Neighbors Magazine, September 2019 by Alabama Farmers Federation

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September/Fall 2019 | Volume 44 | Number 9 Debra Davis | Editor Marlee Moore | Associate Editor Laura Unger | Graphic Designer ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan | Executive Director Jeff Helms | Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jimmy Parnell | President, Stanton Rex Vaughn | Vice President | North, Huntsville Dean Wysner | Vice President | Central, Woodland George Jeffcoat | Vice President | Southeast, Gordon Jake Harper | Vice President | Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn | Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Brian Glenn | Hillsboro Donald Hodge | New Market Donald Sewell | Southside Tim Whitley | Horton Joe Anders | Northport Phillip Hunter | Birmingham Joe Lambrecht | Wetumpka Meador Jones | Gallion Bill Cook | Montgomery Steve Stroud | Goshen Sammy Gibbs | Atmore Chris Carroll | Ariton Jo Ann B. Laney | Phenix City Garrett Dixon | Salem 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. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Neighbors P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001 MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES 800-392-5705, Option 4 or BWatkins@alfafarmers.org ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Ben Shurett, (256) 997-7922 BenShurett.alfafarmers@gmail.com 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.

In This Issue 4 | Commodity Producers Conference Highlights

36 | Top Tailgating Recipes

7 | AU Equestrian Team Gets More Horsepower

11 | Hopes High Among

Alabama Hemp Farmers

24 | September Is National Honey Month

On The Cover

Congratulations to Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family Luke Smelley of Hale County, his wife, Lana, and their five children.

Photo By Debra Davis

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September/Fall 2019

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2019 Commodity Conference

Commodity Conference In Chattanooga Highlights Farm Tours And Seminars

Federation members enjoyed farm tours as part of the annual Commodity Producers Conference Aug. 1-3. One of the six tour groups visited Circle R Hay Farm owned by Thomas Ridgeway of Fyffe, which harvests almost 10,000 square bales of coastal Bermuda hay annually for horse owners.

By Debra Davis bout 750 Alabama Farmers Federation members traveled north A to the Appalachian foothills to visit farms

and factories and harvest information during the organization’s 47th annual Commodity Producers Conference. Headquartered in Chattanooga Aug. 1-3, the conference also had workshops and seminars with topics including a new Alabama branding program, industrial hemp, estate planning, timber production and farm bill implementation. Federation President Jimmy Parnell said farm tours are always a favorite for farmers who attend the conference. “The tours allow our members to get outside of their day-to-day operations and see firsthand how other farms work,” said Parnell, a Chilton County timber and cattle farmer. “We can always learn something by watching others. Touring working farms and seeing their successes and challenges can help us develop new ways of doing things.” The Chattanooga site marked the

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September/Fall 2019

first time the conference has been held in Tennessee. Parnell said the location allowed Alabama farmers to tour the northeast corner of the state, plus farms in Tennessee and Georgia. Tennessee Farm Bureau President Jeff Aiken welcomed Alabama members during the conference opening banquet. Etowah County Farmers Federation President Donald Sewell said the conference location introduced members to farms in his neck of the woods. “The tours were really good, and there was something for everybody,” said Sewell, a Federation state board member from Southside. “We farm a little different from farmers in south Alabama, and it’s always good to share ideas.” Grand Bay farmer Calvin Freeland might have traveled farther than anyone to attend this year’s conference. The distance, 438 miles from his Mobile County farm, was worth the drive, he said. “I’ve been to a lot of conferences, and this was one of the best,” said

Freeland, Mobile County Farmers Federation president. “I enjoyed seeing the cattle on the tour and how those farmers run their operations. The topography and climate are totally different from where I live.” Freeland said he also enjoyed the workshops, especially those where he learned about implementing the farm bill and commodity price trends. Young Farmers contest winners were announced at the conference for the Outstanding Young Farm Family and Excellence in Agriculture competitions, while four finalists in the Discussion Meet were named. Additionally, inaugural awards were presented by the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) to outstanding Alabama Cooperative Extension System and research professionals. Representatives of North Jackson High School football and baseball teams were honored at the conference for assisting farmers Jackie and George Loyd of Stevenson following a grain bin accident at their farm earlier this year. The AFAF donated $5,000 to the school in appreciation. Welcome banquet entertainment was provided by the Geneva FFA String Band. Closing banquet entertainment was The Heart Behind The Music. Fore more conference coverage see pages, 5, 8 and 9. Next year’s Commodity Producers Conference will be in Mobile.

Tennessee Farm Bureau President Jeff Aiken, left, and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell visited in the Chattanooga Convention Center, site of the 47th annual Commodity Producers Conference. alfafarmers.org

Young Farmers contest winners pictured with Federation President Jimmy Parnell from left are: Excellence in Ag winners Kim and Daniel Mullenix, Lee County; Outstanding Young Farm Family winner Luke Smelley, Hale County; and Discussion Meet finalists Ellie Watson, Lee County; Kyle Morris, Cullman County; Adam Wilson, Calhoun County; and Brad Cox, Fayette County.

Young Farmers Cultivate Success In Statewide Contests By Marlee Moore oung farmers cultivated success — Y and scored more than $80,000 in prizes — during contests at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 47th Commodity Producers Conference in Chattanooga Aug. 3. Contestants are 18-35 years old. Luke Smelley won the 2019 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) competition. Judges visited his Hale County catfish, cattle and hay farm this summer, after finalists were named in March. Smelley and his wife, Lana, have five children — Levi, 9; Violet, 7; Everett, 4; Daisy, 2; and Iris, 9 months. As OYFF, Smelley netted a prize package including $35,000 toward a Ford truck courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere 825i Gator from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor sponsored by AgPro, SunSouth and TriGreen. alfafarmers.org

OYFF runners-up were Ben and Bethany Johnson of Randolph County and Jamie and Lindsey Roberts of DeKalb County. Each family received $500 provided by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit. OYFF competitors must earn more than half their income from production agriculture. During the conference, young farmers also competed in Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet contests. Daniel and Kim Mullenix of Opelika in Lee County won the Excellence in Agriculture competition and will receive a zero-turn mower from Corteva Agriscience and a computer package from Valcom/CCS Wireless. Participants are involved in agriculture but derive the majority of their income off the farm. Fourteen young farmers competed this year. Excellence in Agriculture first runner-up was Emmanuel Bankston

of Headland in Henry County, while Landon and Lauren Marks of Leesburg in Cherokee County were second runner-up. Four Discussion Meet finalists were named from 19 contestants — Ellie Watson of Auburn in Lee County, Adam Wilson of Jacksonville in Calhoun County, Brad Cox of Fayette in Fayette County and Kyle Morris of Hanceville in Cullman County. They’ll examine and problem-solve agricultural issues during the final round of Discussion Meet at the Federation’s annual meeting in December. The winner will receive a four-wheeler from First South Farm Credit. All Young Farmers contest finalists received iPads from the Federation. Smelley, the Mullenixes and the Discussion Meet winner will compete nationally during an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention in Austin, Texas, in January 2020. September/Fall 2019

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The Auburn University (AU) Equestrian Team received a 2019 Chevy Silverado from the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Companies during a press conference July 15 at the AU Equine Center. From left are AU College of Agriculture Animal Sciences Department Head Wayne Greene, Federation and Alfa President Jimmy Parnell, AU Equestrian Coach Greg Williams, AU Athletics Director Allen Greene and AU College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Paul Patterson.

National Champion Auburn Equestrian Team Receives New Truck From Alfa By Mary Johns

ix national championships attest to the Auburn University Equestrian S Team’s mastery of horsepower.

Equestrian Coach Greg Williams accepted the reins of an extra 445 horses in the form of a 2019 Duramax Diesel Chevrolet Silverado 2500, donated by the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Companies July 15. “This truck is an amazing asset for us,” Williams said. “This is going to be a very nice vehicle to use when accepting donated horses or for safely transporting horses to the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Plus, we can use it to pick up feed and move laundry for the horses from the equipment room to the barn. It looks so nice, as well. It’s like a alfafarmers.org

marketing piece for our sport. I couldn’t be happier.” The gift celebrates the Tigers’ 2019 national championship and its undefeated season, the first recorded since the sport was accepted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1998. The 2018-19 team included 15 seniors who completed their collegiate athletic careers with a 61-10 record, two Southeastern Conference championships and national championships in 2019, 2018 and 2016. “Under Coach Williams’ leadership, Auburn’s equestrian program truly demonstrates a championship culture, resulting in consistent excellence in competition, the classroom and the community,” Auburn Director of Athletics Allen Greene said. “We deeply appreciate the Alabama

Farmers Federation and Alfa for their extraordinary generosity.” Federation and Alfa Insurance President Jimmy Parnell said he’s proud of Auburn Equestrian’s continued national success in ag-related athletics. “It’s inspiring to see how committed these young women are to this sport, and it’s a pleasure to support the team with this truck donation,” said Parnell, who earned his degree in agricultural business and economics from Auburn. “They’ve definitely gotten a lot of people excited, and that’s a good thing for the entire agricultural community in the state,” Parnell added. Federation State Equine Committee members also attended the event. According to a recent study from Auburn, the equine industry adds more than $2 billion to Alabama’s economy and provides about 24,000 jobs. September/Fall 2019

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Awards

Alfa Award Honors Mullenix For Beef Systems Research By Marlee Moore s a fifth-generation farmer, Dr. A Kim Mullenix knows the value of on-farm efficiency. That farmer-focused

mindset fuels her work as Alabama Extension’s beef systems specialist — and scored Mullenix the Alfa Award For Production Agriculture & Forestry Research. Mullenix received the inaugural award, which includes $10,000 in program support, during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Commodity Producers Conference in Chattanooga Aug. 1. She was nominated by Chambers County cattle farmer Jack Robertson. “It’s exciting to receive this award because it comes from producers,” said Mullenix, 33. “They value the work we do. It’s practical, applied research that can help them every day on their farm.” The Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation sponsored the prize, which honors Auburn University (AU) College of Agriculture, School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences and Alabama Cooperative Extension System staff addressing problems relevant to Alabama agriculture and forestry. Mullenix takes a boots-on-theground approach to her work, estimating she spends three days a week on producers’ farms or at Alabama Agricultural Experiment Stations. Her task is two-fold — improve forage management and expand nutritional efficiency in beef cattle systems. “We’re helping beef cattle better utilize the resources we grow and produce in Alabama,” said Mullenix, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at AU before studying forage management at the University of Florida. “The goal is to improve farmer profitability by improving animal efficiency.” Mullenix joined Alabama Extension five years ago after receiving her doctorate. As an Extension specialist, she provides farmers with the computer programs, ration formulas and nutrition

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September/Fall 2019

Dr. Kim Mullenix received the 2019 Alfa Award For Production Agriculture & Forestry Research. She is pictured with nominator Jack Robertson, a cattle farmer and Chambers County Farmers Federation president.

information their beef cattle operations need to succeed. That’s one reason Robertson, Chambers County Farmers Federation president, nominated her for the award. “When Kim joined Extension, she had big shoes to fill. She came in and did just that,” said Robertson, a partner in Robertson, Lanier & McKay Cattle Co. in Cusseta. “She proved herself with her knowledge and abilities. She gives

us tools to work with to make our farm better. Kim always has the right answer.” Mullenix and Daniel, her husband of eight years, are actively involved on her family’s farm in Newnan, Georgia. They also own cattle in Auburn and participate in Lee County Young Farmers. Mullenix and Daniel, an Agri-AFC precision ag specialist, have a 3-year-old son, Davis. alfafarmers.org

Majumdar Receives Alfa Award For Extension Work By Debra Davis e’s known as “The Bug Doctor,” H but Dr. Ayanava Majumdar is more than an entomologist — he’s an expert

at helping people, particularly farmers. His work as the leader of Vegetable Integrated Pest Management research earned him respect across the state and, most recently, the Alfa Award For Production Agriculture & Forestry Extension that included $5,000 for program support. Majumdar received the award at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Commodity Producers Conference in Chattanooga Aug. 1. He was nominated by Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) President Taylor Hatchett of Chilton County. “Dr. Majumdar was the team leader for Commercial Horticulture Extension Programs for the past seven years, during which the industry gained much ground, and educational programs reached thousands of family farms,” Hatchett said. “He and his Extension team are critical to the industry’s success. He’s published numerous papers and Extension articles on conventional insecticides, trap crops, pest exclusion and organic insecticides. I frequently refer to his publications and videos, and his e-newsletter keeps us informed about insect pest outbreaks.” Majumdar supports Alabama’s horticulture industry as the principal academic adviser to the AFVGA board of directors, which honored him with the Service To Horticulture Award in 2017. “Because of his involvement, the AFVGA is stronger, and he encourages collaboration with other groups, including the Alabama Farmers Federation,” Hatchett said. Most recently, Majumdar organized the Alabama Beginning Farmer Program — a statewide effort to support new farmers with emphasis on military veterans and underserved communities. “Overall, the service provided by Dr. Majumdar and the Extension team saved $506,000 in consultancy fees alfafarmers.org

through grants that otherwise would have put a burden on small family farms,” Hatchett said. Majumdar said he was grateful to receive the award and described his last 10 years as an amazing journey. “I’m so proud of the team we have at Extension and the work we are doing together to support the industry,” Majumdar said. “I hope the momentum continues.” Majumdar, a native of India, lives

in Auburn with his two children. He received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and animal husbandry from the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Uttaranchal, India. He obtained a master’s degree in agricultural entomology from the Panjabrao Agricultural University in Maharashtra, India, and a doctorate in entomology from North Dakota State University in Fargo.

Dr. Ayanava Majumdar received the Alfa Award For Production Agriculture & Forestry Extension. He is pictured with nominator Taylor Hatchett of Chilton County, president of the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association.

September/Fall 2019

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High Hopes:

Alabama Farmers Plant First Legal Hemp Crop By Marlee Moore ver 100 Alabama farmers aren’t O blowing smoke when they say hopes are high for hemp — a crop in its

first legal growing season. While growers are working overtime to clarify misunderstandings about Cannabis sativa, they also see high profit potential for hemp. “The biggest misconception is that it’s marijuana,” said Crum Cook, who is growing 18 acres of hemp near Camden in Wilcox County. “First of all, I tell people it won’t get them high. Then I explain how THC has been bred out of the plants.” Though hemp and marijuana are both cultivars of Cannabis sativa and look nearly identical their THC or tetrahydrocannabinol levels vary significantly. Marijuana averages 20% THC, which is responsible for psychological effects. Legalized hemp production, which was authorized by the 2018 farm bill, requires that hemp have less than 0.3% THC. Previously, the U.S. encouraged hemp farming during World War II’s Hemp For Victory campaign to produce critical goods for Allied soldiers. Hemp has higher concentrations of CBD, or cannabidiol, an increasingly popular ingredient in the natural

Alabama farmers like Crum Cook are looking to capitalize on profit potential from hemp — which was legalized nationwide in the 2018 farm bill. Cook, who farms in Wilcox County, has 18 acres of hemp, which he is growing for oil. Other hemp varieties are grown for fiber. alfafarmers.org

September/Fall 2019

NEIGHBORS

Some farmers are growing hemp on plastic to reduce weeds for the crop, which has no labeled weed or pest suppressants. Jason Johnson, left, has 14 acres of hemp in Autauga County and is working with licensed processor Gordon Faulk to increase Alabama’s footprint in the hemp market.

products industry. The green, thin-leaved plant is harvested for oil, which is diluted for therapeutic use, or fiber, which is processed into rope and textiles and a plethora of other products. Some experts predict farmers could make upward of $100,000 per acre growing hemp. But before harvest can begin, Alabama farmers are overcoming roadblocks, such as seed costs and labor. Hemp seeds average $1-2 each, while transplants are $2-4 each. Transporting stock from established growers in states like Colorado, Tennessee and Virginia tacks on additional costs. Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell has appointed a Hemp Advisory Committee to review policy for the state’s largest farm organization. Elmore County’s Joe Lambrecht chairs the committee. Members are Joel Sirmon, Baldwin County; Jim Lewey, Geneva County; Jackie Loyd, Jackson County; and Jason Lazenby, Lee County. Federation commodity director 12

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Hunter McBrayer is the organization’s contact for hemp growers. He said challenges were expected for the inaugural crop. “Alabama farmers are discovering the best techniques through trial and error and by contacting growers in other states,” McBrayer said. “It’s an expensive crop to grow, but the payoff could be tremendous due to the popularity of CBD and other hemp derivatives.” New Frontier Data reported global hemp industry sales topped $1 billion in 2018, when farmers in just 24 states grew the crop. National sales are expected to more than double by 2022. Hemp is a labor-intensive, hands-on crop since there are no labeled weed or pest suppressants, McBrayer noted. Little hemp-specific equipment exists, causing farmers like Cook to retrofit machinery for planting and harvesting. Others spend hours and thousands of dollars to weed, water, prune and pick hemp by hand. “Because I’m a cattle farmer, I’ve had to adjust to planting a crop like hemp as opposed to drilling grain for cows to graze,” said Cook, 31. Cook raises stocker cattle and said

hemp fit the bill when he was looking for a crop to fill the summer lull. “Hemp grows best during the summer and is harvested about the time I need to plant my ryegrass and clover again,” he said. Cook and many farmers are growing varieties prized for oil content. Around four months after planting, hemp is full, bushy and 4-5 feet high. Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) inspectors test the plants’ THC percentage before leaves and flowers are harvested and sent to the processor. Other farmers grow hemp 6-15 feet tall for fiber. That’s where investors like Gordon Faulk come in. After years in the medical field, Faulk is one of 59 Alabamians licensed to process hemp through ADAI’s Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program. ADAI also licensed 157 growers and five universities to research hemp, including Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Troy University, Tuskegee University and the University of Alabama. This year, most Alabama farmers will still haul hemp out of state since the Yellowhammer State’s processing facilities aren’t yet operational. In Autauga County, Faulk, 72, is working with farmer Jason Johnson to learn the hemp-growing process. Johnson has 14 acres of hemp — about 15,000 plants — with his brothers, Jacob and Michael. After installing a well, Johnson laid plastic mulch before transplanting hemp varieties to cut down on weed pressure. “Our goal now is to keep the farm secure and the plants alive,” said Johnson, 43. “We’ve communicated with local law enforcement so they know what we’re growing out here. Once we get through this first year, we hope to increase our operation.” McBrayer said he’s eager to evaluate hemp’s performance once the growing season rolls to a close around November. “I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said. “This isn’t the first time a new, unusual crop has come to Alabama promising to make people a lot of money. It could be good for our farmers, but there are still a lot of challenges.” alfafarmers.org

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Statewide Agricultural Branding Program Launched

Above: Sweet Grown Alabama board members, from left are, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s Vice President of External Affairs Horace Horn; Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate; and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell. Right: Sweet Grown Alabama Director Ellie Watson visits with Jason Powell, owner of Petals From The Past in Chilton County.

hoppers looking to buy local and S support Alabama farmers will soon have a new way to identify locally

grown products with the Sweet Grown Alabama logo. “As I travel across the state, most of the questions I receive from consumers are about their food and where it comes from,” said Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate. “We want residents of Alabama to walk into a grocery store or farmers market and easily identify products grown in Alabama. The Sweet Grown Alabama logo will allow them to do so and ensure the product they purchase is grown to the highest standards of quality and food safety.” Sweet Grown Alabama’s mission is to enhance marketing opportunities for Alabama farmers by connecting retailers and consumers to Alabama-grown foods and other agricultural products. Farmers and value-added product makers have an opportunity to join the

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program and brand their Alabama-grown products with the logo. Member farms and products will also be listed on an online searchable directory. “We are proud to be part of this effort to provide additional marketing opportunities for Alabama farmers,” said Jimmy Parnell, president of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance. “Our goal is to increase demand for Alabama-grown products and, ultimately, improve sales and profitability for farm families. Alabama is among America’s most agriculturally diverse states, and Sweet Grown Alabama gives us a chance to showcase the quality and variety of our products.” Program membership is available in three categories, and dues are based on the farm or company’s annual sales. The first is the Sweet Grown Alabama Member, for farmers and makers of value-added products with at least 50% of ingredients grown in Alabama.

Sweet Grown Alabama Associate memberships are for associations, institutions, retailers, restaurants, businesses, farmers markets, agritourism operations and others who support the mission of the organization but do not have a product to brand themselves. Sweet Grown Alabama Supporter memberships are for those committed to the Sweet Grown Alabama mission with a desire to reach farmers and consumers across the state and improve the agricultural industry and overall state economy. Those members contribute a minimum of $5,000 annually. “By strengthening agriculture, Sweet Grown Alabama benefits the entire state,” said Horace Horn, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s vice president of External Affairs. “Agriculture already contributes $70 billion to Alabama’s economy and accounts for more than 500,000 jobs. Sweet Grown Alabama will enhance economic development in rural communities by giving farmers and associated businesses additional resources for marketing.” Sweet Grown Alabama is a nonprofit foundation governed by a board of directors including Pate, Parnell and Horn. The board is assisted by an advisory committee consisting of farmers, chefs, association representatives and other industry experts. Future plans include the online directory, robust consumer advertising campaigns, e-newsletters, farm-totable dinners and more. To learn more about Sweet Grown Alabama, visit SweetGrownAlabama.org or contact Director Ellie Watson at (334) 399-7748 or ellie@sweetgrownalabama.org. alfafarmers.org

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Bradford Leaves Legacy Of Helping Others With Health Insurance By Debra Davis avigating the complex sea of N America’s health care system was made easier for many of Alabamians

thanks to Janet Bradford. But, she’s pulled up anchor after 39 years with Alfa Health and set sail for the Gulf Coast and the next chapter in her life. Bradford, 56, began her career at Alfa as a senior at Robert E. Lee High School in her hometown of Montgomery. She retired July 31 from the only job she’s ever had. “I was in the student work program where I attended school half a day and worked in the afternoon,” Bradford said. “Linda Finney (former Alfa Health manager) hired me as a student worker my senior year, then hired me full time in October 1981. The job has changed a lot over the years, but the best part has always been helping people.” Known for her hard work, attention to detail and, most of all, her customer service, Bradford was named assistant manager of Alfa Health in 2003 and was promoted to manager in 2007. At its peak, Alfa Health had more than 70,000 alfafarmers.org

policies in Alabama. Alfa Health is a member service of the Alabama Farmers Federation. Founded as Alabama Rural Health in 1968, the service originally provided a group health plan for farmers, individuals and small businesses who did not have access to employer health plans. For almost 30 years, Alfa

“One of the best parts of my job was being able to help people determine the coverage they needed and could afford.” —Janet Bradford Health was Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama’s only group plan available for self-employed customers. Bradford’s division also managed dental coverage for Federation members. The emergence of individual health insurance plans in the ‘90s and passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 dramatically changed the way

Janet Bradford retired as Alfa Health manager July 31 after 39 years with the company. She and husband Billy, a retired Alfa Insurance agent, relocated to their new home in Seagrove, Florida.

farmers and others obtain health insurance. Today, Alfa Health gives members access to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama products through local Alfa Insurance offices and the Federation home office. Bradford said the ACA changed the health insurance landscape. “There have always been changes in health insurance from year to year, but the ACA was by far the biggest change I’ve experienced in my career,” Bradford said. “I remember talking to one lady who had never had insurance before. Through the ACA, she was able to get insurance for herself and her children. For others, it brought about significant premium increases. One of the best parts of my job was being able to help people determine the coverage they needed and could afford.” Over the years, serving customers created a fan base for Bradford among Federation members who were relieved to find someone to translate what often seemed to be a foreign language. “I’ve never met her, but I feel like she’s a real friend,” said Jeremy Sessions, a farmer from Grand Bay in September/Fall 2019

NEIGHBORS

WHAT I HOPE

hope you find money today. It doesn’t have to be much. Just a little. Few things are better than finding an unexpected twenty in a coat pocket. It’s the universe’s way of saying, “It’s gonna work out, pal.” And I believe this. Of course, I don’t know how it will work out. But I believe it will. And I believe it’s going to happen sooner than you think. When you find your cash, remember that. I had a friend who could find money wherever he went. It was an unusual talent. He could spot quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies in any parking lot, sidewalk or covered garage. I wish I could do that. Believe me, I’ve tried. Once, he found a fifty while walking into a theater. Another time: a hundred-dollar bill in a sewer. Another time: he found a woman’s wallet stuffed with three thousand bucks. He took the wallet to the sheriff's department. After a few days, a woman claimed it. The deputies said the owner was a widow with three kids. To show her thanks, she left a hundred dollars at the police station as a finder’s prize. My friend didn’t want a reward. He used the cash, and a few hundred dollars more, to buy a Pizza Hut gift card. He hand-delivered it. “Why would you do that?” I asked.

“Because I’m a single dad,” he said. “Cooking for kids every single night is purgatory. Every kid likes pizza.” Anyway, maybe you cook every night. And maybe you’re not sure anyone realizes how hard you work. You’ve been running hot for so long, with such little recognition, sometimes you feel like wet toilet paper on a public restroom floor. Feeling invisible can be the same as dying. Or you might feel alone. God forbid. I can’t think of anything worse than loneliness. It sucks the energy out of a man. I wouldn’t wish this feeling on my worst enemy. Perhaps your confidence has dried up. At one time, you felt like you had the world by the steering wheel. Now you feel about as special as a bowlful of Shredded Wheat. I’m sorry. God help me, I am. Look, I’m no expert. I can’t give you a lick of advice about life because I’m nothing. I’m Joe Six-Pack who’s writing because he can’t sleep right now. I’m not qualified to train a skunk to stink. But if you’re reading this, I’m talking to you. I’m pulling for you. I’m hoping you get your miracle. I’m hoping you feel loved. But above all. I hope you find some money. ■

Columnist and novelist Sean Dietrich shares tales of common people, the human spirit, traditional regional music and life in the American South through his podcast series at SeanDietrich.com. 18

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September/Fall 2019

Mobile County. “Talking to her on the phone about the different insurance plans, what they cost and what they cover, I always felt like she had my best interests at heart — like she was an advocate for me to get the coverage I needed. She’ll definitely be missed.” Bradford has made her share of fans in the Federation home office, too. Executive Director Paul Pinyan said he can’t name anyone who knows more about health insurance. “For almost 40 years, Janet has been the voice of Alfa Health,” Pinyan said. “She has helped countless Federation members navigate the confusing and sometimes intimidating waters of health insurance. Her knowledge of changing insurance regulations and genuine compassion for our members provided cost savings and peace of mind to thousands of people. “Janet has served as a counselor, trainer, financial manager and supervisor,” Pinyan added. “She leads by example — working weekends and nights during open enrollment to make sure every member is served. We appreciate Janet’s tireless dedication to Alfa Health and the members it serves. She will be missed, but we wish her and Billy all the best in retirement.” Bradford said while she’ll miss her Alfa family, she’s looking forward to spending more time with her own family and enjoying their new home in Seagrove, Florida. She and husband Billy, a retired Alfa Insurance agent, enjoy cycling, walks on the beach and exercise. The Bradfords have two sons. “I have worked with some great people over the years,” Bradford said. “ I appreciate Linda Finney, who gave me an opportunity to come to work for such a good company. I especially appreciate (Alfa Health employees) Sandy Smith and Martha Rich, who have worked alongside me for years, as well as Leslie Cox, who has helped us each year during open enrollment. “I’m going to stay active and enjoy the beach,” she said of her retirement plans. “Everyone knows I’m an animal lover, so I plan to do some volunteer work with an animal rescue group. We’re looking forward to having family and friends at the beach. Mostly, I’m looking forward to the freedom retirement will allow me.” alfafarmers.org

Cotton Leafroll Dwarf Virus Present in Alabama Cotton, Scouting Essential By Katie Nichols

Contact Conner for sample collection instructions at (334) 844-5502.

causal agent of cotton blue disease — on multiple research substations across Alabama. The aphid-transmitted disease has been monitored closely since appearing in cotton fields during the fall of 2017. Kassie Conner, an Alabama Extension plant pathologist, said the virus was confirmed in samples taken since July 1. The first diagnostic test wasn’t available for the virus until October 2018, which made it difficult to identify plants with symptoms in the 2018 growing season. “This does not mean the virus was not present earlier; it only means we did not have the capability to test for the virus until then,” Conner said. “Last summer, symptomatic plants were found at substations as early as mid-September, with the worst damage recorded in June-planted cotton in fields in Baldwin County.” Conner, who also is director of the Auburn University plant diagnostic lab, said specialists also have identified several weed species that are alternate hosts for CLRDV. The most alarming hosts are white clover and henbit — common weeds found throughout Alabama. This confirms a heavy virus presence in the environment. Symptoms from early season infections include: • stunting/dwarfing • compacted terminal growth • upward-cupped leaves • red discoloration of petioles and stems • distorted growth with yellowing around leaf edges • crinkled leaves

Jenny Koebernick, the Auburn University cotton breeder, is currently screening nearly 1,500 cotton varieties in Tallassee and Fairhope looking for resistance to the virus. “At this time there is not a variety or cultivar identified with resistance to the strain of CLRDV that we have in Alabama, but this is because nothing has ever been tested,” Koebernick said. “This is one of the reasons that plant samples are so important to our research.” Alana Jacobson, an Auburn University research entomologist, said there is limited information about factors surrounding disease development and spread. “Every tissue sample submission will help us collect information about the virus,” Jacobson said. “There will be many factors that influence

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Conner and other Extension and university researchers are requesting sample submissions. A submission form with sampling directions should accompany each submission. She said the data will help researchers better understand the development and distribution of the disease.

disease onset and spread. Variety and environmental conditions will play a role in disease severity.” The collection and analysis of samples to determine varietal sensitivity and susceptibility are essential to targeted research. “Even management practices will be valuable pieces of the puzzle as they work to set research goals and priorities,” Koebernick said. “Our main goal is to learn everything we can about the disease in order to help farmers minimize risks.” Find more information about CLRDV in Alabama visit ACES.edu.

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Lights. Camera. Her. Farm National TV Show Features Alabama Farmers By Marlee Moore hree Alabama farmers were ready for T their close-up as RFD-TV’s “FarmHer” film crew turned fields into primetime TV scenery. Episodes will feature Pickens County row crop farmer Annie Dee of Dee River Ranch, along with sisters Cassie Corcoran Young and Allie Corcoran of Backyard Orchards in Barbour County. The segments will air on RFD-TV this fall. “I told Marji it was my highest honor to date to have her on the farm,” said Dee, whose family’s 10,000-acre farm includes row crops and livestock. Marji Guyler-Alaniz is founder of FarmHer, a business that highlights women in agriculture. She also hosts the TV program “FarmHer,” which focuses on female farmers coast to coast. Guyler-Alaniz’s scorching May visit was the show’s first in Alabama. The Corcoran sisters’ horticulture operation and Dee’s farm will shine a spotlight on the state’s diversity in “FarmHer” season four. “At Annie’s farm, the scale and such a strong focus on sustainability was alfafarmers.org

impressive,” said Iowa native GuylerAlaniz. “From being an early adopter of cover crops to their water conservation and no-till efforts, it was neat to see how much everyone at Dee River Ranch cares about the land.” The four-man TV crew — two cameramen, a producer and GuylerAlaniz — spent a day near Aliceville shooting row crops, visiting a reservoir and interviewing Dee and her family. Dee, who serves on the United Soybean Board, said her goal was to highlight the importance of soil health. Dee River Ranch is also home to state-of-the-art technology that shoots for maximum efficiency, like a programmable irrigation system and 80-foot-tall Wi-Fi tower. After shooting in Pickens County, the RFD-TV team headed southeast to the outskirts of Eufaula. By 10 a.m. the next day, stage lighting filled the Backyard Orchards farm store, the Corcoran sisters were mic’d up, and Guyler-Alaniz was in interview mode. Questions ranged from learning the sisters’ farming background (they grew up on a row crop farm) to how they

Pickens County’s Annie Dee was interviewed by “FarmHer” host Marji Guyler-Alaniz in May. Dee’s episode concentrates on soil health and sustainability and will air this fall on RFD-TV. “FarmHer,” which features female farmers from across the U.S., is in its fourth season.

manage responsibilities (Cassie works full time on the farm while Allie is an Alabama Extension agent). “In my mind, I downplayed the visit a lot, but once Marji and the crew got here, I realized how big of a deal it is,” Cassie said. “I hope people realize what all goes into farming — what it takes to make a place like this run and how our work is different from row crop production.” The sisters led Guyler-Alaniz through their U-pick and fruit and vegetable fields, stopping to sample the fruits of their labor — like blueberries, strawberries and peaches — along the way. “At the Corcorans’, I was impressed at how they pulled together to build up their dream,” Guyler-Alaniz said. “My favorite thing about ‘FarmHer’ is getting to meet and hear the stories of September/Fall 2019

NEIGHBORS

Backyard Orchards of Barbour County, owned by sisters Cassie Young and Allie Corcoran, will be featured in an episode of “FarmHer,” an RFD-TV-produced show highlighting women in agriculture. FarmHer founder and host Marji Guyler-Alaniz, second from left, visited the Barbour County orchard earlier this year.

absolutely amazing women all around the country.” For Allie, seeing the crew set up shop on the farm was enlightening. “It was interesting to see how everything happens, from the interview questions to how long it takes to get the lighting right,” she said.

NEIGHBORS

September/Fall 2019

The Corcorans said “FarmHer” wasn’t the first TV show crew they’d welcomed to the farm, though its national audience outnumbers viewers of local features about weather and growing seasons. Allie said the process made her grateful for leadership training with the Alabama Farmers Federation, which

prepared her for large-scale interviews. “If I hadn’t done that scale of public speaking before, I would have been dumbfounded,” she said. Over three years, “FarmHer” has visited 121 farmers in 23 states. Choosing which farms to visit isn’t easy, Guyler-Alaniz said, thanks in part to a large number of nominations through the website Suggest.FarmHer.com. “The person who submitted the Corcorans really gave us a great amount of information. Those detailed forms jump out when we decide which states to visit,” she said. “I’d met Annie in the past. When the opportunity to visit Alabama came up, we just knew Annie was one of the farmers we needed to highlight.” Dee said she enjoyed sharing her story with the engaging, down-to-earth Guyler-Alaniz — and a national audience. “It’s a great honor to be respected in my field,” Dee said. “That I’m a woman is just a side bar.” Watch “FarmHer” on RFD-TV Fridays and Sundays at 8:30 p.m. or by visiting farmher.com.

alfafarmers.org

For The Love Of

Keller Combs Hobby Into Career By Debra Davis

ince childhood, Mike Keller has loved honey. A chance encounter S with a beehive sparked an interest that’s

Montgomery County beekeeper Mike Keller became mystified by bees at a young age. His passion grew over the years and eventually became his full-time career. He has nearly 400 hives and bottles about 2,800 gallons of honey annually.

NEIGHBORS

September/Fall 2019

lasted a lifetime and steered him toward a new career. “I was about 7 years old when I found a beehive in a huge oak tree at our church,” said Keller, 52, a Montgomery County native. “The tree had a large opening at the bottom that allowed me to see combs hanging down covered with honeybees.” Keller said he and several children watched as a man in a homemade beekeeper’s suit smoked the hives to calm the bees and gently removed the combs. “He gave us each a piece of honeycomb, which was absolutely

delicious,” Keller said. “It was especially good to me since my favorite hard candy had a liquid honey center. That was the initial spark in me that later became Southern Sweet Bee.” Keller said after the encounter, he read every book he could find on bees starting from the time he was in elementary school. At 13, he built his first beehive in an industrial arts class in junior high school. A few months later, he joined the Alabama Beekeepers Association. Before long, he had his first job with M.C. Berry & Sons, a commercial honeybee company in Montgomery. By the time he was 18, Keller had 75 hives. He formed Southern Sweet Bee LLC in 2012 and now has nearly 400 hives. A few career stops included a stint in the U.S. Army, 15 years at Rheem Water Heater Manufacturing in Montgomery and over 14 years at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing in Montgomery. Eventually, he landed his full-time career at Southern Sweet Bee. “Until I left Hyundai in March 2018, I was a fair size hobby beekeeper,” Keller said. “Growing my honey business was my retirement plan, but that plan sort of sped up, and I jumped into it full time last year.” alfafarmers.org

Mike Keller’s entire family pitches in to help harvest honey the week of the Fourth of July. Above: From left are Michael, Savannah, Adrienne and Kinsley Stone; Keller and wife Samantha; and Keller’s mother, Carolyn Keller. Top right: Samantha Keller places a frame in the honey extractor. Right: Kodi Dennis bottles warm, fresh honey in pint jars. Below right: Keller and grandson Oliver Woods examine a jar of honey. Southern Sweet Bee Honey and candles are sold at specialty shops across Alabama and online at SouthernSweetBee.com.

Keller, who is helped by wife Samantha, collects colonies from 18 different locations, but most of the hives are near his home and shop in Hope Hull. Neighbors and nearby landowners often request his hives, seeking more pollination for vegetable crop flowers and pastures. “They recognize the importance of pollination and the increased production it brings,” he said. “But I’m careful where I put my hives. Bees travel as much as 2 miles from the hive to feed, so you can’t really judge how much food the bees will have just by looking where the hive is. I usually test an area to see how the bees do before moving in several hives.” September is National Honey Month, which follows the busiest season for Keller, who harvests honey in July. He said he always leaves enough in the hives for the bees to feed on through the winter, helping safeguard their survival. “Most of my family takes off work the entire week of the Fourth of July to help me harvest honey,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without them.” It’s a hot, sticky job with sweet rewards. The processing room is a toasty alfafarmers.org

95-100 degrees — perfect to keep honey flowing freely while it’s being extracted, strained and bottled. Family members are paid with honey. But there’s still plenty to sell since Keller harvests about 2,800 gallons of honey a year, which is sold in 12- and 24-ounce jars. Southern Sweet Bee honey is sold at specialty shops and grocery stores across the state. It’s also sold on Amazon, Google Shopping and SouthernSweetBee.com. The company also sells 16-ounce candles in 13 natural scents, and Keller sells queens and starter hives to new beekeepers. Look for Southern Sweet Bee LLC on Facebook for photos and videos of Keller’s operation. Recently, he has been working with local 4-H clubs to introduce a new generation to beekeeping. “Being able to understand how young I was when I got interested in honeybees inspires me to help young people learn about bees,” Keller said. “You never know when it might light a spark in one of them that lasts a lifetime.” For honey facts, visit Honey.com. September/Fall 2019

NEIGHBORS

How did you get into farming? My parents were big into both the equine and bovine industries. I’ve been farming about 20 years.

Chase Chapman Chase Chapman is a big fan of farm life — but he also enjoys working off-farm as a State Trooper. Chapman, 35, graduated from Troy University in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice. The newly elected State Equine Committee member and wife Sara raise horses and Brangus cattle on 200 acres in Eclectic in Elmore County. The Chapmans have been married eight years.

Why are you involved in Agriculture? It gives you a sense of accomplishment because you can see how your hard work is progressing and paying off.

What are your hobbies? Team roping, hunting, ﬁshing and playing golf.

What’s something few know about you? I won a truck and trailer through team roping.

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September/Fall 2019

alfafarmers.org

Children’s Bee Book Brings Prominence To Pollinators By Debra Davis

fondness for bees and delightful childhood memories manifested A an idea for a children’s book by Laura

Dowdey Unger, an Alabama Farmers Federation graphic artist. Unger, who began her career at the Federation in April 2018, is a native of Boldo in rural Walker County where she spent time as a child on her grandparents’ farm. She said the idea for the book “Bonnie Bee, One Honey Of A Story” began with a request from Federation Communications Department Director Jeff Helms who asked her to develop an agricultural brochure. “I suggested we make the brochure about bees; then the idea morphed into a children’s book about bees,” Unger said. “The book also contains facts about bees and the positive, important role they play in agriculture.” The book’s star, Bonnie Bee, lived

in the city but felt she wasn’t doing everything she was supposed to, Unger said. After moving to the farm, Bonnie found happiness in her work as a prime pollinator. The book shares facts about bees, including information about pollination, which is necessary for many crops, flowers and trees. Unger, 51, said her admiration for bees began back on her grandfather’s farm, but emphasized she’s not a bee expert. However, she still loves the sweet taste of honey, using it in her morning coffee each day. “My paw-paw, Woodrow Dowdey, raised cattle and kept bees on his small farm,” said Unger, who lives in Wetumpka with husband Dennis and their three children. “As a child, I helped him when he was harvesting honey, but he wouldn’t let me get too close to the hives. My grandparents would put up quart jars of honey every summer and usually had enough left to sell. For me, bees are a living connection to my grandparents and the love we shared as family.”

Unger, who received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Auburn University, is a 28-year veteran graphic designer. She illustrated the four-color, paperback book after consulting with writers and bee and honey professionals. Helms praised Unger’s creativity and eagerness to take on the project. “Laura’s artistic talent and appreciation for farmers shine through in this book,” Helms said. “Since joining the Federation, she’s embraced opportunities to redesign our publications, create new logos and develop engaging graphics for print and digital communications. We are blessed to have her on our team and know readers will love her whimsical, yet educational, tale of Bonnie Bee.” “Bonnie Bee, One Honey Of A Story” will be distributed to county Federations upon request and will be part of Farm-City and Alabama Agriculture In The Classroom promotional materials. Books are $5 each, including shipping. To order, contact Paula Culver at PCulver@AlfaFarmers. org or (334) 613-4410.

Laura Unger, author and illustrator of the book, “Bonnie Bee, One Honey Of A Story,” reads with her young friend Caleb Coalson, age 9.

alfafarmers.org

September/Fall 2019

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School TREASURE Forest Grows Good Stewards

d stewards at McDavid-Jones Educator Joy Herring is growing goo school has a 10-acre TREASURE Elementary School in Citronelle. The trees, wildlife and the Forest, where students learn about resources. ral natu ’s importance of Alabama

By Marlee Moore squeals and questions Ltreesaughter, echo through 10 acres of hardwood and winding nature trails as kids

explore the grounds at McDavid-Jones Elementary School (MJES) in Citronelle. The property, a certified TREASURE Forest, is a hotbed of learning for Mobile County pre-K through fifth-grade students, said teacher Joy Herring. “I love seeing kids out in nature. More importantly, they love it,” said Herring, the science lab coordinator at MJES. Over 20 years, Herring and scores of parent and community volunteers alfafarmers.org

turned a former gully bordering school property into a TREASURE Forest with 11 learning stations, an amphitheater, arboretum, pavilion, walking trail, raised garden beds and wildflower field. MJES is one of two Alabama schools to earn a stamp of approval from the program, which stands for Timber, Recreation, Environment, Aesthetics, Sustainable, Usable, REsources. “Even though these kids live in a rural area, they don’t know much about the outdoors,” Herring said. “We do anything that will get them learning outside.” Herring’s hard work supplementing in-class lessons with TREASURE Forest

training is paying off for the 1,000 students at MJES. Walking through the halls of MJES, one teacher thanked Herring for providing dirt for her classroom terrarium — a point one student quickly corrected. “It’s not dirt; it’s soil!” he said. An animal print identification course zeroes in on the differences in native wildlife. Students learn to identify trees, too, observing hickory, loblolly, longleaf, Southern magnolia, laurel oak, yaupon holly and more. The TREASURE Forest, also an Alabama Outdoor Classroom, is mostly hardwoods, with just an acre of longleaf September/Fall 2019

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SAVE the date Alabama Farmers Federation

98 Annual

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Dec. 8-9

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September/Fall 2019

Eleven outdoor learning stations within the McDavid-Jones Elementary School TREASURE Forest teach pre-K through fifth-grade students about Alabama’s natural resources.

pine, the Alabama state tree. Retired MJES educator Mandy Meeks led the charge to establish the longleaf plantation in the early ‘90s, a task Herring was glad to pick up when she joined the staff in 1999. “When you retire from a school, not everyone you leave behind has the same passion,” Meeks said. “But Joy had that passion, and the school leadership supports her.” Herring’s zeal for TREASURE Forest started on her family land just across the Mississippi line. “One of the reasons Robert (her husband) and I decided to certify our TREASURE Forest and hold Classroom in the Forest was so our kids could come to our homeplace, bring their friends and be proud of it,” Herring said. “When I found out McDavid-Jones had 10 acres (the required minimum acreage) at the school, I said, ‘Oh yes, we have to do it.’” MJES was recertified as a TREASURE Forest this year, concentrating on enhancing wildlife habitat and educating future stewards of the land. In addition to exploring the MJES TREASURE Forest, pre-K through fifth-grade students annually attend Classroom in the Forest at Pratt Turner

Conservation Center. They discover wildlife and forestry facts and learn the importance of private landownership. Alabama TREASURE Forest Association (ATFA) Executive Director William Green applauded Herring for her work improving students’ knowledge of the outdoors. The ATFA is an affiliate of the Alabama Farmers Federation. “Alabama is blessed with bountiful natural resources like those on display at McDavid-Jones Elementary School,” Green said. “From the walking trail to the pine plantation, students have ample opportunities to learn about their surroundings. We’re grateful for landowners like Mrs. Joy who see the value in natural resource education.” Herring said her goals for the TREASURE Forest are simple — eradicate cogongrass in the wildflower field, extend the nature trail through the longleaf pine plantation, erect owl boxes and complete a controlled burn using Alabama Forestry Commission resources. “At the end of the day, our goal is to grow good stewards,” she said. “They’re the future of the world.” Visit TREASUREForest.org to learn more. alfafarmers.org

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September/Fall 2019

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Champions For Health By Maggie Lawrence

ver 60,000 third graders and their O parents who graduated from the Body Quest program in the past 10

years know this — 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon. Now, when they look at the Nutrition Facts label on a soda can and see it contains 40 grams of sugar, the math is simple. It holds 10 teaspoons of sugar. Body Quest is the flagship, schoolbased obesity prevention initiative of the Alabama Cooperative Extension

activity education to youth and adults. For example, Body Quest empowers 6,000 third graders each year to make healthier choices. Students learn through educator-led instruction and self-directed iPad app gaming. Annual evaluations consistently find that participants eat significantly more fruits and vegetables, drink considerably fewer sugary beverages and are notably more physically active compared to before Body Quest and compared to students outside the program.

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System at Auburn University and is funded annually by a federal grant. The initiative’s goal is to increase the likelihood that people, especially those with limited resources, will make healthy choices, ultimately preventing obesity. “SNAP-Ed is a longstanding grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service,” said Dr. Barb Struempler, program leader for Extension nutrition programs. “SNAP-Ed is a win-win for all Alabama citizens. It is especially impactful for those with limited resources. The statewide infrastructure of Alabama Extension allows SNAP-Ed to deliver multi-level obesity prevention initiatives in all of Alabama’s 67 counties.”

Research-Based Education

SNAP-Ed county educators provide research-based nutrition and physical

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director. “This network of educators is committed to improving communities for Alabamians, focusing on those hardest to reach.”

Extension Goals Through Live Well Alabama

R Improve healthy eating and physical activity R Build partnerships to improve health of communities R Prevent obesity R Make it easier for Alabamians to live well

Live Well Alabama is SNAP-Ed’s social marketing campaign that reaches beyond schools. Billboards are a key element of this social marketing effort. Billboard messages made more than 125 million impressions in 2018. In a survey, people who saw the billboards reported significantly higher intakes of fruits and vegetables and water compared to those not exposed. Live Well Alabama efforts also provide health messages to Alabamians through social media, web-based educational content and text messaging.

Policy, Systems And Environmental Changes

SNAP-Ed nudges Alabamians to make healthier choices through community changes to increase access and appeal for healthy food and physical activity. Last year, SNAP-Ed educators guided 250 improvements in 40 counties reaching 120,000 residents in local parks and trails, grocery and convenience stores, farmers markets, gardens, food banks and pantries, faith communities, and schools. “Alabama Extension SNAP-Ed is uniquely positioned to advance the quality of life in Alabama,” said Dr. Paul Brown, Alabama Extension associate

Families receive low-cost, easy-to-prepare recipes to improve nutrition in the home, which is an important part of the Body Quest program.

September/Fall 2019

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Chinese abelia

inkberry

By Lois Chaplin ost folks prefer a pretty landscape that doesn’t require a lot of M maintenance. Accordingly, many

landscapes are filled with tidy evergreen plants which make the yard relatively easy to trim, mow and blow. Evergreens are nice, but an all-evergreen landscape is in danger of always looking the same, no matter the season. Instead, purposefully adding evergreens with flowers and berries can add variety for all seasons. Evergreens that flower include popular plants. Think azalea, camellia and magnolia. But the palette of flowering evergreens includes good options beyond our three Southern staples, offering seasonal surprises in summer, fall or winter. Their flowers provide pollen (protein) or nectar (sugar) for native bees and other pollinators. Some have fall and winter berries which provide forage for birds. It’s easy to use these plants and sustain local bird and insect populations. So which evergreens should you use? Abelias are some of my favorites because they come in multiple sizes and leaf colors — and they offer lightly fragrant blooms much loved by

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bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The group includes Chinese abelia (Abelia chinenensis), glossy abelia (A. x grandiflora) and many hybrids. The largest form arching shrubs 8-10 feet tall and equally wide, while compact selections grow only 3-4 feet tall and wide. Plants are hardy, durable and live long with few pest problems, including deer. The tall arching forms of abelia make a nice screen. Lower ones work well in foundation plantings. In north Alabama, abelia is semi-evergreen because it may drop some leaves in winter but isn’t thin for long. Other evergreens with pizazz include inkberry (Ilex glabra), a native holly that makes a good substitute for boxwood because it grows in a boxwood-like shape. In spring, its tiny white blossoms aren’t showy but are easily found by bees and butterflies. The leaves are food for caterpillars of Henry’s Elfin butterfly. Also known as gallberry, it’s a favorite among beekeepers for gallberry honey. In winter, inkberry bears black berries which birds appreciate. Inkberry prefers moist to wet soil in full sun, making it a good choice for low spots. Plants are dioecious (male or female), so the

challenge is getting a male pollinator plant, along with females, in order to produce flowers and berries. Most named selections are female plants (Shamrock, Strongbox, Gembox). However, Nordic is a male. Check with your nursery to ensure you get a pollinator. Inkberry is only one of many hollies, including dozens of selections ranging from tree size to small shrubs. They include American hollies (trees), yaupon (trees and shrubs), lusterleaf (shrubs) and countless hybrids such as Mary Nell, Nellie Stevens and Emily Bruner. Many hollies provide dense cover for birds to nest or shelter in bad weather. A few more evergreens to consider include Florida anise, pyracantha, Indian hawthorn, gardenia, mountain laurel, osmanthus, winter honeysuckle (a semi-evergreen) and Japanese pittosporum (ideal for south Alabama). No matter which you choose, always refer to the tag for plant size. Space plants accordingly and in a location suitable for their full height. When properly spaced, 1-to-3-gallon plants may seem awkwardly far apart at first, but it’s easier to live with this discomfort a year or two than create a maintenance hassle for later down the road. Branch out this fall, and enjoy the berries, flowers and fragrances that new evergreens can bring to your garden. Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

Fall Savings Just Around The Corner E ALAFARM.COM 34

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September/Fall 2019

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September/Fall 2019

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Turnip Green Dip Prep Time 25 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Servings 6 to 8

Ingredients 6 slices bacon 1/2 large yellow onion, diced 1 (16-ounce) package frozen chopped turnip greens, thawed and drained 1 (15-ounce) jar prepared Alfredo sauce 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, cubed 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

egardless of which team holds your R allegiance, when football season rolls around, we Southerners like to

pull out all the stops when it comes to tailgating. And while your tailgating might happen outside the stadium or in the backyard, great food and drinks are required. I’ve collected a few of my most perfect pigskin provisions to help make your game day a stellar one, no matter who wins! Turnip Green Dip is one of my favorite tailgate recipes because it’s different, delicious and delightfully easy. It’s like spinach dip but with even more amazing flavor. Alfredo sauce makes it super simple to put together and gives the dip a creamy flavor that can’t be beat. I love to serve it with pork skins for a twist, but it also goes great with tortilla chips, veggies, etc. Cheesy Sausage Dip takes a nod from its classic counterpart but adds corn and swaps plain ol’ breakfast 36

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September/Fall 2019

sausage for ground bulk Italian sausage — which really kicks the flavor up a notch or two. You can even use spicy sausage to add a little heat to the mix. Once I started making cheese dip this way, I’ve never gone back. I think you might feel the same way. These Pulled Pork and Collard Green Egg Rolls with Alabama White BBQ Dipping Sauce might take a little more work than the recipes you’re used to getting from me, but they’re 100% worth the extra effort. I give you instructions to make pulled pork in your slow cooker, but you can also stop by your favorite local barbecue spot and grab a few pounds of their unsauced pulled pork to make it even easier. To be honest, Dill Pickle Dip may sound a bit peculiar. But if you’re a fan of pickles and creamy chip dip, you’ll love this one. Since it’s a cinch to put together and I almost always have all the ingredients on hand, it’s perfect

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon, drain on paper towels and crumble. Carefully pour away all but about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease; return pan to the heat and add onions. Cook about 3 minutes. Add turnip greens and cook 8 to 10 minutes. Add Alfredo sauce, cream cheese, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is bubbly. Stir in crumbled bacon. Transfer mixture to the baking dish. Bake 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Turn on the broiler and return the baking dish to the oven for 5 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or fried pork skins. for last-minute tailgates or when folks unexpectedly stop by to catch the game with us. While I won’t tell you who to pull for when it’s game time, I do know you’ll need to have something delicious ready to snack on. And now you’re one step ahead with these delicious recipes. Y’all enjoy! 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. alfafarmers.org

Cheesy Sausage Dip

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Servings 8 to 10

Ingredients 1 (16-ounce) package ground bulk Italian sausage 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese 1 (16-ounce) package processed cheese product (like Velveeta) 1 (15-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes and green chilis, mild or hot (like Ro*Tel), drained 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Pulled Pork and Collard Green Egg Rolls with Alabama White BBQ Dipping Sauce Prep Time 25 min (excluding pulled pork)

Cook Time 15 minutes

Makes 20 egg rolls

Pulled Pork Ingredients 1 (3- to 4-pound) pork shoulder or Boston butt 2 tablespoons barbecue rub 1 cup chicken broth

Stovetop Instructions

Instructions

In a large skillet, brown ground sausage. Drain grease and return meat to pan. Place on medium-low heat. Cut cheese into cubes and add to the pan. Cook until cheese is melted, stirring occasionally. Add corn, tomatoes and chilis, and garlic powder. Cook until heated through. Transfer to a serving dish or a slow cooker set to warm. Serve with corn or tortilla chips.

To make the pulled pork, rub pork shoulder with barbecue rub. I like to use one with a smoke flavor to get a more authentic smoked taste. Place the rubbed shoulder in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Pour chicken broth around the edges, being cautious not to wash the rub off. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or until the meat shreds easily with a fork (the internal temperature will be about 190 F). Remove from the slow cooker. Once itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool enough to handle, use two large forks to shred the meat.

Slow Cooker Instructions In a large skillet, brown ground sausage. Drain grease. Cut cheese into cubes. Add sausage, cheese, corn, tomatoes with chilis, and garlic powder to a slow cooker. Cover and set to low. Cook until the cheese is melted, then set the slow cooker to warm. Serve with corn or tortilla chips.

Alabama White BBQ Dipping Sauce Ingredients 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 teaspoons creole mustard 1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Instructions In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Store sauce in the refrigerator to allow flavors to develop.

Egg Roll Ingredients

Dill Pickle Dip

Prep Time 20 mins

Servings 8

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups finely diced kosher dill pickles 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 to 4 tablespoons pickle juice

Instructions In a medium bowl, combine pickles, cream cheese, garlic powder and salt. Add pickle juice gradually until the mixture is a dipping consistency. You may not need all the juice. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Serve chilled alongside crackers, potato chips or vegetables. alfafarmers.org

1 (1-pound) package refrigerated egg roll wrappers 1 (27-ounce) can seasoned collard greens, very well drained 1 pound pulled pork Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions Place about 2 tablespoons of pulled pork in the center of an egg roll wrapper. Top with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of drained collard greens. Fold the bottom flap of the wrapper over the filling, then fold in the sides. Roll the wrap tightly and secure by brushing the top flap with a little water and sealing it well. Repeat until all ingredients have been used. Allow egg rolls to rest to ensure they are sealed well before frying. To fry the rolls, heat 3 to 4 inches of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or deep, heavy-bottomed skillet. Once the oil reaches 350 F, carefully place 3 to 4 egg rolls into the oil. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally, or until rolls become a deep, golden brown. Work in batches, keeping the cooked rolls in a 250 F oven. Serve warm with the Alabama White BBQ Dipping Sauce. September/Fall 2019

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