From Farm to Table Sanders Farm keeps traditions alive

Mornings come early for Kasey Sanders — they always have. He grew up on his family’s farm in the shadow of the rolling Appalachian foothills in the Paint Rock Valley, oftentimes getting up before the sun to tend to the cattle.

Being a cattleman is in his blood. Kasey inherited both his love for the land and a deep connection to cattle from his parents, Robin and William Earl Sanders.

But farming isn’t Kasey’s only job. He’s been filling hungry bellies with tasty home-cooked meals for years. Growing up, he would often cook for his siblings while his mother, a military wife, worked. While he’s feeding more mouths these days with his catering, his belief in the importance of a good meal hasn’t wavered.

Eventually, he started entering competitions and even building his own grills. “Everyone wanted us to cook,” Kasey says. “We won some awards, but not a whole lot. It’s really just about the camaraderie.”

As years passed, Kasey and his wife, Jennifer, decided to open a restaurant. They owned and operated KC’s BBQ in Scottsboro for almost 10 years. Everything they offered was homemade, from the barbecue sauces to the award-winning banana pudding. But, like most businesses over the last few years, the surge of COVID-19 changed things.

“The restaurant was good to us, but after a while, we decided to take a step back,” Kasey says.

The couple’s catering menu options include so much more than just pork barbecue. “We can do just about anything,” Kasey says.

Farming for the Future

Kasey always had responsibilities around the farm when he was growing up and those responsibilities haven’t changed much over the years. In the mornings during the winter months, the cows had to be fed and watered. During the summer, working in the garden was one of the first chores on the agenda, followed by breaking the beans in the kitchen with his mother.

Kasey says his love for smoking meat came as he got older. “My buddy and I always had big Fourth of July get-togethers,” he says. They would smoke whole hogs, pork butts, ribs and more.

During their time owning KC’s BBQ, the couple did a lot of event catering. Even though they no longer own the restaurant, they still have plans to continue catering special events.

“We really want to continue doing these events and form long-term relationships with people in our community,” Jennifer says.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” he says. “There is never a dull moment on the farm. There’s always a fence to be repaired, cattle to feed or something else that needs to be fixed.”

About 150 head of cattle, which Kasey and Jennifer raise for beef, live on the farm.

Even though their restaurant days are behind them, the couple looks forward to the future and what they have to offer the community. They are still in the early stages of planning but have a vision of a storefront at their farm where people can buy beef, pork and farm-fresh eggs.

“We have a lot of ideas and possibilities in the works,” Jennifer says.

At Sanders Farm, the work is still a family affair, which includes Kasey and

Jennifer’s children, Bailee Usrey, Morgan Sanders and Eli Sanders.

Eli, who is 16 years old, says that farming is a lot of hard work, but it’s a way of life for him.

“It’s just a lifestyle for me,” he says. “I’ve been riding with my dad in the combine since before I could walk.”

Ask the Pit Master, Kasey Sanders

Q: What’s your favorite cut of meat to smoke?

A: I’d say brisket. I wasn’t a big brisket fan years ago because I didn’t know how to cook it. I finally figured it out and now I love it.

Q: What kind of wood do you use to smoke meat?

A: Usually cherry or hickory.

Q: Sweet or tangy sauce?

A: I like vinegar-based sauces.

While Eli’s responsibilities include checking the cattle, a big part of his job is cutting and bailing the hay. Cutting hay consists of long, hot and dusty days but Eli says he will always farm, even though he is considering a career as a diesel mechanic.

“I’ll always farm. It’s just part of me,” he says. n

Play it safe at the beach this summer

One of the highlights of a beach trip is water recreation. But the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) reminds everyone to be mindful of safety around water this season.

Never swim alone. Stay in groups, and don’t drift too far from shore.

• Don’t swim near piers, pilings and platforms.

• Do not swim in areas being used by fishermen. Avoid swimming in areas where schools of fish are present.

• Use extra caution when water is murky. Avoid being in the water during nighttime hours.

• Rip currents are most prevalent when the waves crash perpendicular to the beach, rather than at an angle. Look for gaps between the waves; a small patch of calm water surrounded by waves is often a rip current. And look for discolored water near the shore. Rip currents tend to drag large amounts of sediment back out to sea; they’re identifiable by a noticeable flow of sand extending away from the shore.

• Heed beach warning flags, which are posted at all public beach areas in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Gulf State Park. For more on summer safety, visit alea.gov.

Alabama launches statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2033

Alabama ranks third in the nation in the incidence and deaths from cervical cancer, and the burden is even worse in rural counties. To address the problem, the state Department of Public Health, primary care providers and several other health and advocacy groups have launched “Operation Wipe Out Cervical Cancer Alabama.”

The action plan will use evidence-based strategies to promote vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), encourage cervical cancer screenings, and ensure follow ups when a screening indicates abnormal results.

HPV vaccinations help protect children and adolescents before they are exposed to the virus. Cancer screenings among women ages 21 to 65 detect abnormal cells in the cervix, which can lead to cancer. And appropriate follow-ups improve the chance of recovery from cervical cancer.

For more information on the statewide action plan, and to find out how you or your organization may get involved, visit alabamapublichealth.gov

Take us along!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving. coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.