Federation Outlines Legislative Priorities

Legislature Focuses On Federal Funding, Gambling

Brian Hardin, center, leads the Federation’s External Affairs team. From left are Administrative Assistant Hayden Harris, Agricultural Legislation Director Preston Roberts, Hardin, State Legislative Programs Director Russ Durrance and Agriculture Counsel John Allen Nichols.

State lawmakers were focused on developing plans to spend federal infrastructure and COVID-19 stimulus money when the Alabama Legislature convened Jan. 11 for the 2022 Regular Session.

Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said the state’s largest farm organization is working to ensure rural economic development remains a priority as elected officials plan for the future.

“The state has received $580 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is expected to receive another $1 billion this spring,” Hardin said. “Potential uses include infrastructure, public health and assistance for those hurt by the pandemic. We are working with legislators and the governor’s office to make sure plans for this one-time money address the needs of rural Alabama.”

In addition to ARPA allocations, Alabama will have an opportunity to compete for broadband funding through the infrastructure bill signed in November. Alabama Finance Director Bill Poole told lawmakers in December the influx of federal money is an “opportunity of a lifetime” to improve the state’s competitive position for the benefit of its citizens.

Poole noted the complexity and requirements of federal funding necessitate a thorough plan and accountability.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers are betting on gambling to provide additional revenue for state coffers. Despite a failed attempt to pass gaming legislation in 2021, proponents plan to introduce legislation related to a statewide lottery, casino gambling and a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. At the Federation’s December annual meeting, almost 500 voting delegates representing all 67 counties affirmed the organization’s opposition to gambling.

“Our county presidents discussed gambling legislation at length during their summer conference, and several county Federations proposed policy changes that were considered at the September Policy Development Meeting,” said Federation Agriculture Counsel John Allen Nichols. “The delegate body ultimately solidified the Federation’s opposition to gambling in all forms.”

While gambling and federal funding are expected to garner headlines during the session, Federation Agricultural Legislation Director Preston Roberts said some of the organization’s most important work for members happens behind the scenes.

“Hundreds of individual bills will be introduced this legislative session, and any one of them has the potential to affect farmers and their families,” Roberts said. “Our staff reviews every bill for immediate impacts and any potential long-term consequences.”

Roberts said the Federation’s legislative priorities for 2022 include preserving state funding for agriculture, forestry, and career and technical education. The Federation also is working to clarify tax laws related to grain storage bins and equipment used in producing value-added farm products.

Hardin recently returned to lead the External Affairs Department after serving as director for the Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department. Russ Durrance, the Federation’s former Dairy, Pork and Poultry divisions director, was promoted to state legislative programs director in December. The 2022 Regular Session also is the first for department Administrative Assistant Hayden Harris, who joined the Federation in September.

For legislative updates during the session, visit AlfaFarmers.org/ capitolconnection.

Durrance Named State Legislative Programs Director

Alabama Farmers Federation announced the promotion of Russ Durrance to state legislative programs director Dec. 17. Durrance’s new duties focus on representing Federation members in public policy discussions at the Alabama State House.

Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said Durrance’s work as director of the Federation’s Poultry, Pork and Dairy divisions prepared him for the new role.

“Since joining the Federation in 2019, Russ has distinguished himself for his ability to research complex issues and implement action plans to serve members,” Hardin said. “He worked to secure disaster relief for growers

negatively impacted by COVID-19; led efforts to revise Alabama’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) rules; worked to expand local meat processing capacity; and advised leaders, members and coworkers on issues related Durrance to energy, the environment and nutrient management.” Durrance also worked to develop young people through Federationsponsored livestock events and was instrumental in expanding shows at the upcoming Southeastern Livestock Exposition with the creation of the Alabama Junior Swine Expo. Durrance said he’s eager to amplify farmers’ voices in Montgomery. “While I’ve enjoyed my time working in the Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department, I’m excited to expand my reach and ability to serve our members in the State House,” he said. “My role working on the CAFO revisions in 2020 helped me understand the benefit and need to focus on governmental policy to benefit Alabama farmers and our rural communities.” A native of Newnan, Georgia, Durrance earned a degree in agricultural business and economics from Auburn University in 2017. He previously worked in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a broiler service technician and was a management trainee with JPB/Pilgrim’s Pride. Durrance and his wife, Stephanie, live in Auburn, where she teaches school, and he mentors future agricultural leaders as chapter adviser for the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.

Cullman County farmer Lydia Haynes is the 2022 State Women’s Leadership Committee chair.

Haynes

Heads Up Women’s Leadership Committee

By Marlee Moore

Lydia Haynes emanates energy, whether hopping in a tractor, loving on her five grandchildren or visiting with friends at an Alabama Farmers Federation meeting.

The Cullman County farmer, 67, brings her trademark enthusiasm to the Federation’s 2022 State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC). Haynes, who was elected chairman by fellow female farmers at the annual meeting in December, also holds a one-year, ex-officio role on the Federation’s state board.

“I want to re-energize, reinvigorate and encourage the county committees,” said Haynes, whose family raises row crops and cattle in Fairview. “We have to overcome the challenges of the last two years. To do this, we need to get more young farmers and farm wives involved or re-engaged.

“My daughter-in-law, Whitney, is the mother of five and is a family and consumer sciences teacher at Fairview High School. She is very involved on the farm and has begun a gate-toplate direct-marketing business of our Haynes Farms all-natural beef. She stays engaged with our committee via virtual means, such as Zoom.”

WLC involvement can impact a farm’s bottom line, Haynes said. County committees provide space to network, share ideas and benefit from others’ experiences. Involvement also creates community for women balancing the demands of farm life and raising families in rural areas.

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, 36% of U.S. farmers are women, while 56% of all farms have at least one female decision-maker.

Haynes was raised on a cotton farm in east Cullman County. She met Darrel, her husband of 45 years, at Auburn University and juggled farm life, motherhood and her work as a physical therapist until retiring in 2020.

Today, she shares responsibility for raking, baling and wrapping hay and hay silage for 600 brood cows and feeder calves; hauling and unloading grain; spraying; bush hogging; mowing; and cooking and taking meals to the field.

Haynes’ Federation roots span a century. Her grandmother, Lydia Lovelady, was a Cullman County Farm Bureau charter director. Haynes and Darrel began their involvement in the Young Farmers Program 40 years ago and raised their children, Ben and Bart, around the organization. Ben is the Cullman County Farmers Federation president.

Haynes purposefully edged closer to retirement before running for the state WLC in 2017.

“I wanted to give the position the time it deserved,” said Haynes, who is in her second term serving Region 1, which includes Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties.

Haynes plans to build on current programs, such as the Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute and the Women’s Leadership Conference. Some of her favorite local WLC activities support 4-H projects, calf shows, and family and consumer science cook-offs.

Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood said she looks forward to Haynes’ lively leadership. “Lydia is a hard worker and understands the challenges and opportunities we face as women in agriculture,” Earwood said. “She is excited to meet members where they’re at, make our committees successful and promote our industry. We are thankful for her leadership.”

Haynes bulked up her leadership skills during the American Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Communications Boot Camp in November. During the four-day conference in Washington, D.C., Haynes and 14 other female leaders honed skills related to public speaking, communicating with elected officials, social media strategy, targeted messaging and working with the media.

Haynes plans to implement those lessons when working alongside the eight state WLC members. She said it’s an honor to help her peers provide grassroots support for Federation efforts.

“I feel certain the Alabama Farmers Federation is second to none with all we offer our members year-round to serve, be involved, have influence and make a difference,” she said. “And I strongly feel that our State Women’s Leadership Committee is what most states strive for.”

Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Lydia Haynes stays busy on her family’s Cullman County farm. Front row from left are Lola Kate, Pruett, Darrel, Lydia, Juanita and Charlie Haynes. Back row from left are Bart, Jack, Whitney, Caroline and Ben Haynes.

Lydia and Darrel Haynes raise row crops and cattle in Fairview in Cullman County. The duo, who met at Auburn University, are heavily involved in the Alabama Farmers Federation and got their start in the Young Farmers Program four decades ago.