Federation Celebrates Centennial, Elects Leaders

Federation Leaders Elected During Centennial Celebration

By Debra Davis

The Alabama Farmers Federation held leadership elections during its annual meeting Dec. 6 in Montgomery. The gathering was highlighted by the state’s largest farm organization celebrating its centennial year.

Steve Dunn, a Conecuh County row crop and cattle farmer, was reelected secretary-treasurer.

Calhoun County’s Jon Hegeman was reelected Central Area vice president, and Jake Harper of Wilcox County was reelected Southwest Area vice president.

Elections were held during the Federation’s business session, where nearly 500 voting delegates from all 67 counties selected officers and directors. Officers serve two-year terms, and directors serve three-year terms. Officers and district directors also serve on the Alfa Insurance Co. board of directors.

Dunn’s election is statewide and marks his 12th term as secretarytreasurer. He also serves as Conecuh County Farmers Federation president and is a former State Young Farmers Committee chairman.

Hegeman will serve his second term as Central Area vice president. He manages greenhouses in Calhoun and Cherokee counties and is a former State Young Farmers Committee chairman. He was American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers chairman in 2015. The Central Area includes Autauga, Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.

This is Harper’s 10th term as Southwest Area vice president. A cattle and timber farmer, Harper also serves as Wilcox County Farmers Federation president and was a district director from 1988-1996. The Southwest Area includes Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties.

Federation board members representing Districts 1, 4, 7 and 10 were chosen for three-year terms.

Walker County poultry, cattle and row crop farmer Dorman Grace was elected District 1 director. The area includes Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Walker counties. He replaces former District 1 director Brian Glenn of Lawrence County who served nine years. Grace also serves as Walker County Farmers Federation president.

Cullman County poultry and row crop farmer Steve Lake was elected director of District 4, which includes Blount, Cullman, Marshall and Winston counties. He replaces former District 4 director Tim Whitley of Blount County. Lake also is a Cullman County Farmers Federation board member.

Elmore County produce farmer Joe Lambrecht was reelected to his third term as District 7 director, which includes Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties. Lambrecht is an Elmore County Farmers Federation board member.

Barbour County poultry and cattle farmer Trip Horne was elected District 10. The area includes Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw and Pike counties. He replaces Steve Stroud of Pike County who served six years and did not seek reelection. Horne also serves as Barbour County Farmers Federation president.

Elected to one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board were State Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Lydia Haynes of Cullman County and State Young Farmers Committee Chairman Mitchell Henry of Lawrence County.

ALABAMA FARM BUREAU

ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION

1 9 2 1 2 0 2 1

2022 Board Members

Dorman Grace District 1 Steve Lake District 4 Joe Lambrecht District 7

Steve Dunn Secretary Treasurer

Trip Horne District 10 Jon Hegeman Central Area Vice President

Lydia Haynes Women’s Leadership Committee Chair

Jake Harper Southwest Area Vice President

Mitchell Henry Young Farmers Committee Chair

Farmers Federation Celebrates Century Of Service

Over 1,400 guests celebrated the Alabama Farmers Federation centennial anniversary during a banquet Dec. 6, which featured entertainment and agricultural history spanning a century. A special tribute to farmers and the U.S. military earned a standing ovation to close the event. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall addressed Alabama Farmers Federation members during the organization’s annual meeting opening banquet Dec. 5.

By Marlee Moore

Excitement, enthusiasm and optimism filled the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center Dec. 5-6 as the Alabama Farmers Federation celebrated a century of serving farmers.

“This is an exciting time,” said Federation President Jimmy Parnell, a Chilton County farmer. “I can only wonder what our founders thought when they formed this organization 100 years ago. Would they be satisfied with where we are? I hope they would.”

The 100th annual meeting kicked off Sunday with 1,200-plus farmers from all 67 counties gathering in Montgomery to review policy and elect members of state commodity committees, a new addition to the annual meeting.

Day 1 continued with awards presentations. Two honorees — the late John W. Morris and James R. Hudson — received the Service to Agriculture Award, the Federation’s highest honor.

The Federation also recognized statewide winners of Young Farmers contests Sunday evening. Winners will represent Alabama in American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) contests in Atlanta in January.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall, a farmer from Georgia, attended General Session 1. He thanked Alabama farmers for their dedication and praised the Federation for its work supporting rural Alabamians and fighting for conservative values.

“Congratulations on 100 years! What an accomplishment,” Duvall said. “We are just as relevant today as we were 100 years ago. Not many membership organizations can say that.”

The meeting continued Monday with a tribute breakfast honoring leaders who died in the past year. Billy Wyatt, pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Maplesville, led the devotion.

Outstanding county Federation boards, committees and individual leaders were recognized, as were new and outgoing county presidents and commodity committee members.

Individual Leader Awards were presented to members instrumental in establishing or supporting county-level programs. Awards were given in two

Hundreds of farmers representing all 67 Alabama counties socialized at the 100th annual meeting between policy development committee hearings, caucuses, awards presentations and annual business sessions. The Federation’s Brian Hardin and Jimmie Harrison of Chilton County discussed agricultural issues before heading into the annual business session Dec. 6.

categories. They were: n Local and Community Services

Awards — Jack Robertson of

Chambers County, Fred Kendrick of Chambers County, Brandon

Harlan of Cleburne County, Eric

Lovvorn of Cleburne County and

Randy Moody of Winston County n Women’s Leadership Awards — Jane Harris of Cleburne County and Debbie Roberts of Fayette

County.

Senior Leader Awards were presented to Don Roberts of Cleburne County, Morgan Rodgers of Covington County and Diane McCool of Pickens County. This award is for leaders who have served as county president, as State Women’s Leadership Committee chairman or as a state board member and are over 70 years of age.

Twenty-seven counties received Awards of Excellence for Federation activities. They were Baldwin, Barbour, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Colbert, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, DeKalb, Elmore, Franklin, Houston, Jefferson, Lamar, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Tallapoosa and Winston counties.

The Federation’s business session and state board elections concluded Monday afternoon.

Guests, elected officials and industry partners joined farmers that evening for a special celebration. The centennial gala featured entertainment tracing the history of agriculture, the organization and music through the past 10 decades.

Guests enjoyed top-notch decor and service during the centennial anniversary celebration to close the annual meeting Dec. 6. Gold accents, roses and music spanning a century filled the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel during the event. The Federation hosted its inaugural AgDash 5K Dec. 4 to kick off annual meeting festivities and raise funds for the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation. Runners traveled across downtown Montgomery, ending at Riverwalk Stadium, home of the Montgomery Biscuits.

Elite Young Farmers Earn Extensive Prizes At Annual Meeting

By Marlee Moore

Exemplary Young Farmers and statewide contest winners from Cherokee, Cullman and Dale counties received extensive prize packages during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 100th annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5.

Winners include Discussion Meet champion Kyle Morris of Cullman County, who earned a four-wheeler from First South Farm Credit.

The contest simulates a committee meeting where participants discuss solutions to current agricultural issues. Morris was one of four finalists chosen after preliminary competitions during the Federation’s Farm & Land Expo this summer. The finals were held during the annual meeting. Other finalists were Leah Mitchell, DeKalb County; Matthew Johnson, Etowah County; and Levi Noles, Randolph County.

Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) winners Josh and Savannah McCoy were also honored. The Dale County farmers have three sons, Fields, Sutton and Shep, and grow peanuts and cotton. They also operate a state-of-theart peanut shelling facility, buying point and seed treatment business, which serves farmers nationwide. As the OYFF, the McCoys received $35,000 toward a Ford truck courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor from AgPro, SunSouth and TriGreen.

OYFF contestants receive the bulk of their income from production agriculture and are chosen through an intense application, interview and on-farm judging process.

Cherokee County’s Lauren and Landon Marks won the Excellence in Agriculture contest earlier this year and received their prize at the annual meeting. The respective veterinarian and Extension agent received a zero-turn mower from Corteva Agriscience and a computer package from Valcom/CCS Wireless.

Excellence in Agriculture contestants first chronicle their passion for agriculture, Farm Bureau involvement and analysis of industry issues through an application before presenting in front of a panel of judges.

The McCoys and Markses won their respective contests at the Farm & Land Expo. All winners will represent Alabama in American Farm Bureau Federation contests in Atlanta in January and received Red Land Cotton gift certificates courtesy of the Federation.

For more information on contests, visit AlfaYoungFarmers.org.

Cullman County’s Kyle Morris was Discussion Meet champion and winner of a four-wheeler from First South Farm Credit. He’s pictured with Federation President Jimmy Parnell, left, and First South Farm Credit’s Mike Pigg, right.

Cherokee County’s Lauren and Landon Marks are the 2021 Excellence in Agriculture winners. They received a zero-turn mower from Corteva Agriscience and a computer package from Valcom/CCS Wireless. From left are Corteva Agriscience’s Cullen Wiggins, Lauren and Landon Marks, and Federation President Jimmy Parnell. Josh and Savannah McCoy of Dale County are the 2021 Outstanding Young Farm Family. They received $35,000 toward a Ford truck courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor from AgPro, SunSouth and TriGreen. From left are Alabama Ag Credit’s Doug Thiessen, Josh McCoy, Federation President Jimmy Parnell and Alabama Farm Credit’s Mel Koller.

Farmers Tapped To Lead State Women’s, Young Farmers Committees

By Marlee Moore

Two north Alabama farmers have been tapped to lead the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) and State Young Farmers Committee.

Fellow farmers elected Lydia Haynes of Cullman County and Mitchell Henry of Lawrence County during the organization’s 100th annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 5-6.

On the State WLC, Ann Whatley of Lee County was elected vice chairman. She also serves members at-large on the WLC.

Debbie Dunn of Geneva County was elected secretary and was reelected to serve Region 4 on the state committee. The area includes Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Macon, Pike, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.

Regina Carnes of Marshall County was reelected to serve Region 1. That region covers Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall,

2022

Committee

Ben Johnson District 3

Mitchell Henry Chair, North At-Large

Wallace Drury District 4

Jonathan Edgar Vice Chair, District 6

Denzil Dees District 5

2022

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Regina Carnes Region 1 Rachel Chastain Region 2 Delle Bean Region 2

Dillon Turk Secretary, District 8

Emmanuel Bankston District 7 James Hereford District 1

Bart Williams South At-Large

Lydia Haynes Chair, Region 1

Debbie Freeland Region 3

Ann Whatley Vice Chair, At-Large

Kathy Gordon Region 3 Leah Mitchell District 2

Josh McCoy OYFF Winner, Ex-Officio

Debbie Dunn Secretary, Region 4

JoAnn B. Laney Region 4

Morgan and Winston counties.

Rachel Chastain of Talladega County was elected to represent Region 2. The region includes Autauga, Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties. She replaces long-time state committee member Debbie Roberts of Fayette County.

During General Session 2, the Women’s Leadership Division recognized outstanding counties. They are Cherokee County, Region 1; Randolph County, Region 2; Mobile County, Region 3; and Lee County, Region 4.

Young Farmers, ages 18-35, elected leaders during the group’s annual business session.

Jonathan Edgar, the District 6 representative from Elmore County, was elected vice chair; Dillon Turk of Mobile County, the District 8 representative, was elected secretary.

James Hereford of Madison County, a row crop farmer, was elected to serve District 1. The area includes Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Morgan and Winston counties.

Ben Johnson of Randolph County was chosen to serve District 3. The poultry, cattle and row crop farmer will cover Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Shelby, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties.

District 5 farmers elected Denzil Dees of Sumter County, a catfish and cattle farmer. The area includes Choctaw, Dallas, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox counties.

Emmanuel Bankston of Henry County was named District 7 representative. The area includes Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties. Bankston is a cattle farmer and operations superintendent for Golden Peanuts in Headland.

Elected to represent south Alabama at-large was Bart Williams of Autauga County, a cattle farmer who also works in crop protection product sales. The area includes Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties.