Members Reap Rewards Via Scholarship Program

100 College Students Studying In Alabama Receive $1,000 Alfa Foundation Scholarships

One hundred students studying at Alabama technical schools, colleges and universities have earned $1,000 scholarships awarded through the Alfa Foundation Scholarship Program.

“These students represent the future of our state and our nation, and we are proud to invest in their education,” said Alfa Insurance President Jimmy Parnell. “We feel certain we’ll see a great return on this investment, because our scholarship recipients go on to do great things.”

The 2021 crop of scholarship recipients hails from 46 counties, studying at 15 different institutions of higher learning. The program is administered through Scholarship America, which selects recipients, all Alabama Farmers Federation members, based on academics, participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience and future goals. In its eighth year, the program has awarded $750,000 in scholarships, which may be used for tuition, fees, books or supplies. Visit Facebook.com/AlfaInsurance to view the recipients.

The 2021 Alfa Foundation award recipients, listed by county, are:

Baldwin

Benjamin Hoover, freshman, Birmingham-

Southern Erin Meszaros, sophomore, UAB Greer Robinson, senior, Alabama Richard Strum, junior, Alabama Zoe Vicich, senior, Auburn

Barbour

George Hunter Cochran, freshman, Auburn Laura Horne, freshman, Auburn

Blount

Julia Helvin, junior, UNA Mallory Smith, sophomore, Wallace State CC at

Hanceville Corley Williams, freshman, Auburn

Butler

Parker McNaughton, freshman, Alabama

Calhoun

Jacob Lee, junior, Auburn Rio Murray, freshman, Auburn

Cherokee

Hannah Davis, freshman, Auburn

Chilton

Reid Mitchell, freshman, Alabama Lindsey Wood, freshman, Alabama Carlee Wyatt, freshman, Mobile

Choctaw

Marshall Manning, junior, USA Aaron Wilson, junior, USA

Clarke

Quentin Brown, junior, USA

Coffee

Macie Smith, freshman

Conecuh

Avie Etheridge, junior, Troy

Covington

Madeline Pugh, junior, UNA

Crenshaw

Adam Carlisle, sophomore, Auburn Elleigh Layton, freshman, USA

Cullman

Lillimae Allen, junior, Mobile Townley Cornelius, sophomore, Alabama Lexy Gambrill, freshman, Auburn

Dale

Morgan Ferguson, freshman, AUM

Dallas

Elizabeth “Ellie” Adams, junior, Alabama

DeKalb

Alyssa Cook, freshman, Snead State CC Seth Maddox, junior, Auburn Noah Williams, freshman, Samford

Elmore

Jackson Hand, sophomore, Auburn Judson Hardin, sophomore, Auburn Carly Hornsby, freshman, Alabama Abigail Luster, freshman, Auburn

Escambia

Winfred “Wyn” Brittain, freshman, UAB

Etowah

Anna Giles, sophomore, Birmingham-Southern Daniel Rich, freshman, JSU Benjamin Starkey, freshman, UNA

Franklin

Destiny Deaton, junior, UNA

Henry

William Colton Bryant, sophomore, Auburn

Houston

Gillian Bailey, freshman, Troy Grayson Clark Crowley, senior, Auburn Hannah Seales, freshman, Auburn

Jackson

Annabelle Parrish, freshman, Auburn Megan Woodall, junior, Auburn

Jefferson

Jackson Harris, freshman, Auburn Anna Johnston, junior, Samford Hannah Lloyd, freshman, Samford William McGinnis, sophomore, Auburn Alex McKinstry, freshman, Auburn Maleah Walker, senior, Samford

Lamar

Annalisa Robertson, sophomore, Samford Icie Wriley, junior, Alabama

Lauderdale

Bethany Belue, junior, UNA Jenna Mosley, freshman, UNA Caroline Parker, senior, Auburn

Lawrence

Jordan Jett, senior, UNA LeAnne Pace, freshman, Auburn Patti Anne Smith, freshman, Alabama

Lee

Peyton Armstrong, freshman, Auburn Hayden Burch, senior, Auburn Julia Bush, sophomore, Auburn Claragrace Jensen, senior, Auburn Kaycie Mashburn, junior, Troy Seth Walker, freshman, Auburn

Macon

Rachel Sargent, sophomore, Auburn

Madison

Julianna Blewett, freshman, Auburn Natalia Castillo Casados, junior, UAH Elizabeth Claire Congo, freshman, Auburn Jack Dennis, freshman, Auburn Ellie Hundley, freshman, Auburn Ashton Towry, freshman, Auburn

Marengo

William Yates, sophomore, Auburn

Marion

Kati Frederick, freshman, Alabama Emma Smith, junior, UAB

Marshall

Camden Schwieterman, sophomore, Auburn

Mobile

Sarah Campitelli, freshman, Auburn Ryan Waite, freshman, UAH

Monroe

Madeline Hobbs, sophomore, Troy

Montgomery

Amiracus Brown, freshman, Alabama Mary Elizabeth Hill, freshman, Auburn Nathan Pohlman, senior, Auburn

Morgan

Julya McMinemon, freshman, Alabama

Pickens

Jacob “Wells” Perrigin, freshman, Auburn

Russell

Georgia-Lee Smith, sophomore, Auburn

Shelby

Collin Dorrill, junior, Auburn Julianne Knight, sophomore, Alabama Brooks Tolbert, junior, UAH Ross Tolbert, freshman, Auburn

St. Clair

Harper Bell, freshman, UAB

Talladega

Isabella Nelson, freshman, Auburn Sarah Sherbert, sophomore, Alabama

Tallapoosa

Peyton Carr, freshman, Auburn

Tuscaloosa

Madelyn Clary, freshman, Shelton State CC Callie Corley, junior, Alabama Joshua Wiggins, junior, Alabama

Walker

Garrett Lomoro, freshman, Auburn

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From Benton To Auburn: The Story Of Mike Phillips

By Justin Miller

Five hundred and eleven miles. That’s the distance from Benton, Arkansas, to Auburn, Alabama.

While the drive is only nine hours on a map, it took Mike Phillips four decades and several stops along the way to complete his journey from central Arkansas to The Loveliest Village on the Plains.

Now serving as director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Phillips’ journey has come full circle. The farm boy from Benton is leading Alabama’s premier outreach and educational organization.

Humble Beginnings

Hard work is nothing new to Phillips. Being raised on a beef cattle and soybean farm taught him hard work and dedication.

“My parents were not formally educated, and each of them worked two jobs,” Phillips said. “From a young age, they taught me that if I wanted something, I had to work for it.”

From working at a meat-processing facility in high school to working for the U.S. Forest Service in college and all the jobs in between, Phillips put himself through college. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1980. He went on to receive a master’s degree and doctorate in agronomy from the University of Arkansas.

His Career

Phillips spent 22 years working at the University of Arkansas Southwest Research and Extension Center. Twelve years were spent as director.

“While serving as director, I learned the value of how to properly manage a diverse group and how to serve them all equally,” Phillips said. “Because Alabama Extension provides information that everyone can use, it makes my job that much more important to see that all of our subject areas are successfully reaching their audiences.”

Before making his way to Auburn, Phillips’ career included stops at Morehead State and Mississippi State universities. Before being named director in March of this year, Phillips served Alabama Extension as assistant director for agriculture, forestry and natural resource programs. He concurrently served as an associate dean in the Auburn University College of Agriculture.

Mike Phillips is serving as the 12th director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. He was previously assistant director for agriculture, forestry and natural resource programs.

Vision For The Future

Now going into the seventh month of his directorship, Phillips sees a clear path for Alabama Extension: find ways to better serve Alabama residents.

“I ask myself all the time — are we reaching the people we need to be reaching and to the level that we need to reach them?” he said.

For Phillips, the way forward includes building better or new relationships with organizational and individual stakeholders. He wants Extension to serve as a resource to help Alabamians improve their quality of life.

Achievements and accolades along the way haven’t changed Phillips’ desire to work hard and improve the world around him.

When asked how he wants to be remembered, Phillips’ reply is simple.

“I would like to be known as a person who made a difference.”

Alabama Farmers Experiencing Record Rainfall

By Lakin Whatley

For farmers, rain is usually a good thing. But farmers like George Jeffcoat and Johnny Lee said large amounts of rain this summer are negatively impacting their hay and cotton crops.

Jeffcoat, who is a Houston County row crop farmer and Alabama Farmers Federation’s Southeast Area vice president, said this summer brought the most consistent rainfall he has seen in over 50 years of farming.

He said his peanuts are doing OK, but the cotton crop will suffer.

“The roots on the cotton plants are shallow because they don’t have to grow deep to find water,” said Jeffcoat who has 2,500 acres of peanuts and cotton. “I am expecting dryer weather eventually, and these plants will not be equipped to survive.”

Peanuts are faring better than cotton, according to many farmers, but with heavy rain, the ground becomes too wet for tractors and other machinery to enter the fields. Wet weather and reduced crop work increases pressure from insects and weeds, ultimately reducing yield quantity and quality.

In late July, Headland hay farmer Johnny Lee said he was at least one cutting behind in his Henry County fields.

“I missed the first cutting due to low temperatures earlier in the season, and precipitation has severely reduced the chance of a second cutting,” Lee said. “I expect hay production in this area to be down at least a third.”

The coastal Bermudagrass Lee grows is packed full of nutrients and sold to local farmers. He expects nutrition levels to be below average this harvest, another casualty of excessive rain.

Jeffcoat and Lee both track rainfall by using a standard rain gauge or weather apps.

“With an app, I can see which field had the smallest amount of rain and decide if we may get to work in it that day,” Jeffcoat said. “This helps when your crops are spread out over many miles.”

Rainfall calculations for June and July exceeded normal for much of Alabama. Some areas more than doubled their average total.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing the impacts of too much rain this year, said the Federation’s Brian Hardin. “It has been a reminder that excessive rain — like drought — brings unique challenges for farmers. Alabama farmers are resilient and will adapt.”

However, farmers face a long list of challenges, said Hardin, who is the Federation’s Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department director. Those tasks include applying fertilizer and crop protection products, the quality and development of crops, and delayed hay harvesting, he said.

Houston County farmer George Jeffcoat said the summer rainfall is the most he’s seen in his 50 years of farming.

Wet Weather Woes

Source: National Weather Service. Rainfall measured in inches.

City Anniston Normal Rainfall June 2021 Rainfall June Rainfall Record 4.37 *10.55 9.28 in 2003

Birmingham Montgomery Tuscaloosa 4.78 4.08 4.67

8.46 9.09 *16.32 12.09 in 1900 15.59 in 1982 12.42 in 2007

Mobile Dothan Huntsville Muscle Shoals 6.55 6.15 4.06 5.05 14.22 5.08 5.73 7.13 26.67 in 1900 not provided 14.99 in 1989 13.43 in 1989

Johnny Lee of Henry County said this year’s hay crop has suffered significantly from too much rain.

Iam looking for peanut butter in my kitchen. But I can’t fi nd it. I can never fi nd things in my own house because I am married.

Just when I fi gure out where the silverware is located, or the peanut butter, or the master bathroom, my wife changes everything around.

She off ers no explanation other than, “I moved it above the dishrags.”

If I knew where the dishrag drawer was located, it would be smooth sailing. But I have not been able to fi nd our dishrag drawer since the '90s.

So I keep opening cupboards until I end up staring into a cabinet fi lled with vitamins and an Oster six-speed hand mixer. Then, I forget what I was looking for and end up watching “The Young and the Restless.”

I forget things because we men have short attention spans. I can be talking about one thing, then (bam!), “Did you know a squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing?”

This attention-defi cit problem is annoying to women. But it’s just part of being a man.

This is why a man can wander into his own kitchen, open his OWN refrigerator, stare at 14 kinds of mustard, including the moldy Grey Poupon nobody has thrown away since his cousin’s wedding reception last summer, and without the slightest irony, ask, “Do we have any mustard?”

At my in-law’s house, it was salad dressing. My father-in-law would accumulate salad dressing like nobody’s business.

He would take three steps into a Piggly Wiggly, pause, scratch his head, and say, “What am I doing here?"

When we would arrive home, he would have a sack fi lled with important household items such as popsicles, a wooden paddle with a rubber ball, a straw hat, a licorice whip, a Danielle Steel novel and salad dressing.

And his wife would shout, “What’s this? I sent you to renew our car tags!”

That’s a guy for you.

Some women criticize their husbands for being so lax, but that’s not fair. You don’t hear men complaining about quirks common to many wives.

Don’t get me started on how a woman will take a comfortable bed and cover it with “throw pillows.” These are not to be used by civilians.

It’s the same way with the decorative napkins we got as a wedding gift. I am not allowed to use them.

Once, we were eating chili, and I reached for my napkin. My wife shouted, “NO! WHAT’RE YOU, CRAZY? DON’T USE THAT!”

“What am I supposed to use?”

“Get a rag from the dishrag drawer.”

If you are a male, lost in his own kitchen, and you have no idea where the peanut butter is, don’t worry. Squirrels are tree-dwelling mammals who are double-jointed.

Hey. What am I doing in the grocery store? ■

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.

It’s time to reserve strawberry plugs for October delivery!

• 50 plugs per tray • Plugs have an intact root ball • Plugs establish quickly Best of all Plant plugs in October and harvest sweet strawberries in the Spring!

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The first taste of a garden-ripe strawberry may be all it takes to say, “I’m planting this!” Strawberries don’t ripen after picking, so only those that ripen on the plant achieve their full potential: flavor that reaches your nose. That taste summons the garden tools. It’s time to think about next year’s crop. Strawberries can be planted in the spring, but fall planting provides a head start so plants grow better the first year. Plants are available now, in local garden centers or via mail-order.

Growing strawberries at home is more informal than growing them in annual rows such as at a U-pick. At home, it’s more practical to treat them as the perennials they are, letting the plants fill in like a ground cover (called a matted row) and thinning the planting each year. If one can keep the matted rows fresh and weeded, the plants usually last three to five years. That cuts down on work and expense.

Good drainage and eight hours of full sun daily are key to growing strawberries. In heavy clay soils, a raised bed filled with good soil can provide drainage plants need. Containers work well, too, but harvests are measured by the handful, not basketful. Containers also offer a practical option to test varieties.

Of many varieties available, just a few are suited to Alabama’s climate. Earliglow, Cardinal, Chandler and Camerosa are popular “June-bearers,” a misnomer in Alabama because they start bearing in April and end about June. The flowers set during the cool of fall and late winter, so take good care of them after planting.

Prepare the ground by incorporating one part sand (in heavy clay soil) and one part compost or other organic matter by volume. Work in your favorite fertilizer. It can be organic or a chemical fertilizer, such as 10-10-10. If using manure, be sure it is fully composted. According to Doug Chapman, Alabama’s regional Extension agent for commercial horticulture in the Tennessee Valley, commercial growers who raise strawberries as annuals in rows start fertilizing in February or March and continue every week the plants are blooming. Home gardeners don’t have to be so precise, but strawberries are heavy feeders and will need some fertilizer during production. About 1/3 pound of 20-20-20 fertilizer dissolved in water is the liquid feed equivalent of what commercial growers apply.

Strawberry plants available now are rooted in small pots or as plugs; later in the season, they may be bare root. Space the plants at least 12 inches apart in rows at least 24 inches apart. New growth starts from a crown deep at the center of the plant; if covered with soil,

Alabama the plant could rot. The crown should be completely above ground.

Water the plants thoroughly. Mulch the planting with 2 to 3 inches of pine straw or herbicide-free wheat straw. Mulch helps keep down weeds. In North Alabama, this also helps prevent the soil from freezing. Plants can be injured by temperatures below 20 F, or even killed by a long night into the teens, so be prepared to cover the plants with straw mulch or a layer of frost cloth.

The first fall after planting, there is room to plant onions or garlic between the strawberry plants. They won’t need the space between rows until they start sending out pegs, or suckers, in the summer. At the end of the summer, dig up and discard the original plants, but leave the rooted young pegs to renew the planting next year. Mulch bare areas with pine straw, and keep the bed weeded.

For information about pest control and other aspects of growing strawberries, Extension’s Chapman recommends the Southern Small Fruits Consortium at smallfruits.org. For region-specific information, contact a local Extension agent.

By Lois Chaplin

Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

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