A L A BA MA F A RM BUR E AU
ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION
1921
2021
Grassroots Leaders Guide Federation Growth For A Century
By Marlee Moore n its first century, the Alabama Farmers Ipresidents Federation was guided by 10 farmer— elected by their fellow farmers to serve rural Alabama. Leaders of the group (originally named Alabama Farm Bureau) have diverse backgrounds, educational experiences and management styles. Despite their differences, their missions were unified — improve, organize and advance life for Alabamians.
Charles Warren Rittenour
1921-1923
He was born in Ohio, but Charles Warren Rittenour left his mark on the Yellowhammer State as Alabama Farm Bureau’s first president. Opportunities for agricultural growth attracted Rittenour to Montgomery County, but before moving south in 1918, the 37-yearold Rittenour dabbled in a burgeoning farm Rittenour organization while working on his father’s corn, wheat, alfalfa hay and horse farm. Once in Alabama, the Ohio Wesleyan University graduate bought 4,200 acres where he farmed corn, cotton, cattle and hay. He was president of Alabama’s first county-wide farm organization and represented Montgomery County when Alabama Farm Bureau formed in 1921. A temporary slate of officers was organized, with Rittenour as president. He was officially elected later that year and was called “a man of unusual alfafarmers.org
business and executive ability.” In 1923, Rittenour was president of affiliated southern region states and became president of the first Hay Marketing Association. He later served on the Farm Bureau state board and executive committee. Rittenour was secretary-treasurer when he died in 1946.
Edward Asbury O’Neal III
1923-1931
Edward Asbury O’Neal III plowed the way for reform during some of the most tumultuous times in modern agriculture. Before serving as American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president from 1931-1947, Lauderdale County’s O’Neal made waves as an innovative livestock and row-crop farmer. In 1923, he was elected president of Alabama Farm Bureau at age 48. O’Neal is credited with O’Neal incorporating many farm programs, including farm price supports, into federal law. Contemporaries recognized him as America’s No. 1 leader in agriculture. He spoke on many occasions to the White House Conference on Rural Education, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the Chamber of Commerce Convention in New York. O’Neal was keenly aware of the importance of elected officials, government and agricultural legislation. As AFBF president, he was a close agricultural adviser to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt. On the farm, O’Neal embarked on a soil-building program that involved
livestock, legumes and lime phosphate. He produced then-unbelievable yields of 40 bushels of wheat, 75 bushels of corn and a bale of cotton per acre. He began growing alfalfa in 1913 and raised livestock on his 500-acre farm near Florence. O’Neal was the first Lauderdale County Farm Bureau president and was state vice president before being elected state president in 1923. Under his leadership, the organization grew rapidly in legislative, marketing and business services. He graduated from Washington & Lee University, where he studied law, in 1898 and received an honorary Doctor of Agriculture from Auburn University in 1932. He died in 1958.
Robert Farnham Croom
1931
Robert Farnham Croom led the Alabama Farm Bureau briefly — just three months — but contemporaries applauded his commitment to serving when the organization needed him. Conecuh County’s Croom was vice president when President Edward Asbury O’Neal III was tapped to lead Croom the national organization in spring 1931. The state executive committee chose Croom to finish O’Neal’s term, which ended at the state convention in July. The 43-year-old Croom raised livestock, horses and cotton. He grew peaches and strawberries and shipped his fruit to Chicago via refrigerated railcars. Croom was also president of the March/Spring 2021
|
NEIGHBORS
|
27
