’s sitting on a rocking chair.
“Wish I were shelling peas,” says Miss Jenny. “I tell better stories when I’m shelling.”
This is how you know you’ve made it. When you find yourself on a porch — shelling, peeling, shucking or listening to someone over 80 tell a story.
Miss Jenny has cotton-white hair, blue eyes. She lives in a house her husband built after the Korean War.
Everyone loves her stories. Especially children. Those in her family recall sitting on this porch, listening to her gentle voice. Here, they shucked corn or shelled white acre peas. Field peas. An Alabama pastime.
“Daddy was a part-time preacher,” she tells me. “He told stories, always had him a good one.”
Long ago, people visited her father for advice. Folks with drinking problems, people with marriages on the rocks. Her father didn’t provide “help.” He took them fishing. On the water, he’d tell stories.
“Daddy used to say, ‘Going fishing can help a man more than a bellywash of cheap medicine.’”
Bellywash. I miss words like that.
Miss Jenny’s breathing is labored, her voice frail. But she spins a fine yarn.
She’s the real thing. Her stories are about olden days, clapboard churches and a childhood with skinned knees.
She even tells stories about her cat.
“Kitty Brown was chasing Blue Bird one day,” she begins. “Blue Bird lured Kitty high into a tree, then flew away. Poor Kitty was stuck up there two days before anyone knew he was up there.”
She laughs to herself.
“Moral of my cat story is: All kitties
should be happy on the ground instead of chasing things they shouldn’t.”
And I’m 5 years old again. Someone get me a sucker.
Then there’s the tale of her grandfather and the escaped fugitive. Instead of searching for the fugitive, her grandfather gathered men to go hunting in the woods. They hunted for pleasure, without even searching for an escaped prisoner.
That night, they all camped among the pines and barbecued. They had a famous time. They cooked so much meat you could smell cooking fat in the next county. A young man wandered into their campsite, wearing leg irons.
“I can’t do this anymore,” the young man said. “That smell is killing me.”
Her punchline: “You catch more flies with barbecue than with a posse.”
Posse. I miss words like that, too.
She remembers a time when pencils were more useful than cellphones. When fishing boats were where pastors did their best work. When communities were kept alive with stories, song, gossip and white acre peas.
Miss Jenny and I are interrupted. Her daughter rolls an oxygen canister onto the porch. She fits tubes over Miss Jenny’s ears and adjusts the nosepiece.
“I hate getting old,” Miss Jenny says. “Sometimes, I just can’t breathe. Sometimes…”
She gasps.
Anyway, that was a few years ago. I remember it well. It was a nice day. She spoke. I listened.
I still remember her porch, her white hair, her saying, “It’s just too bad there ain’t no potatoes to peel. I tell better stories when my hands are moving.”
Your stories couldn’t have gotten any better, Miss Jenny. ■
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!
Alfa Farmers® 2025 County Annual Meetings
Autauga Wed., Aug. 20 7 p.m. Autauga County Ag Center 2224 Hwy. 14 W Autaugaville
Baldwin Thurs., Aug. 21 6 p.m. Baldwin County Farmers Federation Building 21332 Hwy. 59 Robertsdale
Barbour Thurs., Aug. 21 7 p.m. Eufaula Community Center 750 Lake Dr. Eufaula
Bibb Tues., Aug. 26 6 p.m. Alfa Service Center 1101 Walnut St. Centreville
Blount Thurs., Aug. 21 6:30 p.m. Blount County Multi-Purpose Facility 6700 Co. Hwy. 1 Cleveland
Calhoun Thurs., Aug. 7 6 p.m. Calhoun County Farmers Federation Building 1535 Pelham Rd. S Jacksonville
Chambers Mon., Aug. 25 6 p.m. Chambers County Farmers Federation Building 1006 Ave. A SE LaFayette
Cherokee Thurs., Aug. 28 6:30 p.m. Gadsden State Community College - Chamber Room 801 Cedar Bluff Rd. Centre
Chilton Tues., Aug. 12 7 p.m. Alfa Service Center 301 1st St. N Clanton
Choctaw Tues., Aug. 12 6 p.m. Alfa Service Center 229 S Mulberry Ave. Butler
Clarke Tues., Aug. 19 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center 148 S Jackson St. Grove Hill
Clay Thurs., Aug. 28 6:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Ashland - Christian Life Center 83558 Hwy. 9 Ashland
Cleburne Tues., Aug. 12 6 p.m. Cleburne County Mountain Center 6751 Hwy. 78 Heflin
Colbert Mon., Aug. 25 6:30 p.m. Northwest Shoals Community College 800 George Wallace Blvd., Building 110 Muscle Shoals
Conecuh Mon., Aug. 18 6 p.m. David Burt Building 102 Liberty St. Evergreen
Coosa Thurs., Aug. 21 6:30 p.m. Rockford Baptist Church 9575 Hwy. 231 Rockford
Covington Thurs., Aug. 28 6:30 p.m. Covington County Extension Office 23952 Hwy. 55 Andalusia
Crenshaw Thurs., Sept. 11 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center 357 S Forest Ave. Luverne
Cullman Thurs., Aug. 7 6 p.m. Cullman County Farmers Federation Building 307 Main Ave. NW Cullman
Dale Mon., Aug. 11 7 p.m. Alfa Service Center 217 S Union Ave. Ozark
Dallas Tues., Sept. 9 5:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center 403 Broad St. Selma
DeKalb Thurs., Aug. 7 6:30 p.m. DeKalb County Farmers Federation Building 346 McCurdy Ave. S Rainsville
Escambia Tues., Aug. 19 6 p.m. Nett’s Kitchen 1310 E Nashville Ave. Atmore
Etowah Mon., Aug. 11 6:30 p.m. Etowah County Farmers Federation Building 125 Broad St. Gadsden
Fayette Tues., Aug. 5 6:30 p.m. Fayette Civic Center 530 Temple Ave. N Fayette
Franklin Thurs., Aug. 7 6 p.m. Russellville Best Western 13770 Hwy. 43 Russellville
Geneva Tues., Aug. 19 7 p.m. Geneva County Farm Center 2765 E Hwy. 52 Hartford
Greene Thurs., Aug. 28 6 p.m. Alfa Service Center 101 Boligee St. Eutaw
Hale Thurs., Sept. 4 11 a.m. The Catfish Center 529 S Centreville St. Greensboro
Jackson Tues., Aug. 5 6:30 p.m. Jackson County Farmers Federation Building 23625 John T. Reid Pkwy. Scottsboro
Jefferson Fri., Aug. 22 10 a.m. Gardendale Civic Center 857 Main St. Gardendale
Lamar Mon., Aug. 11 6:30 p.m. Vernon City Complex 44425 Hwy. 17 Vernon
Madison Tues., Aug.5 6:30 p.m. Huntsville Country Club 2601 Oakwood Ave. NW Huntsville
Marengo Tues., Sept. 9 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center 206 Shiloh St. Linden
Marion Tues., Aug. 7 6:30 p.m. Tombigbee Electric Cooperative 3196 Co. Rd. 55 Hamilton
Marshall Tues., Aug. 26 6 p.m. Marshall County Farmers Federation Building 1333 Blount Ave. Guntersville
Mobile Tues., Aug. 26 6:30 p.m. Greater Gulf State Fair
Morgan Fri., Aug. 8 6
Managing Fire Ant Mounds in the Home Lawn
By Kira Sims
The red imported fire ant is an unwelcome sight in any lawn or garden. Native to South America, they entered the U.S. in the 1930s through the Port of Mobile. With no chance of eradication, homeowners must learn how to manage fire ants to reduce the problems they cause.
These ants are best managed using two techniques — bait and mound treatments. Before treating, determine how many fire ant mounds are in the area. If just a few, tackle them individually. If scattered throughout the entire yard, treat the whole area.
Homeowners can use both types of treatments, which each have benefits. Baits can be applied quickly and are less expensive for large areas. Mound treatments kill ants quickly and are applied directly on the problem area.
Baiting
Fire-ant bait is typically a granule insecticide product. It can be applied around a mound or broadcast across
the area but should not be applied directly on top of a mound.
For best results, apply fresh bait when ants are active and no rain is expected after application.
Test for fire ant activity by placing a potato chip a few inches away from a mound. If fire ants are on it within 20 minutes, this means the ants are foraging, and bait should be applied.
Though tempting, do not disturb the mounds when applying bait. Fire ants that are rebuilding or defending a nest are not foraging for bait.
Mound Treatments
When treating mounds, focus on problem mounds that are close to human and animal activity. Examples include mounds near a sidewalk or in an area where children play.
These products may be a granule or powder insecticide and sometimes need to be watered in. Ensure success by treating the mound directly, using enough water (if needed) and limiting mound disturbance. When using any insecticide product, always read and
follow label directions.
Need more help? Contact a county Extension office or visit aces.edu.
Additional Ant Advice
When managing fire ants, also consider:
Treatment timing. Treat when the soil is warm, the ants are active and no rain is in the forecast.
Use around vegetable gardens. There are products labeled for use around fruits and vegetables to manage fire ants. Always read the label carefully.
Home remedies don’t work. Despite popular opinion, boiling water, grits or diesel fuel are not effective methods for controlling fire ants.
Kathy Deerman Thompson and her husband, Phillip, have long called the northeast corner of Alabama “home.” The Thompsons know time is well spent three ways: with their two children and four grandchildren, on the farm, or representing the Jackson County Farmers Federation (of which Phillip is president).
Tell us about yourself.
I was raised on a poultry and beef cattle farm. Phillip started farming with his uncle, Houston Kennamer, when he was 13. We grow corn, soybeans, cattle and hay, and we’ve been part of the
Alabama Farmers Federation for 30-plus years. One must continue the fight to be able to farm in America, keep our food supply safe and not be dependent on other countries to feed us.
Did you have a career off the farm?
I’m now retired from a career in insurance, eight years of civic duty as Board of Registrars chair for Jackson County and as a board member of the Select Service System. Now, I volunteer full time at Grace Thrift of Scottsboro. It’s part of our church’s Community Care Village. We belong to Agape Baptist Church, and I teach a Bible study class.
Kathy Deerman Thompson’s pup Jack is her stalwart buddy. They’re companions on the Jackson County farm where Kathy’s husband, Phillip, grows row crops.
Who taught you to cook?
My mother was a good cook, and she belonged to the Women’s Home Demonstration Club, a program from Alabama Extension at Auburn University. Mrs. Peek would meet with the ladies once a month to teach them the best ways to take what they had and improve it. They learned what all they could do with what little they had. I learned a lot from my mom. This is a program I truly believe needs to be brought back to rural communities.
Tell us about the recipes you’re sharing.
We have a walnut tree on the farm. Phillip gathers and provides me bags of black walnuts, so I know when it’s time to bake his favorite cake.
Some may not be aware that north Alabama has a terrible time with crops being eaten by deer. Phillip hunts deer in the winter, and that helps take a few off the farm, plus fills the freezer. I’ll share a few of our favorite recipes for using venison. As I always say, “The best deer is one served on a plate.”
Venison Tenderloin & Biscuits
6 frozen biscuits
1 pound venison tenderloin
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup Dale’s Seasoning
Place frozen biscuits on iron skillet and place in cold oven. Set temperature to 400 F for 20 minutes.
Slice whole tenderloin crossways into rounds. In a large skillet on medium, heat olive oil. Add tenderloin, then Dale’s. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then flip. Cook on other side. Serve inside a hot biscuit.
This month’srecipesby
ThDeermaKathyn ompson
Black Walnut Cake
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, well beaten
2 cups cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2/3 cup buttermilk
3 squares bitter chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat oven to 325 F. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Mix flour with salt. Mix baking soda with buttermilk. Add flour to the butter mixture alternately with buttermilk; begin and end with flour. Beat well. Using a double boiler, stir chocolate till melted. While hot, add to cake batter. Add vanilla and beat well. Bake in two greased 8-inch pans for 45 minutes.
Cool before frosting with FUDGE ICING.
Venison Tenderloin
1 pound venison tenderloin
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup wild rice, cooking according to package directions
Slice tenderloin into 1-inch cubes. In a large skillet on medium, heat olive oil. Add tenderloin and cook 3 minutes. Pour in mushroom soup and let simmer. Serve over rice.
2 pounds Russet potatoes
2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup milk
Salt Pepper
Wash, peel and cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes. (You’ll want them to be as close in size as possible so they cook evenly.) Place potatoes in a large pot and just cover with water. Add 2
Fudge Icing
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups black walnuts
Combine all ingredients, except for black walnuts, in a boiler. Boil 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
Place one layer of cake on a cake stand. Cover the top with icing and sprinkle generously with black walnuts. Add second layer of cake on top. Ice the top and sides of the cake with remaining icing before topping generously with black walnuts.
Roast
Venison
Roast
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cans Sprite
Seasoning of your choice
Heat oven to 250 F. Place roast, onion, garlic and salt in broiling pan. Top with 1 1/2 cans Sprite. Add seasoning to roast, then cover tightly with foil. Bake 10 hours.
Recipe Note:
Low and slow is the key. The Sprite helps tenderize the meat.
teaspoons of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low boil and cook 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain potatoes and return them to the pot. Add butter, mayonnaise and milk. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes to your liking. (You can also use a hand mixer to mash the potatoes. Just be cautious not to over mix or they may become paste-like.) Mix well. Add more milk if necessary to get them to a smooth consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with melted butter on top, if desired.
