George Jeffcoat Vice President | Southeast, Gordon
Jake Harper | Vice President | Southwest, Camden
Steve Dunn Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen
DIRECTORS
Dorman Grace | Jasper Jeff Peek | Athens
David Bailey | Dawson
Steve Lake | Vinemont
Joe Anders Northport
Phillip Hunter | Birmingham
Joe Lambrecht | Wetumpka
Tommy Martin | Moundville
Bill Cook Montgomery
Trip Horne | Louisville
Mark Kaiser | Daphne
Jerry Peak | Chancellor
Debbie Dunn Samson Dillon Turk | Semmes
Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 or (334) 288-3900. For information about Alabama Farmers Federation member benefits, visit the website www.alfafarmers.org. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A.
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DISCLAIMERS: Advertisements in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or Alabama Farmers Federation. Editorial information from sources outside the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of information does not imply an endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation. www.AlfaFarmers.org
Photo By Marlee Jackson
Large-Animal Veterinarians Serve Needs of Rural Communities
By Maggie Edwards
Five decades of practicing veterinary medicine provided Dr. Perry Mobley the tools to serve his rural community — primarily with a Porta-Vet toolbox in the bed of his truck while he zigzags the back roads of Henry County.
“The joy of helping people and their animals is why I do what I do,” said Mobley, 75. “My focus is herd health and preventive medicine. I communicate with my clients and get them excited about raising quality cattle. That pushes them to be successful.”
Mobley graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM) in 1974. After operating his own smalland large-animal clinic, Mobley stepped away in 1988 to focus on his large-animal mobile vet service and the family farm. He and wife Charlotte have two children and several grandchildren.
“I’m probably one of the few people in the world who gets to wake up every morning and do what they love to do,” said Mobley, who raises chickens, cattle
animal health and preventive medicine. Additionally, Mobley raises poultry and cattle and grows peanuts and corn.
and row crops. “I was blessed to have a dream to be a vet. My granddaddy loved livestock and educated me as much as he could. I came to love animals like he did.”
Living the dream hasn’t always been easy, Mobley said.
“It’s not a hard, hard life, but it is hectic and demanding,” said Mobley, noting his hours are 24/7, 365 days a year. “It’s a life of sacrifice and giving of yourself to help others when it might not be comfortable or timely.”
Every day at work looks different, Mobley said while reflecting on the past 50 years.
“Veterinary medicine has changed so much since I began,” Mobley said. “I see a decrease of people who are willing to do what folks like me have done.”
Of the 82,704 clinical veterinarians in the U.S., only 3.6% specialize in food-animal practice, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Though that large-animal
Henry County’s Dr. Perry Mobley has served the community as a large-animal veterinarian for 50 years. Mobley graduated from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1974. His Porta-Vet mobile unit helps him focus on
veterinarian number is small, there are doctors making big strides to provide service in rural areas.
Take Cherokee County’s Dr. Isaac Jones. For five years, he’s prioritized livestock and companion animal care. From bison and zebras to cats and cattle, Jones meets community needs.
“I grew up around cattle,” said Jones, who was raised on a dairy. “I want to give back to the industry that helped raise me.”
That mindset pushed Jones to create Seven Arrows Livestock Services, a mobile vet unit that practices in Alabama and Georgia. Traveling up to 50 miles for a farm call, Jones’ truck is equipped with gloves, medications and medical instruments.
The 2019 AUCVM graduate has worked at two rural clinics near his hometown in Centre. In addition to his business, Jones performs surgeries and exams part time. Ready to embark on a new journey, Jones plans to add a clinic on his family farm.
“We are turning the old dairy barn into a general vet practice,” said Jones, 31. “The dairy has been in my mother’s family for generations. After we switched to all beef cattle in 2011, the barn sat empty. I’m proud to continue my heritage in agriculture and preserve this history.”
The endeavor gives Jones and his wife, Taylor, flexible hours to manage their newly built poultry houses and raise a family. (They’re expecting their first child this summer.) Taylor is also a veterinarian in a neighboring county.
“Some days are quiet, and some aren’t,” Jones said. “I could work all day and then get home and someone calls with a cow in labor. Those things can’t wait. You sacrifice your home life and mental wellness for clients and animals. It’s challenging but pays off.”
That’s primarily thanks to the rewarding feeling of helping make a customer happy, Mobley said.
“The big thing is relationships,” Mobley said. “I have so many wonderful
friends who have put their trust in me to help. That’s what I cherish so much about what I’ve done through the years.”
The knowledge and skills Mobley and Jones possess are instrumental to agriculture, too.
“It’s a blessing to help farmers,” Jones said. “There is already enough work and need for large-animal vets. If we don’t, who will?”
“Large-animal vet med and farming go hand-in-hand,” said Jones, the Cherokee County Young Farmers Committee chairman. “The cattle and chicken houses we have are providing a food source. On the vet side, I am helping others with animal health to hopefully improve their bottom line and offer a food source, too.”
Like Mobley, Jones agreed the lifestyle is time consuming but worthwhile. Jones said work-life balance can be hard to find.
Cherokee County’s Dr. Isaac Jones works part time in a nearby clinic while also running a mobile vet unit and raising poultry. Jones plans to open a general practice by turning his family’s old dairy barn into an on-farm clinic.
Home of Jeremy & Ashley Ward, Elmore County
IWhat’s So Special about Special Use Valuation? A
Chronicle of Current Use
n Alabama, farm or timber landowners can use a particular method to calculate their property’s value for the purposes of taxation. This special use valuation usually results in an appraisal that’s lower than the traditional market value.
While not mandated, this valuation can help lower a landowner’s payment to the government.
Alabama is not unique in this approach. All states have now adopted laws that tax agricultural land differently than other land in an effort to lower the amount of property taxes farmers pay. Motivations vary by state, but in general, these policies help preserve agricultural land, keeping it in production even as urbanization spreads to more historically rural areas.
Alabama offers the current use methodology for property that qualifies as agricultural or forest land. This legislation passed in 1978 and was amended in 1982 thanks to grassroots efforts from the Alabama Farmers Federation. The legislation provides a calculation which includes inputs from interest capitalization rates; the top three crops produced in Alabama; and the cost of production or the average price of pulpwood (for timber land calculations). This information is re-calculated every year with updated information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Farm Credit Bank of Texas, which services Alabama.
Ala. Code § 40-7-25.1 defines agricultural and forest property as: “All
real property used for raising, harvesting and selling crops or for the feeding, breeding, management, raising, sale of, or the production of livestock, including beef cattle, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, mules, poultry, fur-bearing animals, honeybees and fish, or for dairying and the sale of dairy products, or for the growing and sale of timber and forest products, or any other agricultural or horticultural use or animal husbandry and any combination thereof.”
Owners of forest or timber land who use the current use valuation instead of the market value method must apply with their county revenue assessment official before Oct. 1. If approved, the valuation can then be applied when completing the previous calendar year’s taxes.
The Department of Revenue maintains a general application form counties may use. Counties can also develop forms in accordance with Department of Revenue guidelines. The application must include a description of the property, its use and other information the tax official may require to determine the use.
Additionally, if the property seeking current use valuation is less than 5 acres, the Department of Revenue is authorized to request even more information to ensure the property is actually being used for an agricultural purpose. Once an application has been made and approved, re-application is not necessary.
By Marlee Jackson
LTeachers Flock to Chick Checkout Program
essons about farming, science and the life cycle are coming home to roost at urban schools thanks to Jefferson County Farmers Federation’s (JCFF) Chick Checkout.
Retired educator Connie Fuller hatched the idea last summer after attending Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute on behalf of JCFF. With 25 years of elementary education under her belt, Fuller is the local liaison to teachers who attend the free continuing education workshop.
“I came up with Chick Checkout because four of our teachers won incubators for their schools as door prizes, but I had 14 teachers from Jefferson County there,” Fuller said. “Those 10 teachers who didn’t win wanted to raise chicks, too.”
Fuller knew JCFF couldn’t buy
each teacher an incubator since even the simplest kits cost nearly $100. Instead, she pitched a simple idea: JCFF could purchase four incubators for educators to “check out” rent-free. They’d receive resources for the in-classroom mini-farms, such as food and fertilized eggs, plus coop-like cages once the eggs hatch. Fuller would also assemble a binder of vocabulary words, worksheets and posters.
Chick Checkout passed board approval with flying colors.
It received an A-plus from teachers like Lindie Viljoen, too.
Fuller delivered Viljoen’s supplies to Bluff Park Elementary School (BPES) in Hoover in early April. Third graders flocked to the incubator during the final weeks of school, while worksheets helped them learn basic poultry terms, like candling. Viljoen then candled each egg, pressing a light to the shell to show embryo development inside.
Chicks hatch near day 21 of incubation. As that three-week mark approached, students routinely checked for cracks they learned would appear as chicks pecked through the shell.
Fuller’s attention to detail and step-by-step support made Chick Checkout easy and educational, Viljoen said.
“I was nervous,” she recalled, “but it ended up being the easiest process.”
As the school year came to an end, third
Fuller collected the schools’ final few chicks in May as the school year wound down. Pickup at BPES coincided with Field Day, so students wavered between sorrow and joy as they jostled for one final turn petting the downy chicks, calling them by name. (Students of Viljoen’s fellow teacher Natalie Brezda bestowed monikers that ran the gamut from Pickles and Mustard to Fluffy and Midnight.)
Chirps filled the background as students peppered Fuller with questions.
“Why didn’t those eggs hatch?”
“Where are you taking them?”
“Who’s going to take care of Midnight?”
Her teacher hat firmly in place, Fuller calmly answered.
“Don’t be sad about these,” she said, gesturing to the three eggs that didn’t hatch in Viljoen’s classroom. “It’s just not fertilized. That sometimes happens. Farmers know that not every egg will hatch.”
Those farmers include Fuller and her husband, Brad. Back on their farm in Warrior, Fuller will sell some chicks to help fund Chick Checkout. Other chicks will eventually lay eggs destined for Chick Checkout incubators.
“The need and interest are there,” Fuller said. “I think any county can do this.”
graders in Natalie Brezda’s class bid farewell to chicks they hatched through Chick Checkout. The month-long program is coordinated by the Jefferson County Farmers Federation and incorporates agriculture into classroom curriculum.
Connie Fuller designed the Chick Checkout program. A retired teacher, Fuller led a quick lesson when picking up freshly hatched chicks at Bluff Park Elementary School.
Autaugaville Farm Home to New Experiment Station
F
or the first time in 52 years, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) is investing in a new outlying unit — a 904-acre property in Autaugaville.
AAES and Auburn University (AU) bought the land in May and are slated to break ground in 2025. Field plot research and crop production will begin in 2026 with full transition to a research station in 2027.
The investment in Autauga County is funded by the sale of two properties no longer in use by AAES or AU — the Lower Coastal Plains Agricultural Research Center in Camden and the Turnipseed-Ikenberry Place in Union Springs. Remaining funds will be used for capital expenditures within the AAES system. This will directly benefit Alabama farmers, said Paul Patterson.
“The purchase and development of the new Autaugaville property will
said Patterson, AAES director and dean of AU’s College of Agriculture. “We also will be able to start an irrigation research center on this site. Data we maintain indicate these are areas where this region needs more research activity from us. The new property will equip us to do that.”
The Autaugaville site includes 400 acres of row crop land; two center-pivot irrigation systems; and a 12-inch water well yielding 1,200 gallons per minute. The site has 500 acres of forest land, which can be used for timber revenue and buffer space.
On-site buildings will resemble those
“This property was selected because it checked all the boxes,” Pate said. “As with every agricultural field in the state, there will be challenges, but the historical yield data for this site revealed fertile and productive soil with excellent water resources.”
AAES was founded in 1883 to conduct scientific, mission-oriented research to advance agriculture and forestry. The Autaugaville AAES location will bring the system’s total to 14 active research units. Researchers who work within AAES include those from AU’s colleges of Agriculture; Forestry, Wildlife and Environment; Human
"Alabama Farm Credit specializes in farm and agriculture, so they understand the everyday risks that farmers take and are a good partner to have in your corner."
For the last couple of years, fourthgeneration farmer Billy Hixon has found a new sense of peace knowing he’s protected from volatile movements in price through Livestock Risk Protection (LRP).
Hixon began using the price risk management tool to prevent drastic loss from unforeseen circumstances.
“LRP is a tool for me to protect money,” said Hixon, the Pike County Farmers Federation president. “It’s insurance. It’s not a product I say I want to make money with. I want to protect my money.”
Offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), LRP is designed to insure farmers against declining livestock sale prices while enabling producers to benefit from an increase in market prices, according to the Farm Credit Services of America.
Based on futures markets, LRP allows farmers to purchase coverage for a select number of livestock based on the market price for an intended sale period. Producers identify a time to sell that makes the most sense for their operation. They then work with an LRP agent to lock in the future sale price.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re selling
Pike County Farmers Federation President Billy Hixon has used Livestock Risk Protection to curb losing money from fluctuating prices when selling cattle.
by the truckload or one head at the stockyard, LRP can be used in any sale situation,” Hixon said.
LRP premiums are subsidized 35-55% by USDA depending on the coverage level. The premium is paid following the sale date. Like other insurance, a per head premium cost is applied.
“LRP is a tool for me to protect money,” said Hixon, the Pike County Farmers Federation president. “It’s insurance. It’s
not a product I say I want to make money with. I want to protect my money.”
Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Dr. Josh Maples said producers should think of LRP as an insurance policy against national price declines.
“LRP is built on pricing expectation,” said Maples, an MSU Agricultural Economics Department associate professor. “The prices you can lock in are based on what Chicago Mercantile Exchange Feeder Cattle Futures contracts expect you will be able to sell at, and if you get to the end of the policy
period and prices have dropped, you’re protected.”
Maples said participation is growing.
“Price risk management should be something producers consider every year regardless of what’s going on in the market or whether they buy a policy,” Maples said. “Anyone using LRP has to consider what’s best for their operation to choose the best policy level.”
Lowndes County Farmers Federation board member and cattle producer Jimbo Wheeler used LRP last year. He admits he’s hesitant to use the program again.
“I feel like LRP can be a big guess based on how much risk a producer is willing to take,” said Wheeler, who farms in Lowndes and Wilcox counties. “Talk to agents and other farmers. Get multiple opinions because some people benefit, and some don’t.”
For Hixon, using LRP provides a level of comfort in a business that can be stressful.
“Peace of mind is worth a lot in this market,” Hixon said. “I can sleep at night knowing I’ve locked in my cattle and am going to get a good price.”
Scan to learn more.
Short Logging Fills Need in Southwest Alabama
By Marlee Jackson
J
ohn Deese was hauling a load of logs north on Highway 43 when his phone rang.
“I had seen this truck next to me speeding up and slowing down,” Deese remembered. “Next thing I knew, that guy was calling and asked if I wanted to cut his tract in Jackson.”
That’s because Deese’s truck is a calling card of sorts. Simple black lettering on a white door advertises his bread and butter — John Deese Short
Logging — and phone number. Thirtyfoot logs stacked on a tri-axle truck and straight trailer reinforce the point.
Deese specializes in cutting small tracts of timber, generally single-digit acres, in his native Washington County and neighboring Clarke County. His small-scale approach is unusual, even in heavily forested southwest Alabama, said Jamestican Parham.
Parham is a landowner in Clarke and Wilcox counties. He’s also the driver who rang Deese that day on Highway 43. Since that call, Parham’s property has
benefited from Deese’s niche technique.
As the Alabama TREASURE Forest Association president, Parham said he’s talked to countless landowners who need small tracts cut.
“A problem we have faced in the South is we don’t have small loggers like John to come in and do specialty logging,” Parham said. “He comes in and clears an area, and he makes it look good. It lessens the site prep, and it makes it more attractive to the landowner. He’s able to move from place to place helping people.”
Logging is expensive, Deese said. Moving higher volumes of timber has traditionally helped manage steep equipment, fuel and labor costs.
Deese’s approach is different.
He and his right-hand man, Johnny Allen, work in tandem in the woods. Allen has logged since 1990 and helps Deese fulfill his daily two-load goal.
“I started logging using a chainsaw and a farm tractor,” said Deese, who was raised in Yellow Pine near the AlabamaMississippi line and started his short logging business in 2016. “I grew to having a bell cutter and a small loader and have slowly bought one piece at a time. It’s a tough row to hoe being small, but it’s also got its benefits of not so much worrying.”
Skills fine-tuned in previous jobs help Deese customize and repair equipment. (He was an offshore oil rig welder and mechanic for nearly two decades.) He’s got an eye for big-impact detail work, too, thanks to a stint traveling the country teaching chainsaw safety and felling techniques.
While Deese will thin tracts of timber, he prefers to clear-cut an area. After felling the trees, Deese said it’s a balancing act to evenly distribute weight over the truck’s three axles, which are grouped together near the rear of the rig.
Since his machinery is small, Deese can maneuver in tight areas, like home sites, and leave limited ruts.
It’s hard but rewarding work to help members of his community, Deese said.
“You got to enjoy what you do or it won’t work,” he said.
Clockwise from top: Johnny Allen and John Deese work in tandem at John Deese Short Logging, based near Fruitdale; Deese loads timber from a small-acre tract, his specialty; Deese operates using a tri-axle truck and straight trailer.
Haubner Joins Federation as Ag Law Pathway Intern
The Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed William Haubner as its Ag Law Pathway intern May 20.
Haubner, 24, joins the Federation External Affairs Department. The Jacksonville, Florida, native will conduct legal research, analyze legislation and regulations and update Federation legal resources.
With a grandfather and great-grandfather as past members of the organization, Haubner said he’s ready to carry on his family’s Federation legacy this summer.
“I plan to restart the family tradition by operating my own farm,” Haubner said. “I know this internship will help create relationships with the agricultural community while I serve members of the Federation. I’m excited to see ag law in practice.”
The Ag Law Pathway memorandum was signed in 2021 by the Federation, Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, Faulkner University and the National Agricultural Law Center.
The partnership enhances students’ experiences, said Federation Agriculture Counsel John Allen Nichols. Haubner is the third Faulkner Jones School of Law student to participate.
“The pathway is developing leaders and a network of individuals who understand state and federal laws impacting agriculture,” Nichols said. “William will meet farmers face to face. That’s the best way to grasp issues that arise on the farm.”
A rising second-year law student, Haubner brings leadership skills to
the table, too. The Auburn University graduate was involved in the Emerge at Auburn leadership program while earning his undergraduate degree in law and justice. As an Eagle Scout, he experienced national training from the Boy Scouts of America.
Federation President Jimmy Parnell said the organization’s internship program provides students with real-world experience.
“It’s encouraging to see young adults seek professional development opportunities in agriculture,” Parnell said. “Our industry needs people who want to work for farmers. The Ag Law Pathway is a steppingstone for a lifetime of success. We’re proud to play a part in that.”
Haubner
Peach Perfect: Farmers Pleased with Summer Crop
By Marlee Jackson
This summer, farmers in the Peach Capital of Alabama are soaking in the smell of sweet, sun-warmed fruit.
The Chilton County growers are exhaling a sigh of relief, too, after back-to-back late freezes led to languishing crops in 2022 and 2023.
“The difference in this year and the
past couple of years is we’ve actually got peaches,” said Keith Evans, who farms in Verbena.
When dormant, peaches crave the cold, and this winter’s frosty weather helped most varieties brush past their chill requirement. That set number of chill hours (or temperatures at or below 45 F) is essential for fruit development.
The flip side, Evans said, is
prolonged or late-spring freezes can damage tender peach blossoms or already-maturing fruit. While this year’s peach crop is plentiful, farmers are still seeing split seeds and some smallerthan-usual fruit. The effects could be due to tremendous rainfall in February and March, plus a late spring freeze.
Lynn Harrison said it’s particularly evident in early maturing peaches.
Chilton County farmer Keith Evans, right, discussed this year’s peach crop with Alabama Farmers Federation’s Blake Thaxton. A wet winter and late freeze slightly hampered the crop, though not as badly as the last two seasons.
Harrison farms outside of Maplesville and serves on the Chilton County Farmers Federation (CCFF) board with Evans.
“I think we had some cold damage and pollination issues we couldn’t recognize,” said Harrison, the CCFF president, noting other stone fruit like plums also showed signs of stunted growth. “Usually, you can pick a tree a few times, and the peaches are the same size as the first ones when you go
back for the next round. This year, you go over it once, and what you’ve got left are smaller peaches.”
Despite issues, Harrison is upbeat. He said the impact will likely lessen in the latter half of the season.
“I think we’re about to get over the hump,” said Harrison in early June. “Everything later in the year is progressing along like it should.”
That’s good news in a region where pit stops for peaches are the norm. Beach-bound travelers often flock to roadside stands and markets where baskets piled high with peaches should abound through August.
David Heflin gets the peach craze. He works closely with specialty crop farmers like Evans and Harrison as the Alabama Farmers Federation Area 5 Organization director. Heflin is a lifelong Chilton countian, too, and is proud of his neighbors’ product.
“In this area, peaches mean summertime,” he said.
Back in Verbena, summer’s bounty means Evans and wife Michelle are frequenting farmers markets to sell peaches and other produce. It’s also allowing Evans Farm to wholesale peaches to grocery stores and curbside markets. Larger-scale deliveries were impossible the previous summer.
“Last year, I picked a handful of peaches off these trees,” said Evans, walking past branches heavy with
burnished-gold fruit.
He could average 10 baskets a tree in that same orchard this summer.
While Evans and Harrison agree the crop could be even better, they said the improvement over the last two years is a blessing.
The Federation’s Blake Thaxton shared their sentiment. As the commodity director for specialty crop growers, Thaxton monitors weather patterns each spring. Following large weather events, he checks on farmermembers to gauge the level of impact.
“That late freeze still hurt some of our growers, but that’s why they invest in crop insurance or set aside several years’ worth of production costs in the bank,” said Thaxton, also executive director of the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association. “It might not be perfect, but we’re going to call this season normal.”
Peach connoisseurs were ready for normal. Harrison said messages from excited perennial customers rolled in this spring asking when his family’s farm stand would open.
“You can only have so many bad years,” he said. “We’re thankful for how the good Lord blessed us this year.”
Scan to find local peaches.
Keith Evans, right, helped load a truck with peaches and other produce destined for a farm stand in Eclectic.
Peaches are synonymous with summertime in Chilton County.
Chilton County Farmers Federation President Lynn Harrison said he’s thankful for this year’s plentiful crop of peaches, which followed two dismal seasons.
State Champs Prepare for National Dairy Quiz Bowl
By Tanner Hood
Standing in the milking parlor and feed barn at DarLin Farms in Chambers County, students from Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind (AIDB) passed around feed and other supplies. The grit of corn and soybean hulls helped students better understand the process of raising cattle and producing milk.
The hands-on experience was vital for the newly minted Alabama 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl state champions, said teacher and team adviser Kalie Mitchell.
“We carried three teams from the Alabama School for the Blind (ASB, a school within AIDB) to the state 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl competition last year,” Mitchell said. “When this opportunity came around, I told my students I wanted a team from each of my ag classes.”
The four who volunteered for the 10th grade team were Abby Theiss, Brandee Long, Shymiriya Broadnax and Theo Zieglschmid-Sylvester.
“The state competition was the team’s first time experiencing dairy cows because we don’t have them at the school farm,” Mitchell said. “They were learning from a book or online.”
Winning the state competition in October automatically qualified the team for the North American 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl competition in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 8-9.
“What I love about this competition
is the playing field is leveled for our students,” Mitchell said. “They can study just like every other student as long as the manual is translated and transcribed into Braille.”
Despite busy lives and unexpected challenges, the four students are working hard to prepare for the national competition.
“A lot of this they have to prepare for in their own time,” Mitchell said. “I think they do a really good job of balancing other responsibilities, like caring for show chickens and gardening, and putting the effort into quiz bowl. They come together and study in the dorms, and they’re doing this of their own accord.”
Zieglschmid-Sylvester said studying has been invaluable.
“I didn’t know much before starting our studies,” Zieglschmid-Sylvester said. “I knew the basics, like cows produce milk. I’ve learned a lot. I think dairy cows are adorable, but I also have a greater appreciation for them now.”
Alabama Farmers Federation Dairy Division Director Colton Christjohn said 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl and similar opportunities are vital to support the state’s declining dairy industry.
“We currently have 15 state-permitted dairies in Alabama,” Christjohn said. “We used to have thousands, but as the numbers have declined, so has the public’s knowledge about the industry. I think it’s wonderful these students and teachers are
Alabama School for the Blind students relied on senses like touch when preparing for the national Dairy Quiz Bowl during a field trip to DarLin Farms. Theo Zieglschmid-Sylvester, left, felt the rubber lining of a milker held by Chambers County Young Farmer Gavin Rankins.
educating themselves, and hopefully they’ll share that information with others.”
Zieglschmid-Sylvester said he wants everyone he meets to understand the dairy industry like he and his teammates now do.
“The dairy industry is a way bigger part of everyday life for people in the U.S. and all over the world than we notice,” Zieglschmid-Sylvester said. “I personally have a lot more appreciation for places like this where it’s their main source of income and they take care of these cows. It’s amazing. This trip has been a lot of fun and very insightful.”
Back from left: Shymiriya Broadnax, Abby Theiss, Theo Zieglschmid-Sylvester and Brandee Long prepared for the national Dairy Quiz Bowl when visiting DarLin Farms in Chambers County in April. Inset: Students from Alabama School for the Blind won the state 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl in October 2023.
FARMERS FACE FREIGHT FRUSTRATION
By Marlee Jackson
As margins tighten across farm country, some Alabama producers face a frustrating line item — freight.
“Even when gas and diesel come back down, freight never goes in reverse,” said Dallas County farmer Wendy Yeager.
Wendy and her husband, Jamie, began farming in 2007. That year, they paid 40 cents per bushel for freight, or the cost to truck commodities to market. It’s now more than doubled to 95 cents per bushel.
“Truckers have bills to pay, too. We
get it,” Wendy said. “As a producer, it’s very frustrating because our input costs across the board go up, but nothing comes back down.”
Diesel is a significant slice of freight costs. For the week ending May 27, U.S. diesel prices averaged $3.76 per gallon. That’s down 3.1 cents from the previous week and 9.7 cents below the same week last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service.
Freight likely won’t follow, Wendy said.
If the Yeagers lock in corn for $5 per bushel on the market, nearly $1 freight adds up quickly. That’s 20 percent of their price off the top. It’s nearly $1,000 per truck, too, since semis shoot for 1,000 bushels each trip.
Freight eventually trickles down to consumers, albeit incrementally.
Take chicken.
Trucks transport seed to the farm, grain to mills, feed to the chicken farm, chickens to harvest facilities and protein to further processors — all before lean poultry arrives at the grocery store.
“There’s a lot of 18-wheelers involved in the process till food makes it to your plate,” Jamie said.
The Yeagers are realistic. The price they pay is partially due to Bell Place Farm’s location in central Alabama. Their Orrville farm is at least two hours away from major grain buyers in north Alabama and is removed from major poultry hubs.
Historically, central Alabama farmers have benefited from back-haul rates.
Trucks would deliver soybean meal or other feedstuffs to the local catfish feed mill and offer reduced freight to haul raw commodities back north.
“We’ve tried to cut freight costs by using that system,” said Wendy, noting the difficulty in filling partial loads, too. “The problem is it’s harder to get back-haul rates these days.”
Alabama Farmers Federation’s Carla Hornady said consolidation constrains grain farmers. There’s just a handful of large-scale buyers for corn, wheat, soybeans and other feed commodities, mostly north of Birmingham.
“The miles you have to travel is going to affect your cost,” said Hornady, a commodity director who works with row crop farmers. “We’re restricted in Alabama on where farmers can take their raw commodities. If you’re traveling from central Alabama up Interstate 65, you’ve got to think about that long haul and possible backups on the interstate. Those backups directly affect your time and bottom line.”
Hornady said limited grain-buying facilities, coupled with last fall’s drought, could have impacted the state’s plunge in winter wheat. A spring report from USDA forecast Alabama wheat at just 134,000 acres, down 34% from last year.
Jamie said they’ve become more strategic marketers in the last decade. While traditional contracts are still an option, they’ve also worked with buyers who’ll purchase grain directly off the farm — and eat the cost of freight.
“It’s the little things that hopefully pay off in the end,” Wendy said.
Wendy and Jamie Yeager grow row crops in Dallas County and are among countless farmers feeling the weight of rising freight costs.
You can find soybeans grown in Alabama just about everywhere — your food, your food’s food, your fuel, asphalt, adhesives, motor oil, tires, paints, crayons and more. In fact, even this ad — and the whole magazine — is printed with soy ink. And as your Alabama Soybean Checkoff, we’re always on the job, researching and finding markets for your soybeans to keep this impressive list going on and on. Learn more about the story of soy at unitedsoybean.org/hopper.
Convention Inspires FFA Students to Innovate
By Maggie Edwards
Over 1,500 high school students arrived in downtown Montgomery June 5 ready to showcase a year’s worth of education, achievements and innovation.
The Alabama FFA Convention theme, Innovate, built on the foundation laid by the 2023-2024 Alabama FFA state officer team. Led by President Kayden Ray, the six-person team pushed 32,000 Alabama FFA members to reach for the sky this past year.
“Our main motivation for the convention theme was to highlight and recognize FFA members who continuously innovate within the organization and raise it to new heights,” said Ray of Benjamin Russell High School. “My teammates believe the future of agriculture is bright, and we’re excited to watch the members grow.”
That future is especially bright for future farmers like Blount County’s Davis Jackson.
graduated from Douglas High School and participates in Blount County Young Farmers programs.
Jackson, 18, takes pride in his effort to push agriculture forward. His agricultural service project placed first during convention.
“State convention was an amazing time for me,” Jackson said. “Winning first place was special. I grew up around FFA. Convention is a great opportunity to connect with new people. It feels like a family reunion.”
The recent Douglas High School graduate is also a member of Blount County Young Farmers.
“I got involved with the Alabama Farmers Federation when my agriscience teacher, Mr. Andrew Brock, invited me to a meeting,” Jackson said. “My dad is a member of the Blount County Farmers Federation board, too. I love being a part of both FFA and Young Farmers.”
Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer said it’s encouraging to see the sea of blue corduroy jackets flood the Capital City.
“Our goal is to support FFA members,” McBrayer said. “We hope to empower them with leadership skills and opportunities in agriculture as they prepare to transition into adulthood.”
Jackson is one of those bridging the gap, McBrayer noted.
“Once students graduate high school, we want them to know they have a place in Young Farmers,” said McBrayer. “Davis is a great one to follow.”
McBrayer met students from across the state during the convention’s career fair. The Federation’s Farm Facts Frenzy trivia game quizzed members on their agricultural knowledge.
More convention activities included awarding honorary Alabama FFA state degrees to individuals who have provided outstanding service to the organization. Two Federation staffers — Amanda Butts and Phillip Johns — were honored.
Additionally, leaders were recognized during the Alabama FFA Foundation Wall of Honor Luncheon. Honorees were the late John Beasley, Ralph Hall, Dr. Eric Mackey, Buster Padgett, John Russell Poe and Randy Shuffield.
“FFA has been a part of my life for decades,” said Mackey, the state superintendent of education who accepted the award while sporting his retired FFA jacket. “It teaches valuable leadership and workplace skills to students. I’m excited to join the FFA Wall of Honor. “
From left are 2023-2024 Alabama FFA state officers CJ Thompson, Goshen High School (HS); Andrea Roberts, Centre HS; Kayden Ray, Benjamin Russell HS; Emily Grace Rezek, Opelika HS; Jayden McMillian, McKenzie HS; and Liz MacAloney, Dale County HS.
Blount County’s Davis Jackson played Farm Facts Frenzy during the Alabama FFA Convention career fair with Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer. Jackson recently
Teacher of the Year Rides in Style Thanks to Alfa
By Mary Wilson
Cascading cheers and thunderous applause of more than 500 third and fourth graders could easily drown out the sound of a revving, 310-horsepower engine.
At least, they could May 17.
That day, the uproarious student body and staff of Airport Road Intermediate School celebrated one of their own — fourth grade teacher Deborah Stringfellow — as she received that 310-horsepower engine wrapped in a new Chevrolet Traverse. She will use the vehicle during her reign as Alabama’s Teacher of the Year.
Stringfellow accepted the gift from Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell during a special presentation and press conference at the Elmore County school.
“As the school year comes to an end, I have enjoyed preparing my students for the road ahead,” Stringfellow said. “Today, I am most grateful for the generosity of Alfa and the Farmers Federation as they prepare me for the road ahead as Alabama’s Teacher of the Year. I can’t wait to travel the state as I represent Alabama teachers throughout the academic year.”
This marks the 28th year Alfa has provided the year’s use of a new vehicle to Alabama’s Teacher of the Year while the Alabama Farmers Federation covered the cost of insurance.
“Teachers impact so many lives. I think all of us can probably think back to our school days and remember a
teacher or two who was very important to us,” Parnell said. “As a Montgomerybased company, we were excited to learn this year’s Teacher of the Year is from the River Region. On behalf of everyone at Alfa and the Federation, I am pleased to offer the use of this vehicle to Ms. Stringfellow as she travels service members, ministers and first responders.
Education (ALSDE), which received 155 applications for the 2024-2025 award.
“Deborah Stringfellow clearly represents the high level of professionalism that exists in our education community,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey. “She exemplifies classroom excellence, and we are proud of her continued commitment to advancing student achievement and academic growth.”
The Alabama Teacher of the Year Program is administered through the Alabama State Department of
As the Teacher of the Year, Stringfellow will take to the streets in the new vehicle while serving as a full-time ambassador for education during the 2024-2025 academic year. She will present workshops, attend meetings and advocate for the profession. Stringfellow is also Alabama’s official nominee for the National Teacher of the Year Program.
“What an honor it is to have a hand in the development of our nation’s most precious resources — students and teachers,” Stringfellow said. “I welcome the opportunity to impact a wider spectrum of teachers and students, and I look forward to each future speaking engagement as I strive to inspire others while celebrating the greatness of the teaching profession.”
As Alabama’s Teacher of the Year, Deborah Stringfellow, left, will ride in style thanks to Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation. This is the 28th year Alfa has provided the year’s use of a car while the Federation covers insurance. Stringfellow is pictured with Alfa and Federation President Jimmy Parnell.
Watermelons: A Treat to Beat the Summer Heat
By Justin Miller
When the summer sun is scorching, there is little more refreshing than a juicy slice of watermelon. Whether from a farmers market or straight from the garden, it’s important to pick watermelons at peak ripeness.
Bethany O’Rear, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System home grounds regional agent, said the harvest time for watermelons depends on the variety and other factors.
“Most watermelon varieties are ready to pick 80 to 90 days after planting,” O’Rear said. “However, maturity and ripeness can also be affected by things like weather, location and nutritional status of the plants. You cannot check for ripeness based solely on the planting dates.”
Checking for Ripeness
When watermelons are ready for harvest, the melon will have a dull, yellowish color where it has touched the ground. This spot is known as the ground scar or belly spot. In striped watermelon varieties, this scar is prominent. Other varieties may not develop noticeable ground scars, but there are other signs of ripeness.
“Another way to check ripeness is to look for the dead tendril or curl near the point where the melon is attached to the vine,” O’Rear said. “This method works pretty well for seeded watermelon varieties but not for seedless varieties.”
O’Rear said the thumping method is commonly used to check for ripeness in watermelons someone else picked. When thumping an unripe watermelon, it will produce a higher-pitched, pinging sound. An overripe watermelon will make a lower thud.
“When using this method, you want to choose a watermelon that has a deep, rather than metallic, thump,” O’Rear said.
A Nutritious Treat
While watermelon is a refreshing summer snack, it also contains properties that play important roles in health. Katie Funderburk, the Alabama Extension assistant director for federal nutrition programs, said watermelon packs a strong nutritional punch.
“Watermelon is highly nutritious, which is impressive considering it is more than 90% water,” Funderburk said.
She said watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C, which protects
cells from harmful elements found in cigarette smoke, air pollution and ultraviolet light. Vitamin C also helps produce collagen, which is required to heal wounds. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, just one wedge of watermelon contains over 23 milligrams of vitamin C. This accounts for 38% of a person’s daily requirements.
“Watermelons are also rich in fiber and potassium,” Funderburk said. “These two nutrients are important for disease prevention but are typically under-consumed by Americans.”
More Information
Want to try your hand at growing watermelons? Grow More, Give More’s watermelon growing card has information to get started next year.
Get the card!
Melon and Mint
3 cups diced watermelon
3 cups diced honeydew melon 1/4 cup mint leaves, chopped Juice from 1/2 lime
2 tablespoons honey
In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well. Serve chilled.
Find more recipes at www.LiveWellAlabama.com.
TTHE AMERICANS
he airport. I wasn’t flying. I was filling out paperwork for a rental car. The woman behind the counter claimed she would upgrade me to a Super-Duper-Grade vehicle for $29 bucks.
I agreed.
So she pressed further. For another fifty big ones, she offered to upgrade me to the Ultra Super-Duper-Grade Platinum rental.
No can do. I’m allergic to platinum. Then.
I heard applause from the other side of the terminal. It was loud. There was cheering. Whistling. Hollering. I turned to look—so did everyone else. It sounded like the Second Coming of Elvis.
On an escalator were men and women in camouflage and boots, carrying backpacks.
They waved to those hollering.
The first man off the stairs walked to a woman with a toddler on her hip. He dropped his bag and group-hugged them.
More young men and more young women in uniform rolled down the electric stairs.
A tall woman in uniform. She set her bags down. Two boys came running — no older than 3 or 4. They sprinted, full force, and knocked her over.
Next: a man. Broad shoulders and a strong walk. He made a beeline for an older woman. He stooped to let her kiss his forehead. She did more than kiss him. She almost broke his neck.
The clapping started to fizzle. But each new pair of desert boots earned at least a few shouts.
Even some strangers in the airport joined the cheering. Take, for instance, this redheaded stranger.
The woman from the rental company came from behind her desk and stood with me. The rest of the airport had returned to business as usual.
Not me and my new platinum-rental friend. We watched the reunions. Some were tearful. Others were pure elation.
Young men dropped duffle bags and rushed toward young women who held hand-drawn posters. Couples kissed. Kids screamed, “Mommy!” or, “Daddy!”
Some uniforms made their ways toward the exits without welcome committees or hand-painted signs. God love them.
Another young man deboarded. He was tall, slight. He had a lean neck and blonde hair. He resembled a telephone pole with freckles.
There was a family waiting for him, a big one. Mother, father, brother, sister, cousins, in-laws, neighbors, family physicians, yard men, and life insurance representatives. Everyone wore matching yellow T-shirts.
The boy’s fair complexion turned redder than a Venus Eagle cherry.
Another young woman in fatigues set her backpack down when she stepped off the stairs. She covered her mouth. A man walked toward her, carrying a bouquet. He touched her face. They pressed their foreheads together.
The rental car cashier beside me said, “Don’t you just love this?”
We talk. She is originally from Guatemala. She has lived here since age 20. Her hair is faded, and there are lines on the corners of her eyes. But she is American, though her accent is thick.
“Whenever I see the military people do like this, it makes me feel so, so, what is the word?”
The word is “proud,” ma’am. ■
New Farmowner System Brings eDocs Option
Alfa Insurance is updating its farmowner policy administration system, giving customers the option to access policy documents online.
Alfa President Jimmy Parnell said moving the policies to Guidewire — the same system used for the company’s other lines of property and casualty business — will benefit farmers.
“Modernizing our farmowner system will help Alfa tailor coverage to meet farmers’ changing needs,” said Parnell, also president of the Alabama Farmers Federation. “It will also give customers convenient access to their policy documents.”
seamless as possible,” Parnell said. “Our goal has been to enhance coverage offerings and decrease processing time, all while minimally impacting rates.”
Despite these efforts, Parnell said regulations requiring policy change notification will result in customers receiving a deluge of documents — especially larger farms with lengthy equipment schedules.
“I tell farmers who are my age their mailing may resemble a Sears & Roebuck catalog,” Parnell said. “That’s why we’re giving customers the option to sign up for online documents prior to their policy converting.”
“With eDocs, customers have access to their documents, day or night, for five years. It’s a hassle-free, convenient option — backed by the hometown, personal service Alfa customers have come to expect.”
Farmowner customers interested in signing up for eDocs are encouraged to contact their local Alfa service center, Federation area organization director or the Alfa Customer Resource Center at (800) 964-2532. They will register their policy at AlfaInsurance.com; acknowledge receipt of a confirmation email; and complete a consent form authorizing eDocs enrollment. Customers can choose to still receive billing notices by mail.
Migrating farmowner policies to the new system will begin this fall.
“We’ve worked hard over the last two years to make this move as
Parnell said his goal is to provide better customer service.
“Most people aren’t going to read a hundred pages, and many will immediately throw it away,” he said.
“Whether you sign up for eDocs or not, I’m convinced you will be pleased with our new farmowner system,” Parnell said. “It gives us tools to better accomplish our founding mission — to serve Alabama farmers and rural families.”
By Kira Sims
What do Chinese privet, kudzu, English ivy, mimosa, Bradford pear and bamboo all have in common?
Uninvited Invasives
at all. There are several methods for invasive plant removal, but timing is important.
In Alabama, they’re invasive plants, which are non-native species that have escaped cultivation. These plants grow fast, reproduce quickly and easily populate an area. For example, Chinese privet produces an abundance of seeds, has a high germination rate and can take over a forested area within a few years. Privet forest canopies can shade out native trees, which provide habitat for native birds and the insects those birds feed on. Fewer native trees mean less birds and insects.
This domino effect is devastating. How can you tackle the problem?
First, avoid intentionally planting invasives. Research and learn which plants are on the invasive list by visiting the Alabama Invasive Plant Council website.
Second, identify and remove invasive plants on your property. This can be daunting, depending on the number of plants and size of the area. However, starting small is better than not starting
Hand pulling works well with herbaceous weeds or small woody plants when the ground is moist.
Brush mulching can be used on various sizes of woody trees and shrubs any time of the year. This reduces the height of the plants and is quicker than hand removal. This method grinds the plants but does not destroy the roots. They will regrow and an herbicide should then be sprayed.
Mowing works well during the growing season on herbaceous weed regrowth, woody trees or shrubs, and vines. Only use a lawn mower on plants where the stumps have been cut low to the ground by another method. Bamboo can be controlled by consistent mowing after an initial cut down.
Grazing can be used to manage plants that livestock will eat, such as kudzu and privet.
Herbicides work well for areas of any size on most invasive species. Read and follow all label directions when applying herbicides. There are three application methods.
Foliar applications are most effective in late fall or early winter when leaves are still present on the invasive plants but not on most native plants.
Cut stump applications are effective on stumps of any size and can be used any time of year except spring. Apply herbicide immediately after cutting. Some cut stumps, like privet, callus over within minutes, reducing the amount of herbicide the plant absorbs.
Basal bark applications are best used in the fall by spraying an herbicide on the base of thin-bark trees of any size. It may take a few months to kill the plant.
Controlling invasive plants is not a one-and-done event. Start today by identifying the species, making a management plan and implementing that plan. We can’t go back to life without invasive species, but we can do our part to reduce their impact on the environment and native habitats.
Learn more about invasive plants through the Alabama Invasive Plant Council.
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COUNTY
DATE
2024 ANNUAL MEETING DATES, TIMES & LOCATIONS
Autauga Wed., Aug. 21 7:00 p.m. Autauga County Ag Center
Baldwin Thurs., Aug. 8 6:00 p.m. Baldwin County Farmers Federation Building
Barbour Thurs., Aug. 8 7:30 p.m. Texasville Community Center
Bibb Tues., Aug. 27 6:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Blount Thurs., Aug. 15 6:30 p.m. Blount County Multi-Purpose Facility
Bullock Thurs., Aug. 15 6:30 p.m. Greenway Sportsman’s Lodge
Butler Tues., July 23 5:00 p.m. Pioneer Electric Building
Calhoun Thurs., Aug. 8 6:00 p.m. Calhoun County Farmers Federation Building
Chambers Mon., Aug. 26 6:00 p.m. Chambers County Farmers Federation Building
Cherokee Thurs., Aug. 22 6:30 p.m. Dean Buttram Senior Center
Chilton Tues., Aug. 13 7:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Choctaw Tues., Aug. 13 6:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Clarke Tues., Aug. 20 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Clay Thurs., Aug. 22 6:30 p.m. First Baptist Church of Ashland Christian Life Center
Cleburne Tues., Aug. 13 6:30 p.m. Cleburne County Mountain Center
Coffee Mon., July 15 6:30 p.m. Community Room
Colbert Mon., Aug. 26 6:30 p.m. Hospitality House at NW Shoals Community College
Conecuh Mon., Aug. 12 6:00 p.m. David Burt Building
Coosa Thurs., Aug. 8 6:30 p.m. Rockford Baptist Church
Covington Thurs., Aug. 29 6:30 p.m. Oakwood Lodge
Cullman Thurs., Aug. 8 6:00 p.m. Cullman County Farmers Federation Building
Dale Mon., Aug. 12 7:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center
DeKalb Thurs., Aug. 15 6:30 p.m. DeKalb County Farmers Federation Building
Elmore Tues., July 16 7:00 p.m. Wetumpka High School
Escambia Tues., Aug. 13 6:00 p.m. Camp 31 Restaurant
Etowah Mon., Aug. 12 6:30 p.m. Etowah County Farmers Federation Building
Fayette Tues., Aug. 6 6:30 p.m. Fayette Civic Center
Franklin Tues., Aug. 13 6:00 p.m. Best Western Hotel
Geneva Tues., Aug. 20 7:00 p.m. First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
Greene Thurs., Aug. 22 6:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center
2224 Hwy. 14 W Autaugaville
21332 Hwy. 59 Robertsdale
2429 Co. Rd. 53 Clayton
1101 Walnut St. Centreville
6700 Co. Hwy. 1 Cleveland
2621 Hwy. 223 Union Springs
300 Herbert St. Greenville
1535 Pelham Rd. S Jacksonville
1006 Ave. A SE LaFayette
229 Dean Buttram Ave. Centre
301 1st St. N Clanton
229 S. Mulberry Ave. Butler
148 S. Jackson St. Grove Hill
83558 Hwy. 9 Ashland
6751 Hwy. 78 Heflin
1055 E. McKinnon St. New Brockton
800 George Wallace Blvd. Muscle Shoals
102 Liberty St. Evergreen
9575 U.S. Hwy. 231 Rockford
13725 Brooklyn Rd. Andalusia
307 Main Ave. NW Cullman
217 S. Union Ave. Ozark
346 McCurdy Ave. S Rainsville
1281 Coosa River Pkwy. Wetumpka
222 St. Joseph Ave. Brewton
125 Broad St. Gadsden
530 Temple Ave. N Fayette
13770 Hwy. 43 Russellville
309 S Commerce St. Geneva
101 Boligee St. Eutaw
Henry Tues., Aug. 6 6:30 p.m. Wiregrass Research & Extension Center Auditorium 167 Hwy. 134 Headland
Houston Tues., July 23 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center 1038 Ross Clark Cir. NE Dothan
Jackson Tues., Aug. 6 6:30 p.m. Jackson County Farmers Federation Building 23625 John T. Reid Pkwy. Scottsboro
Jefferson Fri., Aug. 23 10:00 a.m. Gardendale Civic Center 857 Main St. Gardendale
Lamar Mon., Aug. 12 6:30 p.m. Vernon City Complex 44425 Hwy. 17 Vernon
Madison Thurs., Aug. 8 6:30 p.m. Huntsville Country Club
Marengo Tues., Sept. 10 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Marion Fri., Aug. 9 6:30 p.m. Tombigbee Electric Cooperative
2601 Oakwood Ave. NW Huntsville
206 Shiloh St. Linden
3196 Co. Rd. 55 Hamilton
Marshall Tues., Aug. 27 7:00 p.m. Marshall County Farmers Federation Building 1333 Blount Ave. Guntersville
Mobile Tues., July 30 6:30 p.m. Greater Gulf State Fair Grounds 1035 Cody Rd. N Mobile
Monroe Mon., Sept. 9 6:30 p.m. Monroe County Ag Center
Montgomery Tues., Aug. 13 6:00 p.m. Alfa Home Office
Morgan Fri., Aug. 9 6:00 p.m. Hartselle Civic Center
Pickens Thurs., July 25 6:00 p.m. Cattle on a Flame
Pike Tues., July 16 7:00 p.m. South Alabama Electric Cooperative
334 Agriculture Dr. Monroeville
2108 E. South Blvd. Montgomery
406 Nance Ford Rd. SW Hartselle
922 11th Ave. NW Gordo
13192 U.S. Hwy. 231 S Troy
Randolph Tues., Aug. 20 7:00 p.m. Randolph County Farmers Federation Building 112 Main St. S Wedowee
Shelby Mon., Aug. 19 6:30 p.m. Alabama 4-H Center 892 Four H Rd. Columbiana
St. Clair Mon., Aug. 12 6:30 p.m. St. Clair County Arena Event Center
Sumter Wed., July 10 11:00 a.m. Alfa Service Center
Talladega Thurs., Aug. 15 7:00 p.m. Talladega County Farmers Federation Building
Tallapoosa Tues., Aug. 27 6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Dadeville
Tuscaloosa Tues., Aug. 20 7:00 p.m. Alabama Extension Office
Walker Tues., Aug. 27 6:30 p.m. Walker County Farmers Federation Building
Washington Mon., Aug. 19 7:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Wilcox Thurs., July 25 7:30 p.m. Gaines Ridge
100 Arena Rd. Odenville
106 Marshall St. Livingston
314 East Battle St. Talladega
178 S Tallassee St. Dadeville
2513 7th St. Tuscaloosa
903 Airport Rd. S Jasper
54 Court St. Chatom
933 Hwy. 10 Camden
This time of year, there is nothing like taking a walk through a local farmers market where the air is filled with the smell of fresh-picked fruits and veggies. Neighbors readers know better than anyone that supporting local farmers means supporting our heritage, connecting with those who grow our food and benefiting from the delicious fruits of their labor.
With so many things going away in the name of convenience, I believe taking time to connect with those who grow our food is a part of life we should cling to. Nothing will ever compare to biting into a field-ripened juicy tomato or sticking your fork into a bowl of fresh summer salad to remind us what a blessing farmers are.
This month’s recipes offer plenty of excuses for you to visit local farm stands
and partake of the best of this season’s offerings. If you needed an excuse to get out and about this weekend, clip these recipes and be on your merry way.
Leading the pack is a staple in my refrigerator this time of year: Tomato, Onion and Cucumber Salad. (We call it TOC for short.) Local cucumbers and tomatoes are always in abundance and provide that extra burst of magical flavor. This crowd favorite is (or should be) your go-to for every family gathering or summer Sunday supper.
I’m also sharing my recipe for Sweet Corn Salad with Bacon. Another summer must-have, this salad combines the sweetness of fresh sweet corn with the smokiness of bacon. The only way you can lose with this one would be by not making enough!
Last, but certainly not least, we
Tomato, Onion and Cucumber Salad
Prep Time Servings
20 mins 4
Ingredients
3 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
2 to 3 Kirby cucumbers (or 1 English cucumber), peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, onion and cucumbers. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, water, sugar, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over vegetables and gently toss to coat. Cover and store in refrigerator (tossing a few times) for at least 1 hour before serving.
have a treat from Alabama Farmers Federation family member Pat Randle. She and her husband, Frank, are farmers from Lee County, and she’s sharing her recipe for Fresh Blueberry Coffee Cake. Made entirely from scratch, this is one of those homemade recipes that tastes like it took far more work than it did. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t come back for seconds.
I hope you’ve got some great home-cooked meals in your future during this season of bounty. I just love it when blessings and gardens overflow.
See y’all next month!
Stacey Little
Stacey Little is a foodie, recipe developer and cookbook author whose Southern Bite blog helps families put simple, down-to-earth food on the table while preserving Southern cooking for future generations. See more recipes at southernbite.com.
Fresh Blueberry Coffee Cake
By Pat Randle, Lee County
Prep Time Cook Time Servings 30 mins 50 mins 12
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups fresh blueberries
1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream
1 1/4 teaspoons almond extract, divided
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tablespoon warm water
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 F. In a small saucepan, combine blueberries, 1/3 cup of sugar and cornstarch. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until sugar dissolves and sauce thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream butter. Gradually add remaining cup of sugar, beating on medium speed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon almond extract. Spoon half the batter into a greased 10-inch Bundt or tube pan.
Sweet Corn Salad with Bacon
Cook
Ingredients
6 slices bacon (about 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled)
6 ears fresh sweet corn (about 4 cups of kernels)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon bacon fat
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup sliced grape tomatoes
1/2 large red onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
Salt
Pepper
Instructions
In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon of
Spoon half of the blueberry sauce on top, swirling partially through batter with a knife. Repeat with remaining batter and blueberry sauce. Sprinkle with pecans. Bake 50 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before removing from pan. Invert onto serving plate.
Make glaze by combining in a small bowl the warm water, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and powdered sugar. Drizzle glaze over cake.
bacon fat for the dressing. Drain bacon on paper towels, and crumble when cool. Set aside.
Working in batches, prepare the corn by cooking two unshucked ears in the microwave on high for 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining corn. This cooks the corn and makes it easy to shuck and remove the silks. Once cool enough to handle, cut off the bottom of the cob about two rows of kernels above the stem end, then pinch the top and slide the cob out of the husks and silks. Remove any remaining silks. Cut the kernels off the cobs with a sharp knife, working to get as close to the cob as possible without cutting into it.
In a small bowl, make the dressing by whisking together mayonnaise, warm bacon fat and lemon juice.
In a large bowl, combine bacon, corn, tomatoes, onion and basil. Add dressing and toss to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
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