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.
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| Meet Outstanding Young Farm Family Finalists
| Ag Law & You: Open Fields Doctrine 10 | Clary Nets Catfish Farmer of the Year Title 14 | Program Honors Strong Alabama Farm Heritage
18 | Farm Equipment Inventory Spikes in Economic Slump
16
On The Cover
Destiny Allman Gladden knows few things sing of summer quite like a vine-ripe tomato. Some customers who frequent her family’s Blount County farm savor summer’s flavor year-round by canning — a dying art due for a comeback.
Photo By Maggie Edwards
20 | Teachers Tour Farms, Take Lessons Back to Schools
By Marlee Jackson
Three hard-working couples are in
the running to be named Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF), an honor that nets the winner bragging rights and more than $70,000 in prizes.
Contest finalists are Drew and Lauren Wendland, Autauga County; Garrett and Robin Dixon, Lee County; and Whit and Amanda Lovelady, Talladega County. The winner will be announced during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Farm & Land Conference in Montgomery Aug. 3.
The Federation’s Young Farmers Division organizes the annual competition for members who are 18 to 35 years old and receive most of their income from production agriculture. It can be a life-changing competition, said Hunter McBrayer.
“Many of our past and current Federation leaders have competed in
Meet This Year’s Outstanding Young Farm Family Finalists
the OYFF contest, where they learned about networking, engagement and leadership development,” said McBrayer, the Federation Young Farmers Division director. “That tells me we’re not just handing out prizes; we’re developing strong leaders who are passionate about agriculture and are committed to serving others.”
A panel of judges narrowed the pool of applicants to three families during interviews earlier this year. A fresh slate of judges then visited finalists’ farms this summer, further scoring the Wendlands, Dixons and Loveladys on farm improvement, Federation involvement and community leadership.
“Alabama has shown time and time again that we have a top-notch Young Farmers program,” McBrayer said.
“Our OYFF has made the Top 10 in six out of the last eight national contests. That includes a Top 3 finalist and a national winner. I am proud to have the
opportunity to showcase our young farmers each year.”
The OYFF will receive a prize package courtesy of generous perennial sponsors. This includes $40,000 toward purchasing a new Ford truck courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere 825i Gator sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor provided by SunSouth and TriGreen. The OYFF will represent Alabama during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Achievement Award contest in January 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
Both runners-up will receive a $500 cash prize thanks to Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit. First runner-up will earn a 250-hour lease on a Kubota tractor, while second runner-up nets a custom chemical package from Corteva Agriscience. All three families received a custom Yeti cooler from the Federation.
Thank You, Sponsors!
KERPLUNK.
A smile spreads across Drew Wendland’s face as his sons sink another rock into Bear Creek.
“I think my favorite thing about getting to live on the farm is the experiences the boys get to have,” said Drew, 30. “They love to throw rocks and jump on hay bales. They also help us check crops and are learning the differences of each. That was an important part of growing up here for me.”
“Here” is Autaugaville, a tight-knit farm community in Autauga County. It’s where Drew and wife Lauren are tending their most precious crop — Mills, 4, Smith, 3, and Rhett, 3 months.
It’s also the hub of Autauga Farming Co. There, Drew works with his father, Andy, and brother, Dan, to maintain a century-long legacy while making measured changes to streamline operations.
“When Drew came back to the farm (in 2016), he came with such an attitude of thankfulness for what generations had done before him,” said Lauren, 30. “He has made it his mission to do all he can to make the most of all he’s been entrusted.”
The Wendlands split farm management roles, with Drew tackling labor and agronomic crops. That includes cotton, corn, oats, soybeans, sesame and wheat, plus pasture and hay fields. He helps with other enterprises, too. The farm includes cattle, a fertilizer business, custom tractor work and a newly expanded market for square bales of straw and hay.
Drew is admittedly competitive, though he’s often competing against himself. Detailed budgets and data captured through precision agriculture drive his decisions. Drew documents successes and failures in production manuals, which include step-by-step processes so workers can pick up where others left off.
“I don’t mind making a mistake, and I don’t mind admitting that I made a mistake, but I do not want to do it twice,” said Drew, an Auburn University agronomy graduate. “I’m trying to make something that’s repeatable, consistent, uniform and scalable.”
Sharing those expectations has become especially important as
The Wendland Family
AUTAUGA COUNTY
longtime employees retired. To solve the labor shortage, Drew enrolled the farm in the H-2A program, a step into uncharted territory that continues to pay off four years later.
Managing six guest workers has refined Drew’s leadership skills. So has involvement in county Young Farmers, Agricultural Leaders For Alabama and The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers, a national training course.
It’s encouraging to see his sons build on the farm’s legacy, Andy said.
“Having a younger generation that sees things in a new way has been good for us,” he said. “I was afforded that opportunity with my dad (the late Buzz Wendland). He gave me enough rope to let me get tripped up but not hang myself. I try to give the boys the same opportunity. If it’s practical, productive and profitable, we’ll give it a shot.”
Some recent strategic changes are paying dividends, like expanding their square bale business, updating logistics for handling grain, and marketing calves and cotton as “certified sustainable.”
Others are chalked up to learning experiences, like the pumpkin patch Drew and Lauren partnered in during fall 2020. The patch was popular, though timing in the heart of harvest
and calving season strained their focus. While the patch is no longer open to the public, the Wendlands still grow pumpkins with their sons and share those adventures on their Swamp Brothers social media account.
Lauren balances home and farm life while working three days a week as a nurse practitioner in Selma. There, she connects patients to the rural life she’s embraced since marrying Drew in 2017.
“It’s been eye opening to learn how hard farmers work and how they dabble in a little bit of everything,” Lauren said. “Drew is a manager, businessman, agronomist, entomologist, operator and mechanic. Farmers wear a lot of hats.”
Drew donned one more this spring when Lauren unexpectedly delivered their son, Rhett, at home.
“Drew stepped up to the plate with his medical knowledge in the bovine category of birth, and he caught the baby,” Lauren said with a smile.
The story is already Wendland lore. It’s a testament, too, to their commitment to family.
“Farming really can be family oriented,” Lauren said. “We take full advantage of that by involving the boys, and they truly love it. That brings me and Drew joy, too.”
The Dixon Family
LEE COUNTY
At just 2 years old, Chandler Jane Dixon is an ace at racing down rows of cotton. Her pure joy is infectious and reminds her father, Garrett, of his childhood on the same Lee County soil.
“You learn a lot of life lessons on the farm,” said Garrett, 33. “At her age, Chandler Jane can tell what fields are cotton and what are peanuts. Other than growing up out here, you wouldn’t find kids that young who can pick up on things like that.”
Chandler Jane gets her curiosity honest. Garrett and his wife, Robin, are self-described lifelong learners who have grown their row crop and cattle farm through trial and error, research and carefully cultivated relationships with mentors.
Robin’s role models include her high school agriscience teachers, who inspired her love for agriculture. She’s paying their lessons forward at Smiths Station High School, Garrett’s alma mater.
“I use Garrett and his experiences a lot in class,” said Robin, 32, who teaches plant and animal agriscience classes. “There are so many misconceptions out there. Telling my students the actual story of agriculture is important to me.”
She’s also learning alongside her
favorite pupils — Chandler Jane and 2-month-old Cash.
“I’m experiencing farm life for the first time and get to see the joy in Chandler Jane’s eyes when she sees Garrett pull up to the house on a tractor,” said Robin, who grew up in rural Florida. “The science of raising row crops really does fascinate me, and learning from Garrett is awesome.”
Garrett’s maternal grandfather, the late Bob Ed Gullatte, planted the young farmer’s first seeds of agricultural knowledge. Garrett’s childhood in Salem was flush with tractor rides through fields he now tends.
The farm transitioned away from row crops when Bob Ed died. Garrett was just 10. As a teenager, Garrett baled hay with his uncle — hard work that fanned the flames of his desire to farm.
“I didn’t know exactly what it would look like, but I knew I wanted to farm,” Garrett said. “Eventually, the Lord provided that opportunity.”
Dixon Farms developed slowly but surely. When he and Robin met at Auburn University in 2014 while studying animal sciences, Garrett had already grown his first crop on formerly fallow land and was managing a small herd of cattle.
That first year was a learning experience, Garrett said.
“I was trying to minimize the amount of money I had to borrow, and soybeans were cheaper to grow,” Garrett said. “They burnt up and didn’t yield. That was a reality check and really solidified the need to grow cotton and peanuts.”
Those two crops now make up Garrett’s primary rotation. He’s invested untold hours into improving the soil, transitioning fallow or overgrown land into productive acreage. Grid-sampling to check, and then correct, soil fertility has resulted in increased yields.
Garrett has also invested in precision-agriculture technology, plus irrigation pivots. The young leader’s outgoing personality has helped root strong relationships with landowners, eventually expanding his farming footprint through custom mowing, fertilizing and spreading.
Garrett’s mother, Ann Gullatte Dixon, was raised on the family farm. It’s a legacy she’s proud of, though her perspective has changed in the last decade, she said.
“I don’t know if I ever worried when my dad planted a crop. Now, when I see a row of cotton standing up, I think, ‘Oh, good!’” Ann said with a grin. “Even though the uncertainties of farming make me nervous, I am confident Garrett’s passion and knowledge will help him continue to be successful.”
Involvement in the Alabama Farmers Federation has been integral to that success.
Garrett is a former State Young Farmers Committee chair, graduate of Agricultural Leaders For Alabama and current local board member. He and Robin are also leaders in Lee County Young Farmers.
The last decade hasn’t been easy, Garrett said. He’s battled drought, hurricanes, a devastating tornado and depressed commodity markets.
Despite hardships, he’s found strength in his faith, reinforced by Robin’s prayerful spirit and willing ear.
“There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with growing a crop,” Garrett said. “I do think that creation points us to our creator. Special moments remind me how blessed I am to be able to tend the land, work the land and grow crops that feed and clothe America.”
As Whit and Amanda Lovelady look over peaceful pastures in the shadow of Pope Mountain, it’s hard to believe the livestock-laden land was covered in briars, privet and pines a decade ago.
Soon, they’ll build their forever home on that land — another checked box in a long list of dreams-turned-reality for the Talladega County farmers.
“We both knew we wanted to have a family farm,” said Amanda, 30. “We wanted to raise our children on the farm. We wanted to work on the farm together. Now, here we are. We are living out that dream, and it’s so rewarding.”
This year, the Loveladys will bale 10,000 rolls of hay while managing Angus, Charolais and commercial cattle herds at Cedar Roost Ranch. They’ll accomplish that and more with two tiny farmhands in tow.
“I love to see Annagrace (4) and John Luke (2) just running around on the farm. They are country bumpkins,” Amanda said with a smile. “They might be rolling around in the pig feed or in the water trough or in the dirt, but I would not trade that for the world. I know they are making those memories I still hold on to from when I was little.”
Similar childhood experiences laid the foundation for Whit and Amanda’s appreciation of agriculture. Whit inherited a love of cattle farming from his grandfather, the late Windle Batchelor. Meanwhile, Amanda spent precious days in the cotton field with her father, the late O.E. Williams Jr., in Autauga County.
“What I live and breathe for is those young’un’s to have a better start,” said Whit, 33. “If they want a farm, they have an opportunity to come back. Our vision is to have a place that is for these kids and future generations.”
The Loveladys’ farm has grown gradually from humble beginnings. After graduating from Auburn University in 2013, Whit spent countless hours reclaiming overgrown land while juggling an off-farm job.
When he and Amanda married two years later, they’d already achieved one goal: To have 30 cows by their July wedding. Starting that fall, they taught agriscience at local high schools, pouring extra income into the farm.
The Lovelady Family
TALLADEGA COUNTY
“We tried to build enough collateral that we could start operating on a bigger scale,” Whit said. “Everything we have, we had to buy.”
In 2018, their reputation for hard work gave the Loveladys the chance to add a local Charolais herd to their operation, a jump in responsibility that meant Whit could farm full time. Amanda followed in 2020.
The Loveladys believe in diversification. In addition to managing their own grazing and hay land, they custom bale and fertilize fields for neighbors. They also sell freezer beef and pork and are investing in equipment like a forestry mulcher and Flex Rake to expand production and improve efficiency.
“If you buy a place, every single acre needs to be productive,” Whit said. “If it’s not good enough for hay ground, we’re going to put cattle on it. If it’s too steep or rocky for pasture, then we’ll leave it in timber.”
The Loveladys share their passion for agriculture through Facebook, YouTube and involvement with farm organizations. They’ve honed advocacy efforts through local Young Farmers and Women’s Leadership committees, in addition to Whit’s role on the local
board. Whit is also the Talladega County Cattlemen’s Association president.
The Loveladys complement each other, too. Whit is a visionary, unafraid to see potential in unlikely places. That entrepreneurial spirit is tempered by Amanda’s patient, thoughtful personality.
“One of the things I love about Amanda is her focus,” Whit said. “She reels me in, and her focus is always putting God first.”
Their teamwork is an answered prayer, said Pamela Batchelor Lovelady, Whit’s mom. Her family’s homeplace is the base of operations for Cedar Roost Ranch.
“As a mom, you want your children to grow up, be healthy and strong, find what they truly love and hopefully find someone who loves the same things,” she said. “Well, Whit did.”
The Loveladys credit their farm to the Lord, counting each success and struggle as joy.
“Sometimes, we can get overwhelmed because it’s a lot of pressure,” Amanda said. “But it’s also really cool to take a step back and reflect on how far we’ve come. God has allowed us to be where we are, and that means so much to us.”
Home of Jeremy & Ashley Ward, Elmore County
Open Fields Doctrine Opens Door to Law Enforcement
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches — but not from all searches. In many instances, warrantless searches by law enforcement officers are considered reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.
Under the Open Fields Doctrine, searches occurring on private property are generally permissible. Usually, the test to determine if police need a warrant hinges on whether there is an expectation of privacy that society believes is reasonable.
Despite its name, the field does not necessarily need to be open for the Open Fields Doctrine to apply. Law enforcement does not need a warrant to enter and search any part of someone’s property outside of the immediate area of their home. This means they may enter privately owned fields, pastures and forests no matter how secluded and inaccessible the area might be. Even if there are no-trespassing signs posted and locked gates or fences surrounding the field, law enforcement officers are still able to enter the field to conduct a
Under the
Open Fields
Doctrine, searches occurring on private property are generally permissible. Usually, the test to determine if police need a warrant hinges on whether there is an expectation of privacy that society believes is reasonable.
search without a warrant.
The Open Fields Doctrine can benefit private citizens and has been used in Alabama to help farmers recover stolen livestock. In Brown v. State, 1971, the Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals affirmed the Open Fields Doctrine. In this case, law enforcement officers entered a pasture to investigate a stolen cow. Ultimately, they returned the cow to its owner and prosecuted the thief. In doing so, the court subjected all open fields in Alabama to the possibility
of warrantless searches.
Neighboring states have recently taken stances opposing the Open Fields Doctrine. In Rainwaters v. Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, 2024, agency officers entered private property using the Open Fields Doctrine. They posted trail cameras throughout the property without a warrant or the owner’s knowledge and consent. One individual who found these cameras on his property took them down and brought them inside his home. His house was later raided by state officials, and he was charged with theft of government property. These cameras had footage of him hunting with his friends, as well as him camping — all on his own private property.
Though the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled such intrusions by state officials violate the Tennessee Constitution, this conduct is permitted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Open Fields Doctrine and remains lawful in Alabama.
Alabama Farmers Federation policy opposes the Open Fields Doctrine.
It’s around midnight when alarms start buzzing on Heath Clary’s phone, notifying him of low dissolved oxygen (DO) in his Newbern catfish ponds.
The 2024 Alabama Catfish Farmer of the Year slips on his boots and heads out the door into darkness to meet his team and add more tractor-powered aerators to the ponds.
“It’s part of the job,” said Clary, a Hale County Farmers Federation board member
who also chairs the local Young Farmers Committee. “The DO in the water was low, and we were out here till around 1:30 a.m. placing aerators.”
It’s now 6 a.m. Thick fog settles on the ponds as Clary climbs into the seat of a truck-mounted crane. On the opposite end is a giant net ready to capture high-quality, homegrown catfish currently corralled by a seine and three-man harvest crew.
The mornings come early, and the nights end late for Clary. This isn’t new for someone who’s been in the
catfish industry from an early age.
“My dad began as a contract seiner around the time I was born,” Clary said. “I was always an extra hand when someone didn’t show. I wanted to do anything but what my dad did when I left for college. I’d had my fill of it.”
Clary went to the University of South Alabama in Mobile. While there, he married his wife, Christina, and knew he needed a job to support his growing family.
Hale County’s CLARY Named Catfish Farmer
of the Year
By Tanner Hood
“When I graduated, I applied for a sales job, and Dad asked me if I wanted to come back and operate a seine crew,” Clary said. “Those were the best offers I had. The other company chose someone else, so I went back north and came home.”
Clary worked with a harvest crew for two years before the opportunity to farm full time surfaced in 2016.
“Farming was something I always wanted,” Clary said. “I remember as a kid working on other farms and being jealous because other kids were working and playing on their farm. I knew when I got an opportunity to get into something, I wanted to take it.”
Relying on confidence, knowledge of the industry and relationships built over years as a harvester, Clary waded into the waters of catfish farming.
Clary’s American Aquaculture catfish farm and harvesting services have since grown into a family affair. He manages 24 ponds while raising three boys — Randall, 7, Jack, 5, and John Hardy, 3 — with Christina. They’re expecting twins later this year.
“I’m blessed,” Clary said. “My goal is for my children to know that if they love this, I’m behind them and will do anything to help them. If it’s not what they want to do, that’s OK, too.”
Alabama Farmers Federation Catfish Division Director William Green said the industry needs more young, hardworking farmers like Clary.
“Heath is a bright spot in a struggling industry,” Green said. “Farmers are in a tough place with slim profit margins and high input costs. It’s great to see a
young, passionate and efficient farmer succeed while growing a family.”
Clary echoed Green’s concerns, saying he hopes to use his position as Alabama’s Catfish Farmer of the Year to raise awareness — and sales.
“I hope this position means more sales,” Clary said with a laugh. “I’m proud of being elected to represent catfish farmers here in Alabama. I appreciate knowing a group of men who have years of experience had enough faith to select me. I hope I can put a face to the industry and the struggles and raise awareness.”
Clary’s message is simple.
“Eat more U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish,” Clary said. “Ask where the fish came from when eating in restaurants. People are getting high-quality, high-protein, well-cared-for and clean fish when they choose our product. It’s a good, healthy and safe option to feed families.”
Below from far left: A heavy fog sets on the waters of a Hale County catfish pond in the early hours of harvest day. A three-man seine crew wrangles fish for 2024 Alabama Catfish Farmer of the Year Heath Clary to catch with his crane-mounted net. Raising high-quality catfish is a year-round job for Clary. He’s leading the way for the next generation, including his three young sons.
Alabama Catfish Farmer of the Year Heath Clary is making his Hale County catfish farming dream a reality. He farms alongside his wife, Christina, and sons Randall, 7, Jack, 5, and John Hardy, 3.
Tour Touts Relationships Among Farmers, Elected Officials
By Jeff Helms
Walking among bushes brimming with blackberries and blueberries, Randy Godwin unintentionally summarized the mission of a tour which brought government officials and agricultural leaders to his Cherokee County farm.
“We all need to learn — and we need to learn how each other does things,” Godwin said.
That’s what Cherokee County Farm-City Chairman Landon Marks had in mind when he organized the inaugural Elected Officials Farm Tour.
“We want them to know they can come to us,” said Marks, the county Extension coordinator. “They can ask us questions, and we can be a point of contact for them.”
The event began on a steamy morning in late June in Centre. County commissioners, city councilmen, a district judge, the county school superintendent and a state senator first
feasted on local fruit and honey; 4-H Pig Squeal sausage; and casseroles and breads baked by Cherokee County Farmers Federation (CCFF) Women’s Leadership Committee members.
The group then boarded a school bus bound for a new poultry farm.
“I’ve got four houses going up, and they are 66 by 600 (feet),” said Jeff Bobo, who farms with his wife, Tonya. “We’re going to have a quarter-million birds on the farm. That relates to a million people being able to eat two pieces of chicken each for 45 days just from this farm.”
While Bobo emphasized production, Marks, former County Extension Coordinator Danny Miller and Extension Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Specialist Kent Stanford discussed the farm’s economic impact and sustainability.
“I wanted to get boots on the ground,” said Marks as he led the tour through poultry houses flanked by cotton fields. “Poultry is a huge
economic impact to the area. Occasionally, you encounter some bad attitudes when it comes to certain kinds of farming. We want to let them know how we are handling mortality, nutrient management, odor and other concerns.”
Cherokee County District 3 Commissioner Ronnie Shaw grew up on a farm but said the tour opened his eyes to technological advances.
“I like to see the change going on in this industry,” Shaw said. “It’s hard to explain to our younger generation how farmers like this work. They’re doing it out of pure love for the area. These farms are our community.”
CCFF President John Bert East said the event was an opportunity to cultivate relationships.
“You see these folks on the ballot and vote for them, but you may only know them vaguely,” East said. “This is a way for us to spend a little time with them, to learn more about their ideas and what they stand for.”
Back at Rastus Roofus Berry Patch, former steel company engineer Godwin said the tour allowed farmers and elected officials to set aside party affiliations and relate as neighbors.
“I don’t particularly think we can solve the world’s problems through politics,” Godwin said. “Let’s get more people involved in what really makes the world happen and less people telling each other what to do. Maybe this will help.”
Nearly two dozen decision-makers and farm policy leaders attended Cherokee County’s inaugural Elected Officials Farm Tour in June.
Jeff Bobo, right, welcomed local decision-makers to his poultry farm in Sand Rock. Once the houses are finished, the farm will house a quarter-million chickens.
Elected officials and farm policy leaders sampled the fruits of Randy Godwin’s labor during a tour of his Rastus Roofus Berry Patch.
“The
-Erin Duke AFC Member
Alabama Century and Heritage Farm Program Honors Family Tradition
By Maggie Edwards
Agricultural roots run deep for John Boutwell. His family’s Butler County farm has been in production for over a century. That passion for preservation led to statewide recognition when Cedar Creek Plantation was named a Century and Heritage Farm in 2019.
“Land can be lost,” John said. “That makes you appreciate that it’s been in our family for 100 years. We’ve been put here to be stewards of the land.”
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has administered the Century and Heritage Farm program since 1976. More than 700 family farms have since been honored. There’s a Bicentennial Farm program, too, celebrating farms that have reached 200 years.
Applications for the Century and Heritage as well as Bicentennial programs are due Aug. 23. To apply, visit agi.alabama.gov.
“This accomplishment tells the story of our family,” John said. “Farmland is difficult for farmers to hang on to. It says a lot that we’ve been able to continue the tradition.”
Since 1917, the land has created generations of Boutwell memories. It’s instilled hard work ethic in John, wife
Ann, their children and grandchildren, too. From John’s grandfather’s old general store to row crops, cattle and timber, the farm has stood the test of time and changing farm practices.
That continues as the next generation prepares to cultivate the land, Ann said.
“It’s extremely rewarding and special for our youngest son, Thomas, his wife, Sarah, and their two children to come back to this farm,” Ann said. “We have all loved the place. We didn’t live here permanently, but we spent our days here. Our hearts are here and always have been. The kids loved this land, and so do our eight grandchildren.”
John and Ann began their lives together in 1973. Ann grew up on a farm in Butler County, too. That homeplace — Persimmon Ridge Farms — is a Bicentennial Farm.
John studied at Auburn University and obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics. His journey led to life in Auburn and a position with Alabama Cooperative Extension System as a pest management economist.
Almost a decade later, the Boutwells’ life shifted as they moved to Autauga County for a new venture — cotton farming.
Century Farm: Has been in the same family continuously for at least 100 years and currently has agricultural activities. Must include at least 40 acres and be owned by the applicant or nominee.
Heritage Farm: Has been operated continuously as a family farm for at least 100 years. Must possess interesting and important historical and agricultural aspects, including one or more structures at least 40 years old. The farm must include at least 40 acres of land owned and operated by the applicant who resides in Alabama.
Bicentennial Farm: Has been in the same family for at least 200 years and currently has agricultural activities. The farm must include at least 40 acres of land and be owned by the applicant or nominee who resides in Alabama.
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“I farmed cotton near Prattville until the 2000s,” said John, who serves on Farmers Federation boards in Autauga and Butler counties. “That’s when I switched my mindset back to the Butler County land and went into the commercial hunting business.”
In addition to being a distinguished Alabama Century and Heritage Farm, the land is a certified Tree Farm and TREASURE Forest.
“John has done a great job caring for this land,” Ann said. “He converted it from row crops and cattle into the tree farm. The farm is almost like a family member.”
John credits any success back to strong stewardship.
“This land is as good now as it was 100 years ago, if not better than,” John said. “It’ll be good another hundred.”
Farming roots run deep for the Boutwell family. Row crops, cattle and timber have fueled the family’s farming heritage for a century. From left are Sarah, Lilly, Thomas, Foster, John and Ann Boutwell in front of the old general store dating to the Butler County property’s original 40 acres in 1917.
Home Food Preservation Seals Flavor of Summer Produce
By Maggie Edwards
Summer is the perfect season for a juicy tomato, but it’s not the only time to enjoy the freshness of its flavor.
“Canning brings instant gratification,” said Coosa County’s Paula Neighbors. “I like to see vegetables in the basket and then put up in a jar. It’s fresh when you get it and just as fresh months later.”
Neighbors said she’s always considered herself a canner but chose to attend Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s (ACES) Home Food Preservation Camp in Goodwater this summer to hone her skills.
“I wanted to learn the newest and safest techniques for growing and
who has a backyard garden. “Canning is a long process, but you’re putting up food for winter and hard times.”
The key to successful canning lies in the produce. Purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables helps extend the flavor of contents safely sealed in a jar, she said.
Alabama farmers like Blount County’s Destiny Allman Gladden are there to ease the stress of finding local products. Her family cultivates high-quality crops for wholesale and retail at Allman Farms & Orchards.
“Shopping from our local farm allows consumers to come here and meet my family,” said Gladden, a fifth-generation farmer. “We’re eating this produce, so you know we’re growing it safely. Our livelihood depends on this. If we can’t grow a good product, then we aren’t going to sell it.”
Gladden said produce hits the shelves of on-farm markets within 24
hours of being picked.
“We see a big interest in Americangrown goods now,” said Daniel Allman, Destiny’s father. “We can just get a fresher pick here on the farm.”
The Allman family grows peaches, corn, melons, squash and other summer produce, but their most popular items are red, green and grape tomatoes.
Those farm-fresh tomatoes quickly find their way to homes and are often destined for the pantry.
“Canning is a lost art,” said Destiny’s mom, Amy, a long-time canning connoisseur. “Why go buy stuff when you have the resources in front of you to preserve? When you can, you know everything that’s going into it. It’s different, and it helps reduce waste.”
Though not as common as it once was, ACES is preserving a love of canning in communities.
During three summer Home Food Preservation Camps, agendas included pressure and water-bath
Left: Amy Allman, Mary Clair Allman, Sadie-Mae Allman and Destiny Allman Gladden man the farm market at Allman Farms & Orchards in Blount County. Center: Tomato planting begins in spring with the season lasting until fall. Right: Daniel Allman is farming his 44th tomato crop.
Janet Lovelady, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Sylacauga High School, fine-tuned her canning skills during Alabama Extension’s Home Food Preservation Camp.
cook fill bathe enjoy
of using a tested, canning-approved recipe for food that’s preserved in water baths. Water-bath canning immerses lidded jars filled with high-acid foods into hot water. This process kills target microorganisms, inactivates natural enzymes and forms a vacuum seal.
“How long something can be canned and enjoyed is more of a quality issue than a safety issue,” Reams said. “If it stays sealed, it should be safe because you have killed all bacteria in the jar.”
With the basics under their belts, Reams dismissed the class for the kitchen.
The process originally sounded daunting, said Janet Lovelady. But the family and consumer sciences teacher said the reward would be worth it when popping the salsa seal this fall.
“You have to dive into canning,” said Lovelady. “I took a similar class 15 years ago. I came back to refresh my memory and take this information back to my students.”
canning. Participants enjoyed hands-on demonstrations of canning carrots, jams, jellies, pickles, sauerkraut and tomatoes.
ACES Regional Extension Agent Dani Reams held the Goodwater group’s attention in the classroom discussing the steps of preparing tomatoes and jars for salsa.
Reams stressed the importance
Their salsa adventure began with washing. Attendees then rinsed tomatoes and cut an X across each fruit’s base. After plopping them into a pot of boiling water for 30 seconds, the group quickly removed the scalded tomatoes and placed them in an ice-water bath, a process that made peeling easier.
Next steps included dicing, mixing in seasonings and vinegar, and boiling. The vinegar addition made the salsa acidic enough to water bath. When the salsa began to boil, the group lowered the pot to a simmer. From there, it was time to spoon salsa into hot jars and place them into the water bath.
How to Water-Bath Can:
n Wash jars and keep hot (an oven works).
n Use a tested, canning-approved recipe.
n Pack food and liquid to within 1/2 inch of top of jar.
n Remove air bubbles.
n Wipe jar rims.
n Adjust lids and bands to finger-tip tight.
n Place jars in canner or pot using a jar lifter.
n Process according to recipe.
n Remove jars using a jar lifter.
n Place on towel.
n Let sit 12-24 hours.
n Check seals.
n Remove bands and wipe jars.
n Label with product and date.
Coosa County’s Paula Neighbors and Alabama Extension’s Alice Moore shared tips and tricks around a pot of salsa during a canning camp.
Attendees from across Alabama gathered in Goodwater for a two-day canning workshop in June. This was one of three Home Food Preservation Camps. Alabama Extension’s Dani Reams, far left, helped host the event. She and fellow Extension staff brought community members a hands-on workshop that included time in the classroom and kitchen.
Abundant Equipment Inventory Inaccessible in Current Farm Economy
By Tanner Hood
Tractors, combines, cotton pickers and a host of brightly colored farm equipment fill dealership lots across the state, catching the eyes of Alabama farmers. It’s a bittersweet sight amid climbing input costs and plunging commodity prices.
Initially following the COVID-19 pandemic, equipment inventories were low while markets boomed, said Thomas Peek. He’s the operations manager at Peek Equipment in Limestone County.
The reverse is now true.
“There was a time not that long ago when a farmer could order a new piece of equipment before harvest that wouldn’t be ready until after the following year’s harvest,” Peek said. “Farmers couldn’t get new equipment quick enough when the markets were good. Today, lots are overflowing, and commodity markets are suffering. Farmers can’t afford the new machinery.”
Peek’s assessment is supported by reports from Sandhills Global, a market research firm focused on used equipment.
In its research, Sandhills found inventories of combines and 100-plus horsepower (HP) tractors increased year-over-year. The gains are due to an influx of newer and more expensive equipment being introduced to the market.
The report released in May showed inventories of used tractors with 100 HP and greater are 58.3% higher than the same period last year, with a 2.54% month-over-month increase.
Almost 55% of those tractors were made within the last five years. Used combine inventories also rose 17.63% year-over-year.
“There’s a lot of new inventory, and dealers are putting a lot of money into used equipment to get farmers to trade up,” Peek said. “When trade-in equipment hits lots, it’s overpriced in the current commodity markets. The used equipment becomes stagnant.”
“With low commodity prices and increasing input costs, farmers can’t afford the new equipment,” Cooper said. “They’re patching what they’re using now and are finding ways to keep older equipment going. It’s cheaper than making payments on new items.”
For Barbour County Farmers Federation board member Justin Cooper, updated equipment is essential to productivity.
“When we get started at 5 a.m., we want to get something done by the time we come in for the night,” said Cooper, who serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation State Wheat & Feed Grain Committee. “If we see a piece of equipment that’s giving us more problems than it should, we really consider upgrading to something more productive.”
The third-generation farmer raises peanuts, cotton, corn and cattle with
his father. Ensuring equipment is running properly — especially planters, harvesters and sprayers — is essential for productivity.
“With low commodity prices and increasing input costs, farmers can’t afford the new equipment,” Cooper said. “They’re patching what they’re using now and are finding ways to keep older equipment going. It’s cheaper than making payments on new items.”
Cooper has taken advantage of American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) right-to-repair memorandum of understanding (MOU) with John Deere. He recently bought two laptops and John Deere software to help his mechanics manage most repairs in-house.
“It’s been a saving grace,” Cooper said regarding the software. AFBF also has MOUs with AGCO, CLAAS of America, CNH Industrial (which includes Case IH and New Holland) and Kubota.
With net farm income expected to decrease for a second year following record highs in 2022, many farmers are relying on older machinery. In Peek’s eyes, operating and repairing older items could help farmers in the long run.
“I think the farmers are in the driver’s seat,” Peek said. “If farmers keep buying and operating older equipment, it will force the price to drop on newer items. If commodity markets can rebound, farmers might have the ability to buy newer items at a lower cost.”
Scan to view the Sandhills Global report.
Back to School: Ag in the Classroom Inspires Educators
By Jeff Helms
Classes won’t begin until later this month, but teachers from Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery have begun implementing ideas gleaned during the Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Summer Institute.
“We’ve already been texting our principal and telling him what we want to do,” said fourth-grade teacher Suzy Weed during the June event. “We would love to start out small and bring some chickens to the school. We all signed up for (The Dairy Alliance) Adopt-A-Cow program, too.”
Weed’s enthusiasm was shared by 75 educators who gathered in Tuscaloosa for workshops and tours focused on integrating lessons about food, farming and forestry with core curricula.
Andrea Riley, a kindergarten teacher at Grantswood Community School in Jefferson County, said diversifying the educational
experience is more important than ever.
“We have to do so much math and reading that agriculture is getting left out; science is getting left out; history is getting left out,” she said. “But if you can develop some sort of outdoor classroom, you can cover all the standards.”
It was Riley’s second year to attend the AITC event. She spoke to fellow teachers about her class’s Rise and Shine honey project.
“In my classroom, we have bees, chickens and a small garden,” she said. “They are starting a new program at
“We have to do so much math and reading that agriculture is getting left out; science is getting left out; history is getting left out. But if you can develop some sort of outdoor classroom, you can cover all the standards.” - Andrea Riley, teacher
the Helen Keller School in Talladega and came for a visit. They wanted to see how littles can do beekeeping. I was explaining how you can integrate lessons about bees into your classroom no matter the age of your students.”
Other workshops covered George Washington Carver’s agricultural research; robotics; dairy cows; weeds; make-and-take crafts; and a brain break exercise led by the Alabama Extension SNAP-Ed team.
Barbour County’s Michelle Puckett was among Extension agents who attended the conference.
“Being a SNAP-Ed agent, part of my job is to connect people with their food, so I do a lot of work in grocery stores and food pantries and with Farm to School,” she said. “There are many areas where I can connect farming to my job.”
A highlight of AITC’s summer event was a tour with stops at the
Tuscaloosa
Seventy-five educators from across Alabama toured the Tuscaloosa County School System Agriscience Teaching Farm during AITC Summer Institute. Visiting the new educational farm inspired attendees to work more with local farmers while incorporating agriculture into core curricula.
Suzy Weed was one of 75 educators who received more than $400 worth of classroom materials during AITC Summer Institute. She’ll use those items this fall at Alabama Christian Academy.
SNAP-Ed Extension Agent Michelle Puckett said she’s excited to take fun, agriculture-based craft lessons back to Barbour County.
“We owe it to these teachers. If they are going to teach about the things we do, we can take a little bit of time to show our appreciation for what they do. We want kids to know where their food is coming from.” - Wallace Drury, farmer
County School System
Agriscience Teaching Farm, Drury Catfish and Cattle Farms in Greensboro and Griffin Farms, an agritourism destination in West Blocton.
Wallace Drury said the tour was well worth the farmers’ time.
“We owe it to these teachers,” he said. “If they are going to teach about the things we do, we can take a little bit of time to show our appreciation for what they do. We want kids to know where their food is coming from.”
While in Greensboro, the teachers heard from a farmer panel including Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee members Monica Carroll of Dale County, Lisa Lake of Cullman County and Debbie Miller of Mobile County. They were joined by Hale County’s
Townsend Kyser and Tommy Martin. Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director and Alabama AITC Chair Kim Earwood said she heard multiple teachers say this year’s Summer Institute was the best ever.
“Being in west Alabama for the Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute was phenomenal,” she said. “Educators were able to not only hear but also see how many hats are worn on a daily basis by Alabama farmers. We are thrilled so many teachers, Extension staff and Soil and Water Conservation district coordinators were able to participate.”
As the teachers headed back to school, they left equipped with totes full of books and educator guides valued at $400 each. Twenty door prize winners also got incubators and scopes to begin hatching eggs at their schools, while 20
more received farm-related games.
Weed said the resources will be put to good use.
“It has been amazing,” she said. “I’m so glad I signed up and was selected to attend. We have a lot to take back to our classrooms.”
For more information about Ag in the Classroom, visit alabamaaitc.org.
Extension’s Roberta McClellan, left, demonstrated a dairy-milking activity during AITC Summer Institute.
EARLY
Iwoke early. My back is stiff. I should be sleeping, but I’m not.
My mother said this would happen.
“One day,” she said, “you won’t sleep as long or hard as you used to.”
She was right. She was always right. It's dark outside. So I drive to the gas station. I buy coffee and a bag of sodium-free pork rinds for my dog. The coffee isn’t ready yet.
The man behind the counter is nice. He puts the coffee on. I wait out front, looking at the night sky. A man pulls up in a ratty vehicle. He jumps out and starts loading the newspaper machine.
“Good morning,” I say.
He smiles. His eyes are baggy. His face is tired. I recognize that face.
“Morning,” he says.
“Can I have one?” I ask, handing him a bill. “They’re better when they’re fresh.”
He forces a courtesy laugh.
“Just pay the machine, dude. Besides, I can’t make change.”
“I don’t want change.”
He stares at me. He takes the money. He tips his hat. I get my paper.
One hundred years ago, my mother and I threw the Northwest Florida Daily News. We would wake up at 2 in the morning. She would drink awful gas station coffee every blessed day.
She’d take one sip and say, “This coffee tastes like bathwater.”
One morning, we were delivering papers to apartments on the beach. We carried large canvas bags slung over our shoulders. We strolled breezeways, tossing rolled papers like boomerangs.
We finished early. We traipsed downstairs ahead of schedule. My mother tried to lift the car door handle. We were locked out. Worse: It was my fault. I knew this. My mother knew
this, too, but she never said a word. It was 4, hours of work remained, papers were still in the backseat. We sat on a curb. We waited for a locksmith. I placed my head in my hands.
My mother dug a paper from her bag. She shook it open and wore a soft smile.
“What’re you doing?” I asked.
“What’s it look like?” She handed me the sports section. “Here, we’re not gonna let this get us down.”
I was too depressed to read.
She cleared her throat.
“The Yankees,” she began, “sweep the Texas Rangers in three games...”
“Mama,” I told her. “I don’t feel like hearing about baseball.”
I was too upset. How could I have locked the car? How could I be so dumb? There was no dumber person on this planet.
“…And if the Yankees defeat Cleveland, they will be American League CHAMPIONS..."
My mother had never watched a game of baseball in her life. She didn’t know the difference between a pop-up single and Sylvester Stallone.
“Mama, stop trying to cheer me up.”
“Did you know David Wells has pitched eight COMPLETE games and five SHUTOUTS this season?”
“Mama.”
She closed the paper.
“One day, you’re gonna look back at this morning and laugh. You hear me?” I heard her. And those words have lasted with me for an entire lifetime.
The gas station clerk knocks on the glass window. The coffee is done. I pour a cup. I pay him. I crawl into my truck. I open the paper. I take a sip.
This coffee tastes like bathwater.
If you get a chance, thank someone in the service industry today. ■
Seed Saving 101
By Bethany O’Rear
As summer gardens are winding down, get a head start for next year. Seed saving is a great way to preserve hard-to-find varieties.
Knowing if plants are hybrids is the first step to seed saving. If they are, then saving seed will be fruitless (pun intended). Seed saved from hybrids will not produce the same plant they were collected from.
Open-pollinated varieties are the plants of choice for saving seed. These are pollinated by insects, wind or other natural processes. Generally, these plants render seed that will produce the same desirable traits as the parent plant. The one caveat is the potential of cross-pollination.
Cross-pollination can occur with plants that are pollinated by insects or wind. Examples include cucumbers, melons, corn and squash. While a cucumber can’t cross-pollinate with a melon, varieties within each of these species can cross-pollinate. To prevent
this, only grow one variety in a single growing season, or plant varieties that bloom at different times. This eliminates the risk of pollen transfer from one variety to another.
The easiest plants for seed saving are those that are self-pollinating, as they rarely cross. Self-pollinating vegetable varieties include tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas and others. There are many annual self-pollinating flower varieties, including zinnias and sunflowers.
When seed saving, only collect from healthy plants. Plants with diseases or weak growth habits produce low-quality seed. Let the seed fully mature before harvesting. When saving vegetable seed, the fruit should ripen completely before harvest. Collect flower seed after petals dry and a seed pod forms.
Cleaning processes differ by plant type. Some seed must be wet processed — including tomatoes, cucumbers or melons. Remove seed from the fruit and wash in a container. Viable seed will sink, while nonproductive seed
will float. Remove the floating seeds. Dry remaining seeds by spreading them in a thin layer on a flat surface. Dry-processed seeds, such as beans, peas and annual flowers, require separating seed from the husk flower head or pod. Using hand screens, winnow the seed to separate additional plant debris.
Store the completely dry seed in a labeled paper envelope. Labeling helps you remember which varieties you saved when planting them a year later. Include a packet of silica gel (available at craft stores) or dry rice so the seed remains dry.
Store the envelope in a tightly closed glass jar. Leave it in a cool, dry place, or refrigerate the seed for extended quality. Most seeds remain viable three to five years.
Seed saving is a great way to preserve the past while planning for the future. If you have never tried saving seed, now is a great time to start. Happy gardening!
Chiggers: Invisible Pests
By Cole Sikes
One of the peskiest outdoor insects may be crawling around your neck of the woods. Chiggers, also referred to as redbugs, are a group of mites that live in densely vegetative areas. The most prominent species of chigger in Alabama is the hard-biting Trombicular alfreddugesi
Chiggers are nearly invisible and hard to control because of their size. In their larval stage, these mites are parasitic and red in color. As they age, their feeding habits change, and they will fade to yellow in color.
vegetation combined with high humidity. The presence of shade in an area will also create a favorable habitat for these mites.
“Unlike many mites that have the same diet in all life stages, chiggers vary in behavior and diet at different maturity levels,” Hu said. “In their larval stage, the six-legged larvae are parasitic. They dine on vertebrate animals such as humans, reptiles, birds, rodents and other wild and domestic mammals.”
After developing into eight-legged nymphs and adults, they become free-living predators. In their final form, they eat small arthropods and insect eggs or plant material in the soil.
will inject saliva containing a special enzyme. This digestive protein will liquefy skin cells for the mite to use as food. The injected saliva will induce reddish welts on the skin and cause intense itching. These symptoms can last from several days to two weeks in severe cases.
“A redbug often goes unnoticed for one to three hours after it starts feeding,” Hu said. “The itching sensation typically occurs after the larvae has detached from the skin.”
Chigger Control
The best solution for chigger mite populations is to clear any potential or active breeding sites. An ideal time for this control method is in spring before their numbers grow.
“Chigger mites are barely visible to the naked eye,” said Xing Ping Hu, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System entomologist. “They are able to be seen on light-colored backgrounds where they contrast, especially in groups.”
Habitats, Life Stages and Food Sources
Summer is peak chigger season. Hu said redbugs prefer undergrowth
Parasitic Pests
Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin when biting. After finding a host, redbug larvae locate a thin section of tender skin and feed. Chiggers also don’t drink blood like mosquitoes and bed bugs. However, they do have a short piercing mouth.
When inflicting a bite, a redbug
Removing shrubs and bushes, keeping grass short and pruning trees to increase sunlight will mitigate habitat for chiggers.
There are insecticide options for chigger control as well. However, insecticide spray alone cannot be a long-term solution because of its limited efficacy and residue period.
For more information on controlling chigger mites, visit aces.edu.
2024 ANNUAL MEETING DATES, TIMES & LOCATIONS
Autauga Wed., Aug. 21 7:00 p.m. Autauga County Ag Center
2224 Hwy. 14 W Autaugaville
Baldwin Thurs., Aug. 8 6:00 p.m. Baldwin County Farmers Federation Building 21332 Hwy. 59 Robertsdale
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
2429 County Rd. 53 Clayton
1101 Walnut St. Centreville
6700 County Hwy. 1 Cleveland
Bullock Thurs., Aug. 15 6:30 p.m. Greenway Sportsman’s Lodge 2621 Hwy. 223 Union Springs
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
Colbert Mon., Aug. 26 6:30 p.m. Hospitality House (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
Crenshaw Thurs., Sept. 12 6:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Cullman Thurs., Aug. 8 6:00 p.m. Cullman County Farmers Federation Building
Dale Mon., Aug. 12 7:00 p.m. Alfa Service Center
Dallas Tues., Sept. 10 5:30 p.m. Alfa Service Center
DeKalb Thurs., Aug. 15 6:30 p.m. DeKalb County Farmers Federation Building
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
Hale Thurs., Sept. 5 11:00 a.m. The Catfish Center
Jackson Tues., Aug. 6 6:30 p.m. Jackson County Farmers Federation Building
Jefferson Fri., Aug. 23 10:00 a.m. Gardendale Civic Center
Lamar Mon., Aug. 12 6:30 p.m. Vernon City Complex
Lauderdale Tues., Aug. 20 7:00 p.m. Curtis’ Restaurant
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
800 George Wallace Blvd. Muscle Shoals
102 Liberty St. Evergreen
9575 U.S. Hwy. 231 Rockford
13725 Brooklyn Rd. Andalusia
357 S Forest Ave. Luverne
307 Main Ave. NW Cullman
217 S Union Ave. Ozark
403 Broad St. Selma
346 McCurdy Ave. S Rainsville
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
529 S Centreville St. Greensboro
23625 John T. Reid Pkwy. Scottsboro
857 Main St. Gardendale
44425 Hwy. 17 Vernon
8050 Hwy. 43 Florence
Lawrence Tues., Aug. 6 6:00 p.m. Lawrence County Ag Center 13075 Hwy. 157 Moulton
Limestone Thurs., Aug. 15 6:30 p.m. Willow Oak Farm
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
Marshall Tues., Aug. 27 7:00 p.m. Marshall County Farmers Federation Building
Mobile Tues., July 30 6:30 p.m. Greater Gulf State Fair Grounds
Monroe Mon., Sept. 9 6:30 p.m. Monroe County Ag Center
17434 Morris Rd. Elkmont
9022 Hwy. 80 W Tyler
2858 County Rd. 53 Tuskegee
2601 Oakwood Ave. NW Huntsville
206 Shiloh St. Linden
3196 County Rd. 55 Hamilton
1333 Blount Ave. Guntersville
1035 Cody Rd. N Mobile
334 Agriculture Dr. Monroeville
Montgomery Thurs., Aug. 13 6:00 p.m. Alfa Home Office 2108 E South Blvd. Montgomery
Morgan Fri., Aug. 9 6:00 p.m. Hartselle Civic Center 406 Nance Ford Rd. SW Hartselle
Perry Tues., Sept. 3 11:00 a.m. Alfa Service Center 406 Pickens St. Marion
Randolph Tues., Aug. 20 7:00 p.m. Randolph County Farmers Federation Building 112 Main St. S
Walker
Welcome back to the kitchen! I feel like we were just heralding spring, and now here we are getting ready to go back to school. If life seems to be passing you by at warp speed like it is for me, you’ll enjoy the one-pot meals I’m sharing this month. As much as I love cooking, my goal is always to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with my family.
Leading the pack is my treasured Goulash Soup. This tomato-based soup is filled with browned ground beef, whole kernel corn, onions, garlic and tender elbow macaroni. It’s one of those flavorful, nostalgic dishes that takes me back to the best memories from my childhood. The older generations love this dish, but I’ve found it’s one of those bridge builders younger folks fall in love with just as much. In addition to only needing one pot, this can be ready from start to finish in half an hour, making it the perfect addition to your weeknight rotation. Leftovers are great, too.
I have a great one-pot meal for the shrimp lovers in your life, too. Andouille sausage joins bell pepper, onion, garlic
and celery to create a flavorful base to this filling One-Pot Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya. I use a quick rice plus peeled and deveined shrimp to have this dish ready in about 35 minutes. I recommend not telling your guests that it’s a quick recipe, though. With flavor like this, no one would believe you anyway.
Last, but certainly not least, we have a recipe from another Alabama farm family. Jimmy Jimmerson is a longtime Alabama Farmers Federation member from Cleburne County and is known for his impressive cooking chops. That includes this Bacon Corn Chowder, originally shared in the March 2010 Neighbors. Now, I know you’re probably not wanting to think about soup in August, but hear me out. It’s all done in one pot, and it’s super fast — which means less time to heat up the kitchen and more time to enjoy life with those you love.
I hope this month’s recipes will help keep your family fed and happy as we transition from days at the lake to Friday Night Lights. The year will be over
Goulash Soup
Prep Time Cook Time Servings 15 mins 20 mins 12
Ingredients
2 pounds ground chuck
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (29-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 (15.25-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
In a large stock pot over medium heat, cook ground chuck and onions till the meat is brown and cooked through. Drain excess grease and return beef and onions to the pot over medium heat.
Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add beef broth and stir to combine. Add undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and corn. Mix well. Add Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring a boil. Add macaroni and stir well. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered about 10 minutes or until the macaroni is tender to your liking. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese.
before we know it, so let’s make sure to treat life as we would a good glass of iced tea. Sip and savor, y’all. Sip and savor!
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.
One-Pot Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya
Prep Time Cook Time Servings 10 mins 35 mins 6
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 pound Cajun or andouille sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
1 large onion, diced
1 large bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 ribs celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning (or more to taste)
2 cups parboiled or converted rice
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Sliced green onions (optional)
Instructions
In a stock pot or large Dutch oven on medium-high, heat oil. Add sliced sausage and cook, stirring frequently, until sausage has browned. Use a slotted spoon to move sausage to a plate. Set aside.
Add onion, bell pepper and celery. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook about 1 minute.
Add broth, crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes. Add Creole seasoning. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice and browned sausage. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender to your liking. Taste and add additional Creole seasoning or salt and pepper to your taste.
Add shrimp and cover. Cook 3 to 5 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. Allow to rest about 5 minutes, then stir and serve topped with sliced green onions.
Bacon Corn Chowder
By Jimmy Jimmerson, Cleburne County
Ingredients
6 strips bacon, cut into small pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup diced potato
1 can cream-style corn
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
In a saucepan on medium heat, cook bacon and onions 10 to 15 minutes. Add potatoes and enough water to cover. Cook 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in corn, milk and seasonings. Heat thoroughly, but do not boil.
The beans in your Alabama fields today are destined to see the world. Last year, we exported $83.8 million worth of soybeans. That’s a lot of overseas opportunity for one year. And we’re always growing new markets abroad to help keep this demand going strong. And if you’re wondering how far your soybeans can go, we’re charting more ways to keep your ship coming in. Learn more about the story of soy at unitedsoybean.org/hopper.
