Farmers Flock To Annual Farm & Land Expo

Tours, Workshops Energize Alabama Farmers

By Marlee Moore

An all-star slate of speakers, including innovative Alabama farmers, headlined the Farm & Land Expo in Birmingham Aug. 4-7.

The Alabama Farmers Federation’s 50th annual summer conference focused on improving farmers’ bottom lines through an array of workshops, while tours showcased outstanding operations.

The event offered 650-plus attendees fresh perspectives, fellowship and a refreshing respite from daily stressors, said Federation President Jimmy Parnell.

“One hundred and one years ago, this organization was formed to represent our farmers politically in this state,” Parnell said. “It’s humbling that 101 years ago someone thought of something, and we’re still doing it today. These are hard times we’re living through. It means the world to have a strong collection of farmers who can rely on each other and who have faith in our Creator.”

During the Farm & Land Expo welcome dinner, the organization honored two Alabama Extension and Auburn University employees — Dr. Geoff Williams and Dr. Adam Maggard — for work tangibly impacting Alabama farmers and forestland owners. (Read more on pages 8 and 9.)

Afterward, the W.S. Neal FFA String Band entertained the crowd of farmers and industry experts.

Ten buses departed early the next morning for farms and agribusinesses stretching from Mississippi to Georgia. At TTT Ranches in Fayette, four generations of the Trice family spoke about Brangus feed conversion rates, grouping cattle for sales and increasing productivity.

Jimmy Trice highlighted the importance of heritage, too.

“At any different time on our farm, you’ll have four generations on tractors, cutting hay and working cattle,” he said. “We’re a family operation.”

The family message resonated through the Farm & Land Expo, with sessions featuring how farmers are pivoting to remain financially stable for the next generation. Topics included agritourism, ag labor, farm succession plans and carbon markets.

During a farm bill listening session, farmers shared their thoughts on bill provisions with hard-hitting agriculture staffers from Washington, D.C. Discussion ranged from crop insurance to feral swine removal programs to preserving farmland from development.

Another popular session featured partner-leaders who fielded questions from farmers and shed light on supply chain issues. The panel included Harold Sumerford Jr., American Trucking Associations; John Driscoll, Alabama Port Authority; Taylor Pursell, The Fertilizer Institute; and Trey Davis, Bayer Crop Science.

The Farm & Land Expo included contests for the Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers divisions. (Read more on pages 6 and 7.)

Inspirational entertainment from country music singer-songwriter Rory Feek closed the event.

Over 600 farmers toured operations Aug. 5. Clockwise from far left: Farmers visited TTT Ranches in Fayette; Jasper Lumber Co. in Walker County hosted busloads of landowners; Jones Valley Teaching Farm opened its doors to teach attendees about urban agriculture in Birmingham.

Farm Heritage On Display In Annual Sewing, Design Contests

First-place winners are Marcy Jernigan of Geneva County, Commodity Wreath; Glenda Stewart of Geneva County, Commodity Lap Blanket (Adult Division); Ruby Nuss of St. Clair County, Hand-Stitched Quilt; Betty Kennedy of Wilcox County, Machine-Stitched Quilt; and Chris Underwood of Geneva County, MachineStitched Pillow Cover. Hayden Howell of Geneva County, Commodity Lap Blanket (Youth Division), is not pictured.

By Josie Chance

Stiff competition came to Birmingham in the shape of honeybee quilts, fun floral pillows and farm flock wreaths for the Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Division contests at the Farm & Land Expo August 4-7.

Ruby Nuss of St. Clair County, who won the hand-stitched quilt contest, has made scores of quilts and said this pastime is an integral part of her life.

“I’ve mainly taught myself to quilt from books and videos,” said the 94- year-old. “I take my time, and it gives me something to look forward to every day.”

As women milled through the colorful displays, they shared stories of learning to sew, swapped favorite quilt patterns and gave life advice.

Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood said these projects display unique aspects of Alabama commodities — and farmers.

“These competitors really captured the essence of agriculture in their counties,” Earwood said. “Women’s Leadership Committee contests give them the opportunity to share their beautiful stories in an artistic way.”

First-place winners received $150, second-place $100 and third $75.

Commodity Lap Blanket Adult Division

l First place – Glenda Stewart, Geneva

County l Second place – Melanie Stokley,

Washington County l Third place – Jackie Henderson, Lee

County

Commodity Lap Blanket Youth Division

l First place – Hayden Howell, Geneva

County l Second place – Trevor Wicks, St. Clair

County

Hand-Stitched Quilt

l First place – Ruby Nuss, St. Clair

County l Second place – Melanie Stokley,

Washington County l Third place – Stella Edwards,

Randolph County

Machine-Stitched Quilt

l First place – Betty Kennedy, Wilcox

County l Second place – Chris Underwood,

Geneva County l Third Place – Pat Norred, Randolph

County

Machine-Stitched Pillow Cover

l First place – Chris Underwood,

Geneva County l Second place – Stella Edwards,

Randolph County l Third place tie – Jackie Henderson,

Lee County, and Pat Sexton, Crenshaw

County

Commodity Wreath

l First place – Marcy Jernigan, Geneva

County l Second place – Kim Ferguson, Dale

County l Third place – Stella Edwards,

Randolph County

Marcy Jernigan’s winning Commodity Wreath celebrates a versatile and tasty pork product.

Young Farmers Bloom During Contests In Birmingham

By Maggie Edwards

Young Farmers claimed victory during contests at the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Expo Aug. 4-7 in Birmingham. Calhoun and Morgan counties took home wins for Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) and Excellence in Agriculture competitions, respectively, while four Discussion Meet finalists were announced in the contests for 18- to 35-year-old members.

Daniel and Carla Trantham of Calhoun County were named Alabama’s OYFF. The row crop and cattle farmers also run a feed operation, where they sell over 80 tons of feed and grain weekly. The Tranthams are raising five children on the farm — Davis, Sadie, Anna Kate, Sawyer and Callie.

As the OYFF, they receive more than $70,000 in prizes, including $40,000 toward a new Ford truck from Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a year’s lease on a John Deere tractor, compliments of John Deere, TriGreen and SunSouth.

OYFF runners-up Mitchell and Rebecca Henry of Lawrence County and Brady and Anna Peek of Limestone County received $500 from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit.

OYFF interviews were held in March, resulting in the finalists. Judges visited all three farms in July to determine the winner. OYFF competitors must have more than 50% of their income subject to production risk.

Excellence in Agriculture champion Josh Melson of Morgan County is an agriscience teacher and will receive a zero-turn Grasshopper lawn mower, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. This competition allows participants, who earn less than 50% of their income on the farm, to showcase the role agriculture plays in their lives and present solutions on agricultural issues. The first runner-up was Josh Williams of Tallapoosa County, with Zack Brannon of Winston County as second runner-up. In addition, 23 Young Farmers competed in Discussion Meet. Finalists are Landon Marks of Cherokee County, Chapman Bodiford of Limestone County, Garrett Dixon of Lee County and Shelby Windham of Dale County.

Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting where participants discuss solutions to agricultural issues. The Final Four will compete during the Federation’s annual meeting in December. The winner will receive a new four-wheeler, sponsored by First South Farm Credit.

All finalists receive a Blackstone Griddle Package from the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance. Winners will compete during American Farm Bureau Federation contests in January 2023 in Puerto Rico.

Josh Melson of Morgan County won the Excellence in Agriculture contest. The agriscience teacher, right, is pictured with Federation President Jimmy Parnell.

2022 Discussion Meet Final Four

Daniel and Carla Trantham of Calhoun County will score more than $70,000 in prizes as Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family. The Young Farmers raise cattle, row crops and five children — Davis, Sawyer, Sadie, Callie and Anna Kate — in Alexandria. Chapman Bodiford Limestone County Garrett Dixon Lee County Landon Marks Cherokee County Shelby Windham Dale County

RittenourAward FOR EXCELLENCE IN

PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY RESEARCH

By Marlee Moore

Dr. Geoff Williams has a penchant for pollinators.

Armed with a smoker, Auburnembellished helmet and orange and blue hive boxes, Williams has built substantial buzz around the Auburn University (AU) Bee Lab while solving practical problems that affect Alabama beekeepers.

That work earned him the Rittenour Award for Excellence in Production Agriculture & Forestry Research, presented during the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Expo in Birmingham Aug. 4.

“One of the main reasons I enjoy my job is that I work with and for beekeepers,” said Williams, an assistant professor in AU’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. “To be recognized for that practical work and for helping to create better beekeeping in Alabama, that’s amazing.”

As the fourth annual Rittenour Award winner, Williams received $10,000 toward programming costs, courtesy of the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation.

Williams began revitalizing AU’s Bee Lab in 2016, when he and wife Dr. Stephanie Rogers (a geoscience professor) joined AU’s faculty. The move placed them closer to their native Canada after five years in Switzerland, where Williams researched honeybees at the University of Bern.

Williams’ work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit has bolstered beekeeping on and off campus. AU-BEES honey sales fund research and increase name ID for the program. The lab works with beekeepers across the nation to coordinate and analyze data from the Bee Informed Partnership’s colony loss survey.

Additionally, Williams works with the Federation’s State Bee & Honey Committee to target research for Alabama beekeepers, like ways to combat the pesky varroa mite.

During the recent pandemic, Williams helped spearhead an innovative At-Home Beekeeping Webinar Series.

“Everything was shutting down, but we were thriving and delivering a new program,” he said. “We established it quickly and are still going strong two years later.”

Williams was raised in Red Deer between Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. He earned a bachelor’s in animal biology from the University of Alberta before an interest in parasitology helped him discover the sweet world of honeybees. He also holds a doctorate in biology from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.

Williams and Stephanie enjoy camping, biking and spending time with their 10-month-old daughter, Ruby.

Federation Bee & Honey Division Director Blake Thaxton complimented Williams’ out-of-the-box approach to elevating apiculture.

“In just six years, Geoff has made a name for Auburn’s bee program internationally,” Thaxton said. “He understands what our beekeepers need and isn’t afraid to use new techniques to improve Alabama apiculture. It’s our honor to help support his program as he, in turn, supports Alabama beekeepers.” To follow Williams’ work, visit fb.com/auburnbees.

Farmers Honor Williams For Honeybee Research

Dr. Geoff Williams is the 2022 Rittenour Award recipient. Williams, right, is pictured with Federation Bee & Honey Division Director Blake Thaxton.

Maggard Earns Award For Forestry Extension

Dr. Adam Maggard is the 2022 Duncan Award recipient. Maggard, left, focuses on landowner education through Alabama Extension and is pictured with Federation Forestry Division Director William Green.

By Maggie Edwards

Adesire to help Alabama landowners fuels Dr. Adam Maggard’s quest to deliver quality Extension forestry programming.

That attribute also earned him the Duncan Award for Excellence in Production Agriculture & Forestry Extension. As the winner, Maggard received $5,000 for programming costs, courtesy of the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation. This is the fourth annual Duncan Award, coordinated by the Alabama Farmers Federation to reward Auburn University (AU) and Alabama Extension professionals for helping Alabama farmers.

Maggard received his award during the organization’s Farm & Land Expo in Birmingham Aug. 4.

“To say I am honored would be an understatement,” Maggard said. “This award recognizes excellence in Extension outreach, and that is exactly what I strive to do.”

Maggard is an Extension specialist and assistant professor of forestry and wildlife sciences. The Florida native earned his bachelor’s in forestry and master’s in business from the University of Florida. He then ventured to Oklahoma State University, where he earned a master’s in forestry and a doctorate focused on loblolly pine productivity.

Maggard and wife Kristi moved to Alabama in January 2017 and welcomed their son, Brooks, later that year. Auburn’s strong roots in forestry Extension drove the move, as did Alabama’s place in the heart of the Wood Basket. The state is home to more than 23 million acres of timberland.

“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Extension,” Maggard said. “I grew up in an agriculture family, so I saw firsthand the difference Extension programs make.”

Maggard builds Extension programming based on requests from Alabama landowners. This ranges from carbon market deep-dives and forest management to analyzing timber prices. Earlier this year, Maggard helped organize the first cross-laminated timber (CLT) conference in the South. CLT is a burgeoning business that could positively impact Southern tree growers, said Federation Forestry Division Director William Green.

“Dr. Maggard is a servant-leader who cares about present and future generations of landowners,” Green said. “It’s an honor to recognize his efforts and passion for forestry.”

Green praised Maggard’s ability to advise and impact forest landowners. Maggard also engages the next generation of natural resources leaders through Auburn’s Forest, Environment and Wildlife Leadership (FEWL) Academy.

Maggard said he values networking and strives to create connections with stakeholders and landowners, including Federation member-leaders.

“Building relationships drives and improves communication, engagement and education,” he said. “It’s something I love to do, so it’s something I do every day.”

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PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY EXTENSION