Henry Ready To Lead State’s Young Farmers

A Legacy Of Learning

State Young Farmers Committee And LeadershipChairman Mitchell Henry and his wife, Rebecca, raise stocker cattle in Moulton.

By Jeff Helms

Ahallmark of successful leaders is their desire to learn. For Mitchell Henry, a commitment to personal growth propelled the Lawrence County cattleman into leadership. It’s also his vision as newly elected chair of the Alabama Farmers Federation State Young Farmers Committee.

“This is an excellent opportunity to learn and to understand more about how the organization works,” said Henry, 27, who will serve a one-year, ex-officio term on the Federation’s state board. “My goal is to encourage other young farmers to be involved and learn as much as they can.”

Henry said the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference next month in Gulf Shores will include quality educational sessions on topics such as farm finances, labor, estate planning and precision agriculture. State committee meetings also are being enhanced through networking opportunities with legislators and others.

Young Farmers Program competitive events, however, first attracted Henry to the Federation.

“I wanted to be part of an organization that stood up for farmers,” said Henry, who competed in the Collegiate Discussion Meet while at Auburn University. “It gave me a chance to meet people of the same mindset. Being part of a community of people with the same issues and problems was very beneficial as a young farmer.”

Henry has since competed multiple

State Young Farmers Committee Chairman Mitchell Henry and fellow Lawrence County farmer Don Glenn visit during the Alabama Farmers Federation annual meeting in December.

Mitchell Henry and his grandfather, Clinton Hardin, discuss farm work on their Lawrence County stocker operation. Henry is the fourth generation to be involved in the Alabama Farmers Federation.

times in the Young Farmers Discussion Meet and was a finalist with wife Rebecca in last year’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest.

“Being an OYFF competitor was a very challenging, but rewarding, experience,” said Henry, the Lawrence County Young Farmers chairman. “It changed the way I look at this operation. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-today work and not look at the big picture. The application forces you to look at the future.”

Henry has never been shy about setting goals. The Montgomery County native started his beef cattle operation as a sophomore in high school with 13 calves. He hauled the small herd to his maternal grandfather’s farm in Moulton, where he worked summers and during breaks to grow the business. By the time Henry graduated from Auburn in 2016, he had a 500-calf stocker operation. Today, he and grandfather Clinton Hardin have 1,000 stockers. Henry also has 40 Simmental-Angus brood cows, with plans to grow the herd to 200.

Henry and Rebecca live in a house built by his great-grandfather, John Clinton Hardin, who was a former Lawrence County Farm Bureau president and early customer of the insurance company.

“My father was interested in the organization because there weren’t many people out there speaking for farmers at that time,” said Clinton Hardin, as he reflected on the family’s legacy of Federation leaders. “This is a great opportunity for Mitchell. I’m glad to see him take leadership roles and help other people.”

Henry’s paternal grandfather, Davis Henry, also was active in the Federation. His uncle Mike and cousin Garrett both chaired the State Young Farmers Committee, and another uncle, Garry, served on the state board.

“It was important to my great-grandfather’s generation to have good insurance from people who understood farmers and their needs, and that still holds true today,” said Henry, a member of the Federation’s current Agricultural Leaders For Alabama (A.L.F.A. Leaders) class.

Rebecca, a pharmacist, said their family is dedicated to serving young farmers and the Federation.

“This is where we are putting our energy,” she said. “I’m excited for Mitchell to have the opportunity to serve as a board member.”

Rebecca also shares her husband’s passion for education. She’s developed a national social media following for her farm life photography and branded “Hardin Farms” merchandise.

“People fall in love with the people behind a business. When they know you, they want to support you,” she said. “With the farm, social media gets people excited about agriculture and knowing where their food comes from. It’s such an easy way for us to educate others about what we do and why we do it.”

Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer said the energy and enthusiasm the Henrys bring to the state committee is contagious. Henry is in his second term serving North Alabama At-Large.

“I am excited to work alongside Mitchell as the State Young Farmers Committee chair,” McBrayer said. “He was elected to lead the committee because of his strong leadership skills, his ability to create a shared vision and his desire to take the committee to the next level. Mitchell is a strong advocate for agriculture, and I am excited to see what he has planned.”

Walker To Lead Governmental, Ag Programs Department

Sixteen-year organization veteran Mitt Walker has been tapped to lead the Alabama Farmers Federation Governmental and Agricultural Programs (GAP) Department. Walker previously served as assistant department director.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to lead this great team and appreciate the strong foundation left behind by our previous director, Brian Hardin,” said Walker. “This department exists to serve the farmer-members of this organization through promoting their products, providing educational opportunities, being their voice in Washington, D.C., and ultimately doing everything we can to improve their bottom line.”

Walker began his career with the Federation in June 2005 directing the Catfish and Sheep and Goat divisions. In November 2011, he became national legislative programs director and resumed Catfish Division responsibilities in 2017. A native of Jackson in Clarke County, Walker was an environmental scientist for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management before joining the Federation.

As assistant GAP Department director since 2019, Walker helped build a strong team of commodity directors and assistants. Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan hailed Walker’s work on behalf of farmers.

“I am confident he will continue to help farmers be more successful through the Federation’s commodity divisions, producer-funded checkoffs, affiliated organizations and representation in Washington, D.C.,” Pinyan said. “We are thankful to have

exceptional leaders such as Mitt on the Federation management team. Each leader has a passion for serving our members, strengthening agriculture and improving the quality of life for rural Alabamians.” Walker is a graduate of Troy University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental analysis and management. He currently serves on the Walker university’s National Alumni Association board of directors and is a graduate of the Alfa Leadership Academy. Walker and his wife, Brandi, have three children, Olivia, Addi Leigh and Ford. They live in Montgomery. Walker replaces Brian Hardin, who became the Federation’s External Affairs Department director Dec. 7. Former External Affairs Department Director Matthew Durdin transitioned to lead the Organization Department following the retirement of longtime director Mike Tidwell.