27 minute read

Spotlight

from Alabama Living August 2021

from Alabama Living August 2021, page 42

Cook of the Month

Whereville, AL Take us along!

Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. Send your answer by Aug. 9 with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative. The winner and answer will be announced in the September issue.

Submit by email: whereville@alabamaliving.coop, or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.

Do you like finding interesting or unusual landmarks? Contribute your own photo for an upcoming issue! Remember, all readers whose photos are chosen also win $25!

July’s answer: The First Universalist Church of Camp Hill, located on Alabama Highway 50 in Tallapoosa County, was established in 1846 as Liberty Universalist Church; the name was changed in 1909. This brick sanctuary was completed in 1907 and built with local labor using mostly indigenous material, according to information on the church’s historical marker. (Photo submitted by Richard Wood of Tallapoosa River EC.) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Donna Adcock of Covington EC. (Editor’s note: Because of delays with the July issue, we accepted entries through July 9.)

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. Please include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo and include your social media handle so we can tag you! We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.

Jim and Lisa Binder of Gulf Shores spent time on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with a copy of the magazine. They are members of Baldwin EMC. Judy Mozingo of Dickinson recently visited Lake Martin with family and friends, and of course, brought her magazine along. She is a member of Clarke Washington EMC.

No place is too high to read Alabama Living, as Lisa and David Nix of Orange Beach proved when they took the magazine to the top of the Arrow Bahn lift at Beaver Creek Ski Resort in Colorado. La Vera J. Long of Coosada enjoyed reading her magazine while in Frederiksted, St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She’s a member of Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.

Find the hidden dingbat!

2021 Alabama Living photo contest

Each year, we look forward to seeing the photographic creativity of our readers in our annual photo contest. This year featured some outstanding entries, and though we can’t print all of them in the magazine, we hope you’ll enjoy seeing a few of the top winners. We’ll also be using some of them on our social media channels, so be sure to “like” Alabama Living on Facebook to see more!

The judge selected one first-place winner in each of the four categories and several honorable mentions. Our categories were a little different this year – we made them a little more broad to allow for a wider range of subjects. In the categories of People, Seasons, Animals and Alabama Travels, we received more than 200 entries from readers in all parts of the state and even outside Alabama. Each first-place winner receives $100, but really, the winners are all of the talented photographers who contributed their creativity.

Our judge, Julie Bennett, is an award-winning photojournalist based in central Alabama. She is on staff at the Media Production Group at Auburn University and teaches photojournalism in the College of Liberal Arts.

First place, People

Sharon Tucker, Cullman EC

“This was a BIG victory celebration for the Cullman High School Bearcats after winning the first round of the high school state baseball playoffs. Coach Brent Patterson has his team fired up and ready for round two.”

Judge’s comment: “What a great moment! Super relatable and full of expression. You can feel the excitement and energy inside the huddle.”

photo contest

First place, Animals

Robyn Choiniere, Baldwin EMC

“I shot a whole series of this heron playing with this fish, but this was by far my favorite.”

Honorable mention, Alabama Travels

Larry Key, Decatur, Alabama

“This photo was taken during the Alabama Jubilee celebration. After trying all weekend, the balloons were finally able to fly at 6 p.m. on a Sunday. Lots of people and a lot of smiles.”

Judge’s comment: “I love the action in this frame. What a catch! Wow!” Judge’s comment: “Pretty and unique! I love the composition and the color.”

“This photo was taken during a prescribed burn in a pine forest. It seemed the fit the category since there is definitely a season for burns that help the forests to grow successfully.”

Judge’s comment: “Alabama has a way of showing off her unique ecosystem in so many ways. I like this (frame) because it’s not only gorgeous with the composition and contrasting colors, but it’s also interesting … there’s energy and action to it.”

First place, Alabama Travels

Tom Marlo, Baldwin EMC

“This photo was taken with my drone from an altitude of about 250 feet. The water is so clear you can see the shifting sand on the bottom. Beautiful area just west of Ono Island.”

Judge’s comment: “I love the composition and the deep depth of field here. Lovely shot of the Gulf Coast that showcases more than just a walk on the beach.”

Honorable mention, Animals (above)

Steven Bailey, South Alabama EC

“The first hummingbirds of the year were coming back to our feeders, and very thirsty. It’s always a treat to hear their chittering and the movement of their wings.”

Judge’s comment: “I’m super impressed with the stop action here. The detail is amazing.”

Honorable mention, Animals (right)

Alicia Dodd, Tombigbee EC

“I had always wanted a horse as a kid. When I married my husband, I inherited this handsome guy, Bama. He’s always up for a photo op, but he’s exceptionally beautiful in a rare Alabama snow.”

“After the great snowstorm of 2021, Doublehead Resort (on Wilson Lake) was a winter wonderland! This picture of the snow on the dock and the sun’s reflection in the water spoke to me.”

Judge’s comment: “It’s sort of a juxtaposition: The summer lake scene covered in winter snow. The footprints were nice (I love how they didn’t make it all the way to the chairs – too cold?) “This tribute of crosses honoring our fallen soldiers from long ago was along the roadside of Highway 31 … May they rest in peace and we shall be forever grateful.”

Judge’s comment: “Nice lighting – very moving.”

Honorable mention, Animals (bottom)

Sandra Kiplinger, Arab EC

“My favorite winter destination is Joe Wheeler State Park to watch the fishing frenzy antics!”

Judge’s comment: “I like the action and the lighting in the frame. There is so much energy here; it almost looks like they’re walking on water.”

Smoked in Alabama

Sausage companies share a common pride in their process and products

By Jennifer Kornegay

Alabama boasts quite a few homegrown food brands, and among those, one has become almost synonymous with the product it produces. Conecuh Sausage company in Evergreen is so well known, many don’t even bother finishing the phrase when referencing the flavorful, meaty treat. They simply say, “Let’s grill some Conecuh.” Or, “Add Conecuh to your grocery list, hon.”

There’s even a Conecuh Sausage fan page on Facebook, where more than 9,000 members swap smoked sausage photos and recipes ranging from the simple (a warmed piece wrapped in a single slice of white bread) to the sophisticated (how about a kale, mushroom and Conecuh sausage quiche?).

But while it’s probably the most famous, Conecuh is by no means the only smoked sausage maker in the state. Such companies as Zeigler Meats, Snowden’s, Monroe, Hall’s, Royal Foods and Kelly Foods turn out smoked sausage, as do some other small producers and even some local butcher stores.

We talked to three of them. Each has its own story, but they have a common link: a deep pride in their process and their products.

Though Conecuh makes bacon and hams, its smoked sausage is the best-seller by far, and the company makes six varieties.

Conecuh Sausage Company

Evergreen, Alabama conecuhsausage.com

When the wind is right, and you remember to roll your windows down, a trip past the Evergreen exit on Interstate 65 is an aromatherapy experience. Your nose knows you’re near the small city before you see the familiar white water tower bearing the town’s name. From the moment it relocated its processing plant from downtown to right above the interstate in 1986, the scent of seasoned pork being bathed in smoke emanating from Conecuh Sausage has been revving up appetites, whether passers-by are anywhere near actual hunger or not.

The company was started in 1947 as a meat locker, a place that allowed locals to rent freezer space for putting up meat as well as veggies. Not long after, the owners began making smoked meats, including sausage, ham and bacon. “We’re now on the third generation of the founding Sessions family owning the business and working here,” says Kathy Cope, Conecuh’s customer service manager. “We still make bacon and hams, but today, our smoked sausage is the best-seller by far, and we make six varieties.” (Bacon is a distant second.)

Since its humble beginnings, the popularity of the sausage has grown, leading the company to expand with a large addition in 2014. “We had to have more space to keep up with demand,” Cope says. “We are known as a premium pork sausage using the finest cuts from all American hogs, and we don’t use any liquid smoke,” she says. The smokey flavor is authentic, emanating from hickory and soaking into the meat at the company’s smokehouse in Evergreen. Cope won’t divulge how much sausage Conecuh makes each year but quips, “It’s a lot, and we always want to make more.”

Last year, they had to. Pre-pandemic, the product’s reputation was on a steady incline, but Cope notes that demand boomed in 2020. “The rise was tremendous over the last year and a half,” she says. “We attribute that to people staying home and cooking more during the shutdown, and to people sharing their love of Conecuh with friends, specifically friends and family in other regions.”

Conecuh has recently been getting daily calls from other areas of the country pining for its products. “We’re primarily in the Southeast and Texas with a few markets in Michigan and Ohio, even a few places in New York, but more and more people from more and more places want our sausage,” Cope says. The U.S. military knows a good thing when it tastes it and stocks Conecuh sausage in its commissary stores in about two-thirds of the country as well as some areas of Europe.

While she’s been working for Conecuh for 16 years and eating its products for many more, Cope has never tired of enjoying the sausage. “My favorite way to prepare it is on the grill, just simple, so you taste it all,” she says. “But my favorite thing about the sausage is sharing it. I love watching the reaction of someone who has never had it before when they take a bite. They just love it and want to know where they can get more.”

Monroe Sausage

Beatrice, Alabama monroesausage.com

Monroe Sausage’s story is a classic comeback tale, complete with a bit of mystery as well as hurdles eventually surmounted. It begins in the early 1940s when a now-unknown family started Monroe Meats and Cold Storage, which offered freezer space and venison processing.

In 1952, it was sold to Jimmy McMillian and Bill Causey, and a bit later, they added smoked sausage, sold under the name Monroe Sausage, to the company’s offerings. Because McMillian was the one out and about hawking the company’s product, most in the area just called it “Jimmy’s sausage.”

When the duo retired in the 1980s, a loyal employee name Jeff Kircharr bought the company and kept the sausage-making going. But in 2004, Hurricane Ivan destroyed the facility, and when his insurance didn’t cover all the damage, Kircharr had to close. “So, the sausage was just gone,” current managing partner David Steele says, “and it wasn’t long before those of us who’d grown up on it started missing it.”

Steele and his family have been Monroe County residents since the 1800s and are in timberland management. One morning, while having coffee in the family business’ office, Steele’s dad voiced what many in the area felt. “‘Where’s that Jimmy’s sausage?’ he asked me,’” says Steele. “I told him I didn’t know, so he said we needed to call Jeff and see what was going on, and if he was opening again.”

Steele did as his father instructed and learned that Kircharr was done but that he’d be willing to help someone else bring the sausage back. “So, me, my brother and cousin got some investors, built a new facility and got Jeff to run it,” he says. “That was late 2005, and in 2007, we made our first sausage. We were in the meat business.”

Initially, Steele and his family thought sausage making would be like a hobby, one with some delicious benefits, but it didn’t work out like that. “The business came with a lot of challenges, and at times, we weren’t sure we were going to keep going, but we persevered,” Steele says. Then, Kircharr retired. That was a blow, until another employee stepped up. “We got a young guy we’d hired to work in the venison processing side to help on the sausage side, and man, he just had a knack for things,” Steele says.

Within 90 days, he’d implemented multiple improvements that made the company more efficient, and its prospects turned a corner. “He paved a path for us to be really successful, and three years later, we’re doing pretty well.” From 2018 to 2019, sales tripled. Then, in 2020, the company doubled what it had done in

Monroe Sausage, based in Beatrice, made a comeback after the company’s facility was destroyed in Hurricane Ivan. The first sausage was made in 2007, and the company continues to produce its Scott Hot sausage, thick-cut bacon and original rope and link sausages. COURTESY MONROE SAUSAGE 2019. The first quarter of 2021 was up about 25 percent compared to the same period in 2020. Yet, there are still obstacles, some related to Monroe’s size. “We use higher-end pork, so we already have higher costs, and since we’re smaller, we don’t have the volume buying power that some do,” Steele says. But he believes in the product and its ability to hook repeat customers. “Once people find us, they like us,” he says. Part of Monroe sausage’s appeal comes via a carefully controlled smoking process. “We get the temperature right to make sure the sausage really absorbs the hickory smoke,” Steele says. Another key is Monroe’s leaner cuts of meat, which Steele says Monroe Sausage’s Original Link Sausage is smoked longer for better flavor, according to the company. COURTESY MONROE SAUSAGE have substantially less fat while retaining full flavor. “We also do a courser grind on our meat, so it has a different texture,” he says. “That’s what really sets us apart. “We look at what we do as an opportunity to talk to people about things that matter in life,” he says. “We use it as a witness, a way to spread a good word. If we can do that, the sausage selling takes care of itself.”

Snowden’s Sausage

Andalusia, Alabama snowdenssausage.com

Snowden’s first made and sold its sausage in the early 1930s, and it’s been in the same family ever since. Today, Snowden Sausage president Randy Snowden has taken the reins from his dad and uncle and runs the company with his business partner, Neil Campbell.

He officially acquired the family business in 2008, but he’s been in it his entire life. And long before he was born, his grandad cooked up a secret recipe and committed to a classic method, aspects Snowden hasn’t messed with. “We still make sausage the old-fashioned way, and as far as I know, ours is the only one in this area and maybe one of a few in the country that doesn’t have any water added,” he says.

“We’ve not changed anything in my lifetime and don’t think it has really ever changed.” It has added to its offerings through the years and now features sausage in regular, mild, hot and Cajun flavors, as well as its Baby Link, a smaller sausage that’s become the best seller.

While the company has been doing things the same way for nearly a century, last year threw it a couple curve balls. “We were doing really well in the beginning of 2020, and then our supplier shut down due to COVID,” Snowden says. Then, when that problem was solved, climbing meat prices wiped out the company’s early gains.

Despite these struggles, Snowden knows he’s lucky and feels blessed to be moving back toward normal. “It was tough, but we survived it, and a lot of companies didn’t,” he says, “so I’m thankful for that.”

Like the other two companies, Snowden doesn’t give out the particulars of its sausage seasonings or mix, but he’s happy to share his thoughts on how to eat it. “I like to grill it and tell people that’s a great way to do it,” he says.

Snowden’s first made and sold its sausage in the early 1930s, and it’s been in the same family ever since.

COURTESY SNOWDEN SAUSAGE

Snowden’s features sausage in regular, mild, hot and Cajun flavors, perfect for a bowl of gumbo or red beans and rice.

COURTESY SNOWDEN SAUSAGE

She speaks for the trees

Most people have a soft spot for at least one tree. It might be a pine, an oak, or even a crepe myrtle. If you do, you have a lot in common with Janice Barrett – she’s just taken it a whole lot further! After becoming a mother in 1989, Janice realized how important it was to protect the world her son had been born into. In 1992, she became involved as a volunteer artist with the Bankhead Monitor, a non-profit educational conservation group, and has been working as a defender of the forests for nearly 30 years.

Bankhead Monitor would become Wild Alabama (WA); Barrett became WA’s Outreach Coordinator in 2001 and has held that position for two decades. She co-created Wild Alabama’s Helping Hands program, its Hikes Program, and its Volunteer Wilderness Ranger Program. She also created the Wild Wednesday Program, which takes kids and their families on guided hikes during summer months. Like acorns planted in one of her beloved forests, all of these programs are still growing strong. At its core, her work is about forest protection by the people, for the people. – Josh Levesque

Did you spend more time outside during childhood than most kids do today?

Yes, a lot more! In my family, staying indoors was not an option. I am the eldest of four sisters and we were raised free-range.

Is there anything that makes Alabama’s forests special?

Alabama is fourth in biodiversity of all 50 states, and some of our rivers are among the oldest rivers on earth. Geology and hydrology work together to create forests that are home to ancient species of trees such as the Eastern hemlocks and sweet birches found in the sandstone canyons of the Warrior Mountains of northwest Alabama.

Where should we go to experience the beauty of Alabama’s forests?

Go to any forest you can get to, and the wilder, the better. Alabama has 21 state parks and they all have hiking trails. From Bankhead in the north to Conecuh in the south, our National Forests all are treasures with places to hike and explore. Of course, our three federally designated wilderness areas, Cheaha, Sipsey and Dugger Mountain, are the crown jewels of our state.

How can I help my kids love the outdoors?

One big thing that keeps parents from taking their children into a forest is fear. We want to keep our children safe! The antidote to fear is knowledge. Learn how to be safe on a hike, learn how to be prepared and what to take with you. Once we are liberated from fear, we are free to allow our children to have their own relationships with nature. It is the best gift we can give our children. For children who are not used to being outside much, start simply and make it fun. Take a walk on an easy trail, explore a creek. One of the purposes of Wild Alabama’s Wild Wednesday nature hikes for kids and families is to teach adults where they can take children and how to stay safe. Our children are the next generation of forest protectors. But first, they have to know them and love them.

How can I help protect my forests?

Protection is rooted in love, so find a forest to know and love. Learn everything you can about it and the natural history of it. Go on guided hikes or outings with a naturalist to learn more about your forest. Whatever forest you choose, pick out a single tree to visit when you go there. Forest protection starts for many of us as a personal relationship with a special place. Voting is also an extremely important part of forest protection. Know candidates’ stance on environmental protection before you go to the polls to vote and support only those who are willing to stand up for the protection of our forests for our children. You can also join Wild Alabama! We are Alabama’s only non-profit public lands forest protection organization. To learn more, visit WildAl.org.

College Football:

Finally, full schedules & full stadiums

By Brad Bradford

Last fall, college football fans seemed to be in a constant state of confusion: Will there be games? How many games? Will fans be able to attend? What about masks? Will there be a playoff? Will coaches get fired during a shortened season?

Thanks to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s leadership, a 10game conference-only schedule proved the SEC’s slogan to be true: “It Just Means More.” Fans from schools up north that never make the playoffs claim that football in the South is a religion. Our answer: “It’s bigger than that.”

ALABAMA 2020 RECAP: Death, taxes and Nick Saban’s quest for excellence all seem to be a given. Coach Nick has come close to admitting that last year’s National Championship team was his favorite. Questions about quarterback Mac Jones were answered quickly. The offense led by DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris set numerous records. Even though the defense led the SEC in points allowed, Tide fans felt as though the defense had a down year.

AUBURN 2020 RECAP: Coach Gus Malzahn entered last fall on borrowed time. The administration and Tiger fans wanted to see major improvements in recruiting, physicality and a vision for the future. Losing again to rivals Georgia and Alabama was tough. Getting beat by a weak South Carolina team and Texas A&M was just too much. A change was needed at the top and was made.

Auburn has too much tradition and pride to hover around #4 in the SEC West behind Bama, Texas A&M and LSU. The other three teams in the West (Ole Miss, State and Arkansas) are on an upswing also.

SEC East Prediction: 1. Georgia 2. Florida 3. Kentucky 4. Missouri 5. Tennessee 6. South Carolina 7. Vanderbilt. The bottom three fired their coach last fall and hope to move up with the Big Boys.

Georgia returns a defense that led the nation in rushing defense last year. The Bulldogs have finally found their quarterback in transfer J.T. Daniels. He will be on the Heisman watch. The Dogs’ crossover games are against Arkansas and Auburn, both rebuilding teams. Florida will suffer the same fate that Georgia did last fall: having to play Alabama in a crossover game. The Gators lost too much at quarterback and tight end to beat Georgia and the Crimson Tide.

SEC West Prediction: 1. Alabama 2. Texas A&M 3. LSU 4. Ole Miss 5. Auburn 6. Mississippi State 7. Arkansas. Auburn has a new staff and has to play Georgia in its annual crossover game. Ole Miss draws Vandy and Tennessee.

As long as Saban is recruiting and walking the sidelines in Tuscaloosa, it is hard to pick against them. He continues his famous “plug and play” system. Replacing coaches and NFL draft picks doesn’t seem to slow down the Crimson steamroller. Jimbo Fisher proved last year that the Aggies have closed the gap in the West. After an early season loss to Alabama, A&M finished #5 and should have been in the playoffs instead of Notre Dame.

ALABAMA Prediction: the Kickoff Classic against Miami in Atlanta will be competitive. The early road game at Florida will favor the Tide against a young offensive line and a new quarterback. Bama should breeze through undefeated until the match in College Station Oct. 9. The trap game will be the previous week when Ole Miss comes to Tuscaloosa. This year’s Iron Bowl is in Auburn. Bo Nix won that home game as a freshman quarterback in 2019. Regular season record: 12-0. Playing undefeated Georgia in the SEC championship game.

AUBURN Prediction: the Tigers have to travel to Penn State in the third week. It’s tough to win in Happy Valley. Most pundits have Auburn with a 7-5 record in Bryan Harsin’s first year. Probable losses in addition to Penn State would be Texas A&M on the road and at home to Georgia and Alabama. To reach seven wins, they have to win one of the “toss-up” games with LSU and Ole Miss. Look for a loss to Lane Kiffin’s imaginative offense while beating the Bayou Tigers. Bo Nix will prosper under Mike Bobo as his quarterback coach. Regular season record: 7-5. PLAYOFF Prediction: Same as always–pencil in Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State for three of the slots. Other possibilities are Georgia, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oregon, Iowa State, North Carolina and Indiana.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

GAME: Alabama 35, Georgia 31 in a repeat of the SEC championship game.

Brad Bradford is a former football staff member at Alabama and Louisville. His wife Susan Moseley Bradford is a former Auburn cheerleader. His blogs can be found at hairinabiscuit.com. Brad is also an author and motivational speaker. Contact him at coachbradbradford@gmail.com

SOCIAL SECURITY

Choose a representative payee for Social Security before you may need one

The future is uncertain. Our Advance Designation program allows you to pre-select a trusted individual if a time comes when you need a representative payee to help manage your money. Advance Designation enables you to identify up to three people, in priority order, whom you would like to serve as your potential representative payee.

We recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of our Advanced Designation program. Since its launch in March 2020, more than one million eligible individuals have opted to participate.

You may choose an Advance Designation if you are capable of making your own decisions and are: • An adult or emancipated minor applying for benefits and do not have a representative payee. • An adult or emancipated minor beneficiary/recipient and do not have a representative payee.

You can submit your Advance Designation information when you: • File a claim for benefits online. • Use the application available in your personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. • Call us by telephone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-3250778).

In the event that you can no longer make your own decisions, you and your family will have peace of mind knowing you already chose someone you trust to manage your benefits.

We have updated our Frequently Asked Questions to answer any questions you may have about Advance Designation at ssa. gov/faq under “Other Topics.” You may also find more information about representative payees on our blog at blog.ssa.gov.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by email at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.

August Crossword by Myles Mellor

Across 1 Alabama beach where you might see pelicans trying to steal a fisherman’s catch, 2 words 6 Alabama neighbor, abbr. 8 Sacred Buddhist word 10 Mobile ___ 11 Kind of tide 12 This section of beach is home to Bon Secour

Wildlife Refuge 14 Like foliage 15 Types of dive 17 Harness part 18 ____ Henry Lake 20 One of many Alabama beaches where you can see stunning sunsets 25 Skyway ___ Trail 27 Alabama coastal town known for its boutiques, cafes, art galleries, gift shops and seafood restaurants 29 Rainbow shape 30 Small round veggie 31 Unique beach which is also an old military site, 2 words 33 __ Eliot (poet) 35 Boundaries 36 Island where Fort Gaines is based

Down 1 Turkey call 2 Alabama reservoir great for largemouth bass fishing, 2 words 3 Like many Alabama beaches 4 Beach city where you can enjoy dolphin tours 5 Sty female 7 Thornton Dial, e.g. 9 Idea that’s spread virally 13 “Ristorante” beverage 16 Ventilate 17 Railway, abbr. 19 Dieter’s obsession, abbr. 21 On the crest of 22 High cliffs 23 Hallowed 24 Summer is one 26 Moved a canoe 27 Back again 28 Four-footed friend 29 The “famous” cookie maker 32 “Aladdin” monkey 34 Quiet!

This article is from:

Alabama Living August 2021

by Alabama Living