November 2010 Neighbors

SOLD ON LIVESTOCK Alabamians Advance In Auctioneer Contest National Farm-City Week Seeks To Tell Ag’s Story

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Neighbors A Publication of the Alabama Farmers Federation

VOLUME 35, NUMBER 11

NOVEMBER 2010

Sold On Livestock Four Alabamians were among contestants in the Livestock Marketing Association’s World Livestock Auctioneer quarterfinals recently held at Montgomery Stockyards. • 16

National Farm-City Week ‘Agriculture: A Growing Story’ is the theme as the nation prepares to observe National Farm-City Week Nov. 19-25. • 10

Tunin’ Up With Ricky The Alabama Farmers Federation will get a chance

ON THE COVER Farm-City Days — William Sherling, a fifth-grader at Fort Dale Academy in Butler County, is the artist behind this month’s cover. Sherling’s artwork captured first place among fourth- through sixthgraders in the 2009 Farm-City Poster Contest and will be featured on the 2011 FarmCity Calendar. See Page 10 to order yours!

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

to enjoy the music of bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs at its 89th Annual Meeting in Mobile

DEPARTMENTS 4

President’s Message

12

Federation Digest

Outstanding In Their Field

23

Ag Briefs

The winners in the Horticulture Division and

26

Alabama Gardener

Peanut Division are the last in a series of families

28

Country Kitchen

30

Classifieds

next month. • 14

to be profiled in the Outstanding Young Farm Family contest. • 20

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President’s Message G

rowing up in Limestone County, we learned at an early age the importance of voting in elections and the duty that comes with holding public office. Our father, James Newby, served as probate judge for Limestone County, and he instilled in his children the responsibility of citizenship and helped us understand the privilege of serving the people with honor and integrity.

But nowadays, it’s easy to become discouraged with Jerry Newby the electoral process. Negative campaign ads and overly partisan politics have created a feeling of apathy among some voters. Even more disturbing is people’s lack of interest in seeking public office. The idea that “all politicians are the same” or “my vote won’t matter” or even “nothing ever changes” is totally contrary to the principles on which our nation was built.

Fortunately, there are still men and women who believe America’s brightest days are yet to come.

They hold fast to the ideal of government of the people, by the people and for the people, and they are willing to give of their time and resources to serve their fellow man.

This group of patriots includes candidates for office, but it also includes poll workers, campaign volunteers and even individual voters who believe the right to vote is something to be cherished.

At the Alabama Farmers Federation, we have always encouraged members to take part in the electoral process. We believe that a representative government can only function well if those being represented are engaged. We must share our ideas and concerns with elected officials, support those people who

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we think will best represent our views and, most of all, exercise our right to vote.

With that in mind, county Farmers Federation leaders from across the state gathered this summer to recommend candidates for endorsement. Those endorsements are included in this issue of Neighbors. We hope you will give thoughtful consideration to each of these candidates, but regardless of who you support, we urge you to vote Nov. 2.

Although it sounds like a cliché, this election will shape the future of our state and nation. The men and women elected this year not only will have to deal with budget shortfalls, high unemployment and the rising cost of health care, they will also determine the role of government in our lives and how our farms, businesses and families are regulated.

The candidates we elect will decide whether taxes will be raised or spending cut; they will determine whether gambling interests will dominate the political process; and they will influence whether activist judges will be allowed to circumvent the legislative process by making law.

These issues are critical to the preservation of our form of government and way of life. As Americans, we have the right — and responsibility — to not only vote, but to also make sure our voices are heard by those we elect.

We appreciate all of those who have accepted the challenge of serving in public office, as well as those who honor our American heroes by exercising the freedom to vote.

At the Alabama Farmers Federation, we still hold strongly to those values taught us by men like my father, and we encourage EVERYONE to go to the polls Nov. 2 and VOTE. n 4

VOLUME 35, NUMBER 11

________________________________________ Darryal Ray, Editor Debra Davis, Associate Editor Mike Moody, Graphic Designer ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan, Executive Director Jeff Helms, Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jerry Newby, President, Athens Hal Lee, Vice President/North, Hartselle Dean Wysner, Vice President/Central, Woodland Ricky Wiggins, Vice President/Southeast, Andalusia Jake Harper, Vice President/Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn, Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Joe Dickerson, Lexington Steve Tate, Huntsville Donnie Garrett, Centre Darrel Haynes, Cullman John E. Walker III, Berry Marshall Prickett, Wellington Richard Edgar, Deatsville Pat Buck, Emelle Garry Henry, Hope Hull Carl Sanders, Brundidge David Bitto, Elberta Sammy Williams, Columbia Gloria Jeffcoat, Gordon Jeff Maze, Horton Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116. For information about member benefits of the Alabama Farmers Federation, visit the Web site 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.

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Paul Hurst, Hurst & Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 6011, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. Phone: 800397-8908; Fax: (847) 438-8105. Classified ad and editorial inquiries should be directed to the editor at (334) 613-4410.

ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: Ad­vertise­­­­­­­ ments contained in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or the Alabama Farmers Federation.

EDITORIAL MATTER from sources outside of the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of material does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

ADDRESS editorial, advertising and change of address correspondence to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 361910001. www.AlfaFarmers.org A member of American Farm Bureau Federation NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

SAMPLE BALLOT – NOVEMBER 2, 2010 General Election

OFFICES TO BE VOTED FOR OFFICE

ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY

for U.S. Senator

William Barnes

Richard Shelby

No Opponent

Jo Bonner

for U.s. congress District 1

7

for U.s. congress District 2

Bobby Bright

for U.s. congress District 3

Steve Segrest

Mike Rogers

No Opponent

Robert Aderholt

for U.s. congress District 4 for U.s. congress District 5 for U.s. congress District 6

Steve Raby

7 7

Martha Roby

7 7

Mo Brooks

7

No Opponent

Spencer Bachus

7

for U.s. congress District 7

Terri Sewell

for Lt. Governor

Jim Folsom, Jr.

Kay Ivey

for Secretary of State

Scott Gilliland

Beth Chapman

for State Auditor

Miranda Karrine Joseph

Sam Shaw

for State Treasurer

Charley Grimsley

Young Boozer

for Attorney General

James Anderson

Luther Strange

for supreme court justice Place 1

Rhonda Chambers

Kelli Wise

for supreme court justice Place 2

Tom Edwards

Michael Bolin

for supreme court justice Place 3

Mac Parsons

Tom Parker

for Court of Civil Appeals

Deborah Bell Paseur

Tommy Bryan

for public service commission Place 1

Jan Cook

for public service commission Place 2

Susan Parker

for Commissioner of Agriculture

Glen Zorn

John McMillan

for State Board of Education district 2

Betty Letlow

Betty Peters

for State Board of Education district 6

Kimberly Harbison Drake

Charles Elliott

for State Board of Education district 8

Mary Ruth Yates

Mary Scott Hunter

7

Don Chamberlain

7 7

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh Terry Dunn

7 7 7 7

Dear Member: The political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation has announced its endorsements of candidates for the Nov. 2 General Election. The committee did not make endorsements in every race.

This is a very important election, which will set the direction of the state for years to come. Therefore, the Alabama Farmers Federation decided to place emphasis on the legislative and judicial races.

We take endorsements seriously. They are determined by an impartial, non-partisan group of our leaders from all 67 counties.

Our philosophy is to support candidates with moral character who will fight for accountability, fairness, security and opportunity.

These endorsements are to assist you in making a decision. They are not meant in any way to tell you how to vote. Your vote is your personal and private right. We respect that.

We hope you will be informed and that you will cast your vote based on the merits of each candidate.

Sincerely,

Jerry Newby, President Alabama Farmers Federation

Paid for and distributed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191 NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

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During the next four years, the Alabama Legislature will make decisions that will affect the life of every Alabamian. How it addresses constitutional reform, taxation, fiscal responsibility, education, health care, family values and regulatory issues will determine the future of our state. Consequently, the Alabama Farmers Federation decided to emphasize endorsements in legislative races. These endorsements were recommended after careful examination of the candidates’ political platforms and voting records. We believe these candidates will serve not only their local constituents, but also will work together for a better Alabama. Also included are state board of education races. These candidates were endorsed by the Alabama Farmers Federation and are listed by county for your convenience.

Endorsed Candidates

By County

Endorsed Candidates

By County

H

Independent Democratic

Autauga

David Colston, HD 69 Hank Sanders, SD 23 Wendell Mitchell, SD 30

Baldwin

Marc Keahey, SD 22

Republican

Berry Forte, HD 84 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Betty Peters, BOE 2

Bibb

Ralph Howard, HD 72 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

April Weaver, HD 49 Cam Ward, SD 14

Blount

Democratic

Harry Shiver, HD 64 Alan Baker, HD 66 Joe Faust, HD 94 Steve McMillan, HD 95 Randy Davis, HD 96 Tripp Pittman, SD 32

Barbour

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Jeremy Oden, HD 11 Elwyn Thomas, HD 34 Clay Scofield, SD 9 Scott Beason, SD 17

Bullock

Pebblin Warren, HD 82 Berry Forte, HD 84 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Butler

Charles Newton, HD 90 Wendell Mitchell, SD 30

Calhoun

Steve Hurst, HD 35

Randy Wood, HD 36 K.L. Brown, HD 40 Ray Robbins, SD 11

Chambers

Richard Laird, HD 37

Cherokee

H

Independent Republican

Clay

Richard Laird, HD 37

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Gerald Dial, SD 13

Cleburne

Richard Lindsey, HD 39

Gerald Dial, SD 13

Coffee

Terry Spicer, HD 91

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Jimmy Holley, SD 31

Colbert

Marcel Black, HD 3 Johnny Mack Morrow, HD 18 Tammy Irons, SD 1 Roger Bedford, SD 6

Conecuh

Thomas E. Jackson, HD 68 Charles Newton, HD 90 Marc Keahey, SD 22 Hank Sanders, SD 23

Harry Shiver, HD 64

Coosa

Barry Mask, HD 31 Ronald Johnson, HD 33 Ray Robbins, SD 11

Covington

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Jimmy Holley, SD 31

Crenshaw

Charles Newton, HD 90 Wendell Mitchell, SD 30

Cullman

James Fields, HD 12

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Ed Henry, HD 9 Jeremy Oden, HD 11 Paul Bussman, SD 4

Betty Peters, BOE 2 DuWayne Bridges, HD 38 Gerald Dial, SD 13

Dale

Alan Boothe, HD 89

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Steve Clouse, HD 93 Jimmy Holley, SD 31

Richard Lindsey, HD 39 Larry Means, SD 10

Gerald Dial, SD 13

Dallas

Chilton

Jimmy Martin, HD 42

Cam Ward, SD 14

Darrio Melton, HD 67 David Colston, HD 69 Hank Sanders, SD 23

Choctaw

Elaine Beech, HD 65 Thomas E. Jackson, HD 68 Marc Keahey, SD 22 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

DeKalb

Nathaniel Ledbetter, HD 24 Jack Page, HD 29 Richard Lindsey, HD 39 Lowell Barron, SD 8

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8 Kerry Rich, HD 26

Clarke

Elaine Beech, HD 65 Thomas E. Jackson, HD 68 Marc Keahey, SD 22 Hank Sanders, SD 23

Elmore

Wendell Mitchell, SD 30

Barry Mask, HD 31 Greg Wren, HD 75 Ray Robbins, SD 11 Dick Brewbaker, SD 25

Escambia

Marc Keahey, SD 22

Harry Shiver, HD 64 Alan Baker, HD 66

Harri Anne Smith, SD 29

Paid for and distributed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191 w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

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NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Endorsed Candidates

By County

Endorsed Candidates

By County

H

Independent Democratic

Etowah

Craig Ford, HD 28 Jack Page, HD 29 Larry Means, SD 10

Fayette

William Thigpen, HD 16 Roger Bedford, SD 6

Franklin

Johnny Mack Morrow, HD 18 Roger Bedford, SD 6

Geneva

Republican

Greene

A.J. McCampbell, HD 71 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

Hale

Ralph Howard, HD 72 Phil Poole, SD 21 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

Henry

Billy Beasley, SD 28

Houston

Democratic

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8 Blaine Galliher, HD 30

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Donnie Chesteen, HD 87

Harri Anne Smith, SD 29

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Jody Singleton, HD 85 Betty Peters, BOE 2 Jody Singleton, HD 85 Paul Lee, HD 86 Donnie Chesteen, HD 87 Steve Clouse, HD 93 Jimmy Holley, SD 31

Jackson

Butch Taylor, HD 22 John Robinson, HD 23 Lowell Barron, SD 8

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8

Jefferson

John Rogers, HD 52 Demetrius Newton, HD 53 Rod Scott, HD 55 Merika Coleman, HD 57 Oliver Robinson, HD 58 Mary Moore, HD 59 Juandalynn Givan, HD 60 Rodger Smitherman, SD 18 Priscilla Dunn, SD 19 Linda Coleman, SD 20

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Alan Farley, HD 15 Elwyn Thomas, HD 34 Mary Sue McClurkin, HD 43 Arthur Payne, HD 44 Owen Drake, HD 45 Paul DeMarco, HD 46 Jack Williams, HD 47 Greg Canfield, HD 48 Allen Treadaway, HD 51 Greg Reed, SD 5 Cam Ward, SD 14 Slade Blackwell, SD 15 Jabo Waggoner, SD 16 Scott Beason, SD 17

Lamar

William Thigpen, HD 16 Roger Bedford, SD 6

Lauderdale

Tammy Irons, SD 1

Lynn Greer, HD 2

Lawrence

Jody Letson, HD 7 Roger Bedford, SD 6

Paul Bussman, SD 4

Lee

Lesley Vance, HD 80 Pebblin Warren, HD 82 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Betty Peters, BOE 2 DuWayne Bridges, HD 38 Mike Hubbard, HD 79 Mark Tuggle, HD 81 Gerald Dial, SD 13 Tom Whatley, SD 27

H

Independent

Limestone

Tom Butler, SD 2

Lowndes

David Colston, HD 69 Hank Sanders, SD 23 Wendell Mitchell, SD 30

Macon

Pebblin Warren, HD 82 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Madison

Randy Hinshaw, HD 21 Butch Taylor, HD 22 Tom Butler, SD 2 Lowell Barron, SD 8

Marengo

Thomas E. Jackson, HD 68 A.J. McCampbell, HD 71 Ralph Howard, HD 72 Hank Sanders, SD 23 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

Marion

Mike Millican, HD 17 Roger Bedford, SD 6

Harri Anne Smith, SD 29

Marshall

Republican Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8 Micky Hammon, HD 4 Mac McCutcheon, HD 25 Arthur Orr, SD 3

Mary Scott Hunter, BOE 8 Phil Williams, HD 6 Mike Ball, HD 10 Howard Sanderford, HD 20 Mac McCutcheon, HD 25 Arthur Orr, SD 3 Paul Sanford, SD 7 Clay Scofield, SD 9

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Kerry Rich, HD 26 Wes Long, HD 27 Clay Scofield, SD 9

Mobile

Yvonne Kennedy, HD 97 Napoleon Bracy, HD 98 James Buskey, HD 99 Joseph Mitchell, HD 103 Marc Keahey, SD 22 Vivian Figures, SD 33

Randy Davis, HD 96 Victor Gaston, HD 100 Jamie Ison, HD 101 Chad Fincher, HD 102 Jim Barton, HD 104 Spencer Collier, HD 105 Rusty Glover, SD 34

Monroe

Thomas E. Jackson, HD 68 Marc Keahey, SD 22 Hank Sanders, SD 23

Harry Shiver, HD 64

Montgomery

Thad McClammy, HD 76 John Knight, HD 77 Alvin Holmes, HD 78

David Grimes, HD 73 Jay Love, HD 74 Greg Wren, HD 75 Dick Brewbaker, SD 25

Morgan

Perry

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Micky Hammon, HD 4 Terri Collins, HD 8 Ed Henry, HD 9 Jeremy Oden, HD 11 Arthur Orr, SD 3 Ralph Howard, HD 72 Hank Sanders, SD 23 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

Paid for and distributed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191 NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

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Endorsed Candidates

By County

Endorsed Candidates

By County

H

Independent Democratic

Republican

H

Independent Democratic

Pickens

Alan Harper, HD 61 Phil Poole, SD 21

Sumter

A.J. McCampbell, HD 71 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

Pike

Alan Boothe, HD 89 Wendell Mitchell, SD 30

Talladega

Steve Hurst, HD 35

Randolph

Richard Laird, HD 37

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Gerald Dial, SD 13

Russell

Lesley Vance, HD 80 Berry Forte, HD 84 Billy Beasley, SD 28

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Tom Whatley, SD 27

Shelby

Jimmy Martin, HD 42

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Mike Hill, HD 41 Mary Sue McClurkin, HD 43 Greg Canfield, HD 48 April Weaver, HD 49 Jim McClendon, HD 50 Cam Ward, SD 14 Slade Blackwell, SD 15 Jabo Waggoner, SD 16

St. Clair

Tallapoosa Tuscaloosa

Betty Peters, BOE 2 Ronald Johnson, HD 33 Ray Robbins, SD 11 Betty Peters, BOE 2 Mark Tuggle, HD 81 Tom Whatley, SD 27

William Thigpen, HD 16 Alan Harper, HD 61 Chris England, HD 70 A.J. McCampbell, HD 71 Phil Poole, SD 21 Bobby Singleton, SD 24

Walker

Charles Elliott, BOE 6 Blaine Galliher, HD 30 Randy Wood, HD 36 Owen Drake, HD 45 Jim McClendon, HD 50 Scott Beason, SD 17

Republican

Richard Baughn, HD 14 John Merrill, HD 62 Bill Poole, HD 63 Greg Reed, SD 5

Bill Roberts, HD 13 Richard Baughn, HD 14 Greg Reed, SD 5

Washington

Elaine Beech, HD 65 Marc Keahey, SD 22

Wilcox

David Colston, HD 69 Hank Sanders, SD 23

Winston

Jody Letson, HD 7 Mike Millican, HD 17 Roger Bedford, SD 6

Richard Baughn, HD 14 Paul Bussman, SD 4 Greg Reed, SD 5

The following amendments will be on the ballot for the Nov. 2, 2010 Election.

Statewide Amendment 1

Statewide Amendment 3 VOTE YES

Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama

Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide for a ten-year road, bridge and other transportation-related construction and improvement program to be funded with appropriations from the Alabama Trust Fund and to provide for a transfer of funds to the County and Municipal Government Capital Improvement Fund.

of 1901, to provide that the prohibition in Amendment 778, against the payment of any fees, charges, or commissions for assessment or collection of any new taxes levied in order to comply with the provisions of Amendment 778 applies only to the levy and collection of addi-

Statewide Amendment 4 VOTE YES

tional ad valorem taxes levied under the provisions of

Relating to Blount County: Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 to prohibit any municipality located outside of Blount County from imposing any municipal ordinance or regulation (e.g.. tax, zoning, planning or sanitation regulations, and any inspection service in its police jurisdiction located in Blount Company) & to provide that a municipality prohibited from imposing any tax or regulation under this amendment shall not provide any regulatory function or police or fire protection services in its police jurisdiction located in Blount County, other than public safety mutual aid.

Amendment 778 and shall not apply to any prior or future levy set by or renewed under the laws or constitution of the state.

Statewide Amendment 2 VOTE NO Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 relating to special county educational taxes, to provide that the taxes may be levied by a majority vote, not by three-fifths vote, of those voting at the election.

Paid for and distributed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191 w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

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NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

On November 2, hit the road and vote YES to create jobs and make our roads more safe for your family.

Vote YES on repairing our roads and bridges

Vote YES Amendment #3

In the November general election citizens will be able to vote on a major road building referendum that will sustain and create thousands of jobs and could significantly decrease the number of deaths and accidents on Alabama’s rural roads.

The fatality rate on Alabama’s rural roads is twice that versus other roads, and poor road conditions can cost motorists up to $600 million annually in auto repairs. With a YES vote on Amendment #3, every county will receive additional funding to improve their roads and bridges.

Voting YES on Amendment #3 will benefit Alabama by; 3 3 3 3 3 3

Sustaining and creating over 27,000 jobs throughout the state Keeping our children safer while they ride their school bus Significantly decreasing fatalities and accidents on our roads and bridges Having a positive economic impact by attracting new industries Resulting in less auto repairs for Alabama motorists Promoting more tourism for our state

All without costing you a penny! www.alabamajobscoalition.com

The project will be paid for by The Alabama Trust Fund and won’t result in any new taxes or debt.

On November 2, 2010 Vote YES Amendment #3 Paid for AlabamaMontgomery, Jobs Coalition, AL P.O.36191 Box 4302, Montgomery, AL 36103 Paid for and distributed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Boxby11000, ADP – AD Amendment #3.indd 1

9/20/10 12:42 PM

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s American consumers take more interest in the safety of their food, protection of natural resources and care of animals, farmers increasingly find themselves the target of less-thanfavorable articles, editorials and movies. To help encourage factual reporting about production agriculture, volunteers across Alabama have organized a variety of events Nov. 19-25 emphasizing “Agriculture: A Growing Story” in observance of National Farm-City Week.

“With fewer than 2 percent of Americans now living on farms, it’s easy for misunderstandings about production agriculture to take root,” said Alabama Farm-City Chairman Jeff Helms.

“Isolated reports of the mistreatment of animals or food-borne illnesses can cause people to paint all farmers with a broad brush.

Sadly, the tremendous accomplishments farmers have made in caring for animals, reducing erosion and increasing productivity often go unreported. Farm-City Week is an opportunity for farmers to share their stories with their urban neighbors and to build trust and confidence in our food supply.”

Two of the most popular FarmCity activities are the essay and poster contests. During the first semester of the school year, thousands of children across the state have creatively depicted agriculture’s growing story through words and images. The work of these budding writers and artists will w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

be judged at the county level, and winners will go on to compete for cash prizes at the state level. The winning essays in both the seventh- through ninth-grade division and 10th- through 12th-grade division will be featured in the 2012 Alabama Farm-City Calendar along with the top 14 posters from students in grades K-6.

Meanwhile, county Farm-City committees also host banquets, tours, farm days, business breakfasts and other events aimed at fostering cooperation and understanding among urban and rural residents. County and municipal leaders also will sign proclamations declaring the week before Thanksgiving Farm-City Week in Alabama.

At the national level, a symposium featuring media representatives and farm leaders will kick off Farm-City Week Nov. 18 in Lancaster, Pa. The symposium will explore friendly methods that can help assist the urban media when preparing news or feature stories that could significantly and negatively impact farmers.

“Today, the chances of incorrect information on agricultural issues being mistakenly passed to the general public are not only a possibility — it is a reality that has caused serious financial damage and hardship to farmers, ranchers and others within the industry,” says Al Pell, noted national agricultural broadcaster and chairman of the National Farm-City Council. “The goal of this symposium is to consider tools 10

local, state and national agricultural leaders and organizations can use to assure the information obtained by the media is from reliable and credible sources. With a successful merging of efforts with the urban media, we can more confidently be assured accuracy will be paramount in communicating this growing story of agriculture.”

The Symposium begins at 10:30 a.m. EST and will continue until noon. Discussions from 11 a.m. until noon will be broadcast live over the nationally syndicated AgriTalk radio show, hosted by another nationally noted broadcaster, Mike Adams.

National Farm-City Week originated in 1955 when leaders with Kiwanis International, Farm Journal and the American Farm Bureau Federation joined forces to improve the image of agriculture.

Sponsors for Alabama Farm-City activities include Alabama Farmers Federation, Alfa Insurance, Alfa Health, Alabama Ag in the Classroom, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, SunSouth, Snead Ag and TriGreen Equipment John Deere dealers in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. n ____________________________________ For more information, visit www. farmcity.org. 2011 Farm-City calendars may be ordered at $1 per calendar. A minimum order of 20 copies is required along with a minimum shipping fee of $3. Send checks payable to Alabama Farmers Federation to Alabama FarmCity Committee, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191-0001.

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Federation Utilizing Social Media For Education

By Darryal Ray

A

“

griculture … A Growing Story.”

That’s the theme of both Farm-City Week and the 89th annual meeting of the Alabama Farmers Federation. But it’s also why the Federation is urging its members to become involved in telling farming’s story through social networking at its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube sites.

“The field of public relations, like farming, is constantly changing,” said Jeff Helms, director of the Federation’s Department of Public Relations and Communications. “Thirty years ago, the general public turned to farm organizations, Extension agents and USDA officials for information about food and agriculture. But today, consumers look to their friends and acquaintances for advice on everything from movies and music to animal welfare and organic food. For information to

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

be trusted as genuine and reliable, it must come from a real person. That’s why it’s so important for farmers to be engaged in telling their stories. By sharing their passion and personality with others through social media, farmers are building trusting relationships that will influence public opinion and ultimately public policy.”

Visitors to www.AlfaFarmers.org can click on links to “Become a Fan” on Facebook, “Follow Us” on Twitter or watch the latest Federation video on the YouTube video channel. Soon, the Federation will be adding RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds to its site, updating visitors whenever new content is added.

More than 300 people have become fans of the Federation since its Facebook page launched a few months ago. While many are farmers, there are numerous others from all walks of life — creating numerous opportunities for sharing the story of agriculture.

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For farmers, social media presents fertile, new ground whether it’s to promote their own farm and products, educate consumers on questions about their food supply and safety or to combat or lessen the damage caused by misleading or inaccurate media reports.

Twitter is another way to engage non-farmers in agricultural issues.

It’s best for short messages delivered at a breakneck pace. The Federation is looking at using Twitter as a tool for updates during sessions of the Alabama Legislature, agricultural seminars, press conferences and more.

Lamar County dairy farmer Will Gilmer, who is also national chairman of the AFBF’s Young Farmer & Rancher committee, recently joined Federation staffers in exploring the use of social media. “Using social media is something we can do to educate others and shape their opinions,” said Gilmer. n

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Federation Digest Obituaries Richard Earl Carr Jr., a lifelong resident of Shorter and a board member of the Macon County Farmers Federation, died Sept. 3. He was 65.

He was the co-owner of Ray & Carr Farms, R & C Grocery, AgriTrans LLC and Carr’s Tree Service, and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Tallassee. He also was a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Betty Ann; his son, Richard Earl Carr, III (Kelli); two grandchildren; sister, Bobbie Ann Fiala (Marvin, Sr.); and several nieces and nephews.

Gilmer C. Grant of Glenwood, a board member of the Coffee County Farmers Federation, died Sept. 4. He was 72.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley M. Grant; a daughter, Deena M. Croley (Michael); a son, Darren F. Grant (Carol Stephens), all of Glenwood; and two granddaughters.

Dan Anders, an honorary board member and long-time board member of the Tuscaloosa County Farmers Federation, died Sept. 10. He was 89.

Anders graduated from Tuscaloosa High School and served four years in the Army during World War II. He later worked 16 years for the Alabama Department of Agriculture.

Survivors include wife, Julia Agnes Hobson Anders; sons, Dan Hobson (Connie) Anders and Joseph Earl (Donna) Anders, all of Northport; four grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Pleasant Ridge Primitive Baptist Church or Mt. Hebron Church Cemetery. w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Weather Station Alfa recently donated $15,000 for agricultural weather stations used to help farmers manage risks and increase efficiency. The combination meteorological/soil profile stations are run by the Alabama A&M University Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences.

From right, Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby and Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan examine one of the stations near Huntsville with Dr. Robert W. Taylor, dean of the School of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at Alabama A&M University, and Alabama A&M doctoral graduate student Hwan He Han.

Drought Continues, USDA Announces Disaster Programs

T

he most recent report by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the entire state is abnormally dry and some areas in east central Alabama are suffering from extreme drought.

Almost every segment of agriculture has been affected by the drought, coupled with unusually high temperatures.

The drought and heat have caused row crops to wither and stressed poultry and livestock.

While most farmers are praying for rain, many also are reviewing aid recently announced by USDA from disasters a year ago.

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The 2009 disaster assistance program has funds available for cotton, rice, soybean and sweet potato farmers whose crops were damaged by excess rain; poultry farmers who lost production when their integrator declared bankruptcy; and aquaculture producers who experienced unusually high feed input costs.

All Alabama counties are eligible for the disaster program except Coosa.

For details about the 2009 disaster program, farmers should contact their local Farm Service Agency office. n NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Federation’s 89th Annual Meeting Tunes Up With Skaggs

By Darryal Ray

C

ountry and bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs will show Alabama farmers how the grass can sometimes be blue-er when they gather in Mobile Dec. 5-6 for the 89th Annual Meeting of the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Skaggs, a 14-time Grammy winner, will perform at the historic Saenger Theater on Sunday evening, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m., with pre-show entertainment beginning at 7. Tickets are available for purchase through local county Federations for registered convention attendees.

Tickets will also be available to the public through TicketMaster. w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

The concert will follow a busy afternoon in which an estimated 1,200 attendees will attend policy development and business meetings and the opening general session at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center.

“This 89th Annual Meeting promises to be one of our biggest and best ever,” said Paul Pinyan, the Federation’s executive director. “This year’s theme, ‘Agriculture … A Growing Story,’ not only conveys the message that our industry continues to feed, clothe and shelter a growing population despite numerous challenges, but it also reflects our ongoing mission to tell agricul14

ture’s story to consumers who are two generations removed from the farm.”

Another highlight of the twoday event is Monday night’s selection of the Federation’s Outstanding Young Farm Family from a field of six finalists. The finalists, selected from 10 commodity winners, are: Garrett and Emily Henry, Montgomery County, Beef Division; Davy and Heather Wright, Dallas County, Greenhouse, Nursery & Sod Division; Jeff and Randi Whitaker, DeKalb County, Hay & Forage Division; Jeremy and Julie Calvert, Cullman County, Horticulture Division; Colby and Jaclyn Willoughby, Houston County, Peanut Division; and Josh and Jessica Turner, DeKalb County, Poultry Division.

The OYFF contest recognizes NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

young farmers between the ages of 17 and 35 who do an outstanding job in farm, home and community activities. The winner will receive a John Deere Gator, courtesy of Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit, a personal computer package courtesy of ValCom/CSS Wireless, $500 cash from Dodge, use of a new Chevrolet Traverse for one year and other prizes. The winner also goes on to compete at the national level for a new Dodge Ram 3500.

Registration opens at 1 p.m.

Sunday in the convention center along with the State Young Farmers Committee’s Silent Auction. Proceeds from this year’s auction will benefit the Alabama Farmers Agricultural Foundation, which funds programs such as Alabama Ag in the Classroom and the “Farming Feeds Alabama” campaign.

According to Brandon Moore, director of the Federation’s Young Farmers program, silent auction drop-off will begin Sunday at registration, and items will be opened for bidding until 2 p.m. Monday.

County Federations are asked to bring two items each from their counties valued at $50 or more.

From 1-3 p.m., the Women’s Leadership Committee will collect pop tabs from County Federations as part of its ongoing fundraising effort for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama.

Sunday’s agenda will also include county photos, the Women’s Leadership Committee caucuses, Young Farmers committee meeting and the opening general session that will feature the Federation’s Annual Report, the Discussion Meet Final Four and presentation of the Service to Agriculture Award.

Monday’s second general session begins at 8:30 a.m. with the communication and county awards. At 9:45 a.m., an Ag Issues Briefing will feature Steve Flick, board president of the Show Me Energy Cooperative in Centerview, Mo., and Dennis Wiese, a consultant in growth energy from Flandreau, S.D. NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

At 11 a.m., District Caucus Meetings begin and, at 11:30, Vice President District Caucus Meetings start.

The Women’s Leadership Committee’s Luncheon and business meeting, in which various counties are recognized for their efforts throughout the year, will begin at 11:45 in the convention center.

The President’s Luncheon is set for 12:15 p.m. in the Riverview Plaza Hotel.

At 2:30 p.m. Monday, a voting delegate business session will elect officers and board members in four districts.

The closing general session is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday, with presentation of the Excellence in Agriculture winner and selection of the Federation’s Outstanding Young Farm Family. n

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w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

By Debra Davis

T

he crowd gathered for the weekly sale at Montgomery Stockyards Sept. 13 was larger than normal. It was a packed house filled with more than just the average buyers and sellers. There also were some of the best livestock auctioneers in the country there to compete in the Livestock Marking Association’s World Livestock Auctioneer quarterfinals and the chance to compete in the world championship in Williamston, S.C., June 22-25, 2011.

The Montgomery event was the first in a series that will select the finalists for the world championship.

Four Alabamians were among the 29 contestants, much to the delight of those gathered in the historic sale barn on the Mobile Highway. They were Brandon Neely and Jeff Bynum, both of Southside in Etowah County; Billy Younkin of Cecil in Montgomery County, and Mike Boswell of Hatchechubbee in Russell County.

Jerry Etheredge, owner of Montgomery Stockyards, said he was excited to host the competition, adding that an auction is the best way to get the best price for cattle. Contest judges scored each participant on vocal clarity and quality, bid-catching ability, conduct of the sale and personal expression.

Two Oklahomans, Justin Dodson of Welch and Dustin Focht of Stillwater, took first and second place, respectively. But the crowd favorite and top Alabama competitor was Younkin, whose introduction grew thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.

Younkin has been a professional w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

A good auctioneer can fetch a good price for cattle farmers.

auctioneer since 1992. He said while he would have preferred to be the champion in the Montgomery contest, he’s excited about competing in the next level and appreciates his local supporters.

“It is still sweet to have a belt buckle from here in Montgomery,” Younkin said just minutes after the winners were announced. “I’m very honored.”

Younkin said he knew from a young age that selling cattle was the career for him.

“My grandfather brought me right here to this stockyard (the former Hooper Stockyard, now Montgomery Stockyard) when I was a little bitty fella, and that’s where I got hooked on it,” said Younkin, who also raises cattle on his farm in east Montgomery County. “Teachers in school always told me I was more interested in what was going on outside than I was in school work, and I’m afraid 16

they were right. I hope they see that I made it work.”

Younkin’s home auction site is Mid State Stockyards in Letohatchee in Lowndes County where he is one of three partners who own the facility. He said while the competition was fun, his day-to-day job as an auctioneer is rewarding because it helps producers at a critical time.

“The speed of the sale, making sure the seller gets the very top dollar for what he has and making sure that every bidder gets a fair chance at buying that animal, all is up to the auctioneer,” he said. “I like being able to help producers. They work hard all year to grow cows and calves and supply beef for consumers. When cattlemen bring their livestock to a sale, and I’m the auctioneer, they entrust me to help them get top dollar for their cattle. It’s very humbling that they put that much faith and trust in me. Sale day is the NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

most important day of the year for them, and it’s my job to help them get the most money possible for their cattle.”

Neely also was among the top eight competitors named at the contest and will join Younkin and the other six top competitors from Montgomery at the world championship.

Clay Kennamer of Jackson County, who serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation’s State Beef Committee, attended the competition. He buys and sells nearly 2,000 head of cattle each year and said he appreciates the skills, ethics and professionalism of a good auctioneer.

“It’s important to have a good auctioneer at a sale to help you get all the money you can and to make sure all the bids get taken,” Kennamer said. “There’s a lot going on while the sale is being conducted. You can have several buyers all actively bidding and trying to buy an animal.

The auctioneer has to keep up with what’s happening in the ring with the animal and with everyone who is trying to bid. And you need to be able to understand what the auctioneer is saying so buyers know what they’re bidding on and seller knows what their animal is bringing.”

Pennies per pound often mean the difference between a profitable year and a loss for a cattle producer, said

Billy Younkin of Cecil takes his turn at the regional auctioneers’ championship.

Alabama Farmers Federation Beef Division Director Nate Jaeger. A penny a pound might seem like a small amount to the average person, but to a cattleman selling 30, 500-pound steers, that penny adds up to $150.

“Perhaps most importantly, a good auctioneer will also know how to maintain a good relationship with all of the potential buyers, so no one feels taken advantage of,” Jaeger said. “Securing a buyer’s loyalty with clean, straightforward selling will benefit the auction and all the consigners selling animals. An

auctioneer is the primary connection between a satisfied seller and buyer.

That’s a responsibility they take seriously because they know they can have such a big impact on a farmer’s bottom line.”

Bynum said most auctioneers understand the importance of what they do, at the same time he’s thankful to have a job he loves.

“I know people who get up every day who say ‘I hate my job,’” he said.

“But I can’t wait to get up every morning, put my jeans and boots on and go crank my truck, cause I love what I do. I thank God every day for what he has given me in my talent.” n

____________________________________ Video of the quarter final competition held in Montgomery, is available online at YouTube.com/AlabamaFarmersFed

Proud auctioneers are, from left, Jay Romine, Billy Younkin, Jacob Massey, Brandon Neely, Jeff Showalter, Philip Gilstrap; not pictured: Justin Dodson, Dustin Focht.

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

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Deatsville Cotton Field Becomes Global Classroom

By Darryal Ray

A

Deatsville cotton field became a global classroom Sept. 22 as about 30 women from the International Dependent’s English Course (IDEC) at Maxwell Air Force Base visited Richard and Becky Edgar’s farm as part of the program’s cultural exchange.

With garden snips or scissors and plastic shopping bags in hand, women from Slovenia, Germany, France, Israel, Denmark, Norway, Philippines and other countries laughed and joked with one another — in English and other languages — as they picked cotton and took lots of photographs under blistering lateSeptember heat.

“My opinion is that if they are somewhere and speaking English, it’s class,” said Marcia Monroe, an instructor with the language program sponsored by the International Officer School for spouses and/or children of officers at the Air Command Staff College or Air War College.

“All of their husbands, or fathers in some cases, are officers that are doing a one-year tour at Maxwell,” Monroe explained. “Most of these ladies will be here for a year, and you know the old saying, ‘If Mama ain’t

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Above and below, women from Maxwell Air Force Base’s International Dependent’s English Course harvest cotton with garden snips.

happy, ain’t nobody happy’ … So, we try to make it possible for everybody to be happy by making it easier for them to speak English and get around.

“This is their one big foray into the country, and they seem to really look forward to it,” she added. “All of these will go home, and more people will come next year and as soon as their feet hit the ground, they’ll ask, ‘When are we going to pick cotton?’ They really enjoy it.”

Becky Edgar said the IDEC visits began four years ago when Monroe called to ask if the group could come and pick cotton.

“We look forward to this every year,” said Becky. “It’s interesting to meet ladies from all over the world.

I remember the first year we did it — I talked with a lady from India, and they grow cotton over there, too.

I think she said they handpick all their cotton over there. So we had a good discussion about the different practices. I’m always amazed at how happy they are! But they’re on a field trip – I guess they’re having a good time.”

Monroe said the field trip is a treat for most of the women, who are more accustomed to city life.

“Most of them live in Montgom18

ery, Prattville and Millbrook and pass the cotton fields on their way to the base,” Monroe said. “Many of them want to pick, but I have to tell them that you can’t just go out into a field and start picking – you really need to ask permission. But when you pass these places, who do you ask? I decided I would start trying to find a farmer that would let us pick, and four years ago, I did. I found the Edgars, and it’s just mushroomed.”

Monroe said the women would use the cotton bolls they picked to create “cotton angels” and other decorations.

While the sight of women picking cotton with plastic shopping bags and garden snips is, well, unusual, Richard Edgar saw it as an opportunity to help pick 250 acres of cotton.

“If all of them had a bag and could pick about a bale a day, they could pick about what I’m picking with this,” said Richard, who stopped his big red Case IH cotton picker to answer the group’s many questions.

Before Edgar climbed back aboard his picker, another instructor expressed her gratitude by saying, “This may just be the highlight of their time in America.” n NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Baldwin County Takes Aim At Stopping DUI Offense

S

tudents in south Alabama are getting first-hand knowledge of why drinking and driving is so dangerous thanks to members of the Baldwin County Farmers Federation.

The county Federation is sponsoring a program that, by using specially designed goggles, gives students the feeling of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs while trying to negotiate a driving course and taking a field sobriety test.

David Bitto, president of the Baldwin County Farmers Federation, said the county organization spent about $7,500 to purchase the customized John Deere Gator, a trailer to transport it and the special goggles.

“If we can save one life through this program, every penny that was spent will be worth it,” he said.

The reaction from the students has been entertaining but serious, said Federation Area Organization Director Paul Brown who implemented the program in the schools.

Brown also takes the opportunity

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

to tell students about slow-moving vehicle signs and to watch for tractors and other farm equipment on the road. “Most of the students show up laughing, and we want them to have a good time,” Brown said. “But when they get in here and put their hands on the wheel, it becomes serious and they realize, ‘Man, this is a lot tougher than I thought it was gonna be.’”

The drivers wear goggles that simulate a .25 blood alcohol level, turning the relatively simple task of driving the utility vehicle through a path of safety cones into something much more difficult.

The Alabama Department of Public Safety has joined the Baldwin County Farmers Federation in the project by providing Alabama State Troopers who assist with the programs. Monroe and Escambia County Farmers Federations are partnering with the Baldwin County Federation to bring the program to those counties, Brown said. n

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TIMBER STUMPAGE PRICES

Statewide Average S e co n d Q u a r t e r 2010 $222 Pine Sawtimber $29.55

Pine Pulpwood

Hardwood Pulpwood

MBF Scribner Ton

$29.01

Cord

$10.82

Ton

$37.91

Cord

$13.07

Ton

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Sponsored each year by the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Outstanding Young Farm Family Awards Program recognizes young farmers between the ages of 17 and 35 who do an outstanding job in farm, home and community activities. Division winners representing 10 commodities were selected in February. Of those, six finalists will compete for the title of overall Outstanding Young Farm Family for 2010. The winner, who will be named at the Federation’s 89th Annual Meeting in December, will receive a John Deere Gator, courtesy of Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit, a personal computer package courtesy of ValCom/CCS Wireless, $500 cash from Dodge, use of a new vehicle and other prizes.

The winner also will go on to compete at the national level for a new Dodge Ram 3500. This month, Neighbors profiles the winners of the Horticulture and the Peanuts Divisions.

Calvert Family

Horticulture

By Darryal Ray

“We’ve been going to that market for eight years, and I’ve never seen that many people there,” said Jeremy. “There were people parked on the grass, people parked at the back of the market, and people trying to get in our stall … It worked out well. We picked a good day. There were a lot of farmers there, and we all had a lot of product. We were still feeling the effects of that day two weeks later. It was really a good thing.”

It was the kind of team effort that is part of everyday life at the Calverts’ farm, a 20-acre operation that also includes strawberries, cabbage, collards, onions, peppers, corn, peas, beans, squash and other crops, along with two broiler houses.

“There are no office jobs here — everything is hands on,” says Jeremy who depends on Julie to help plant, harvest, pack and sell all the fruits and vegetables on the family farm.

Even James, whose fascination with tractors extends well beyond the 100 or so toy ones in his collection to his dad’s real ones, helps out wherever he can.

This year, in particular, has been a busy one at the Jasper market.

“It’s very rare when all of your canning tomatoes, the culls, are bought up. But this year we saw more

T

o make a really good tomato sandwich, Jeremy Calvert says you have to start with a “good locally grown tomato.”

Of course, it just so happens that he has some.

In fact, tomatoes are one of the main crops he grows on his Cullman County farm in the Bremen community. So when he heard how a Tomato Sandwich Day event had been successful at a market in a neighboring county, Calvert figured it could work at the Walker County Farmers Market, too.

Mentioning the possibility of such a promotion to Matthew Durdin, an area organization director with the Alabama Farmers Federation, was all it took. “Matthew took it and ran with it,” said Jeremy who, along with wife Julie and 7-year-old son James, is among the finalists in the Federation’s annual Outstanding Young Farm Family contest.

Before he knew it, Jeremy was up to his neck in tomatoes — and customers — at the Jasper market as the Walker County Farmers Federation joined in to make Tomato Sandwich Day a roaring success. In three hours, from 8 to 11 a.m., Durdin and Federation members sliced up 100 pounds of tomatoes, serving about 350 sandwiches — 115 per hour.

w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

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NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

people canning and more people freezing stuff than wait until I’m done and come to me. I don’t know why we have in 10 years,” said Jeremy. “I never thought it because they can buy the same thing from her.” would be like that again, that it would take a drastic Sometimes, this brand of farmers market sales psychange for people to go back to that, but we saw more chology is reflected in the planting decisions as well. of that than we have in a long, long time. I believe Two years ago, Jeremy planted 3.5 acres of peach it’s all due to the economy. You can see it in the way trees — and picked around 300 baskets off of roughly people spend their money. They want to make that 390 trees. “We were real pleased with that,” he said. dollar go as far as it can.”

“For a two-year-old tree, I was extremely pleased.”

He also believes fewer people are eating out, and He guesses he’s tried at least 20 varieties of tomapreparing meals at home instead. toes, but doesn’t grow heirloom varieties because they “How many households do you know of that eats bruise easily and don’t produce well. “It’s a high-end potatoes in one form or fashion every day? It’s just not thing,” Jeremy said of heirlooms. “The people who that way anymore,” said Jeremy. “The younger women come to our market are just regular people — you’re don’t cook. A lot of them work, and pick up somenot going to sell them a $10 cantaloupe or $15 organic thing on the way home. But we saw changes in that chicken. They’ll just laugh at you.” this year, too. Now, a lot of women are asking Julie for The next addition, he said, could be scuppernongs. recipes. They’ll ask, ‘How do you cook this?’ We had “I believe I could sell those without any trouble,” shelled peas in quart bags in a cooler the other day, he said. “But then, we are strung out with so many difand this woman asked, ‘How do you cook that?’ I said, ferent things I don’t know how many more new crops I ‘All you’ve got to do is throw that in the pot. You don’t can take on and take care of it all.” have to shell it or anything. Just boil it until they get He does know, however, he won’t be increasing the done.’ She said, ‘Really?!’ She had no clue. She bought size of his watermelon patch. ’em and came back a week later and said she loved “I’m not going to raise many watermelons,” said ’em.”

Jeremy. “A lady will tote a cantaloupe, but she will While their thrice-weekly trips to market kept the not tote a 40-pound watermelon. You WILL tote it family busy, they have also taught them a great deal to her car. It doesn’t matter if her car is two blocks about what works — and what doesn’t. away — you are going to tote it to her car. If you are “When a woman comes up to your stall to buy going to sell watermelons, somebody has to be devoted something, she doesn’t want to see somebody like me just to that watermelon truck. Watermelons take up — I’m too ugly,” Jeremy said with a smile. “I need to too much room, and we’ve got too much other stuff. be in the back packing it up, and letting these women As long as they’ll tote cantaloupes, I’m going to raise sell. cantaloupes.” n “When someone comes to that stall to buy, it needs to be the same person there every time.

When there’s somebody different, it just blows their mind. It just messes everything up,” he added.

“I don’t know if it’s just dependability, knowing who they are going to deal with or what it is.”

“There are some who won’t buy from the girl who helps us,” said Julie.

“They’ll come to me every time. They’ll wait until I’m done with another customer. Even if Jeremy Calvert, son James and wife Julie have learned that growing good crops is only part of the she doesn’t have a equation in successful farming. customer, they’ll NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

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Willoughby Family

Peanuts

By Darryal Ray

W

hen the turpentine business played out, his great grandfather took up farming.

When the Great Depression came, his grandfather opened a country store.

And when Burger King needed pickles, his father began growing cucumbers.

So it’s hardly surprising that Colby Willoughby, the fourth generation to work the sandy soil of Houston County over the past 110 years, would be open to trying new things.

Nor is it surprising that Colby and wife Jaclyn captured the Peanut Division of the Outstanding Young Farm Family competition, and will be among six finalists for the title at the 89th annual meeting of the Alabama Farmers Federation Dec. 7 in Mobile.

“I question why we do everything we do,” Colby says. “Sometimes, you have to take a step back and say, ‘I know it’s been done this way forever, and there’s probably a good reason for that because somebody before me went through trial and error.’ But what if I can bring a new perspective? Step back and get a bigger picture?”

But the 31-year-old isn’t just out to re-invent the wheel — there’s a motive to his inventiveness. It’s survival.

“When you think of saving $5 or $10 an acre on your crops — the bigger the operation the more money that is — and $5 or $10 an acre, in a disaster year, that could keep you in business the next year. … Like using GPS, a lot of people get Real Time Kinematic (RTK) guidance on their tractors because it’s the thing to do, and the salesman will tell you how it will make you all kinds of money. That’s part of it, but it also keeps you in the game and keeps you going, keeps you being competitive.”

Even relatively “small” savings w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Jaclyn and Colby Willoughby won Peanut Division.

of $5 or $10 per acre, Colby says, add up quickly when your farm has 850 acres of peanuts and is doublecropping 2,600 acres of cucumbers.

That’s why he has become something of a master tinkerer, modifying planters, row crop cultivators, field cultivators, sprayers and dump carts. If it moves (and maybe even if it doesn’t), Colby can probably find a way to make it do more than was originally intended.

By building a cucumber grading station, he was able to load product into bin boxes rather than hopperbottom trailers, add new customers and increase yields 10 percent because of better recovery and less damage.

When he discovered his new cucumber harvesters required his fuel-guzzling John Deere tractors to run at maximum engine speed, he called up the manufacturer. “I talked the manufacturer into using a bigger hydraulic oil cooler,” Colby said. “Once they did that, we were able to throttle back from 2300 RPM to 1800 RPM and it brought the temperature down. All the seals on our motors last forever now, and we cut our fuel consumption by a good third.”

He’s also built a front-mounted 22

liquid tank for water, fertilizer or fumigant and rigged a sprayer to cut usage of a $1,000-per-gallon fumigant by a third. Then, there’s the front cultivator he built, and he’s been thinking about a front-mounted disc. “But,” he says, “people will probably think I’m crazy.”

Jaclyn, his bride of 18 months, says her husband is constantly reading magazines like OEM Off-Road and Vegetable Grower. “He probably gets five magazines in the mail everyday,” she said. “There are piles and piles of them all over the house.

I’ve fussed and fussed about it, but they just keep coming. Except for nights when he doesn’t get home until late, he’ll sit down and read five or six of them a night. He’ll go through them and tear out pages, so he can look up more on the Internet. So, there are pages and pages of magazines all over the house. It’s been a huge adjustment for both of us.”

Of course, making adjustments is nothing new to the Willoughbys.

“It’s just a matter of being willing to try stuff. I’m not afraid to try.

When it bombs, I’ll admit when I was wrong, but it won’t stop me from trying again.” n NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Ag Briefs State To Host Major Equestrian Event Coordinating and “ reating, Conserving A Trail Friendly

C

Environment” will be the theme of the 2011 Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference (SETC) when it comes to the Auburn Conference Center next summer.

The conference, an offshoot off the 1999 National Symposium on Horse Trails in Forest Ecosystems, is now regarded as a premiere education forum for bringing equestrian interests together to share information and forge coalitions.

Alabama is hosting the event, thanks to a newly formed partnership with various equine organizations and the Alabama Farmers Federation. Others in the partnership are the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Alabama Horse Council, Alabama Quarter Horse Association, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University’s Department of Animal Sciences, Backcountry Horsemen of Alabama, the U.S. Forest Service and Judson College.

Organizers say the SETC event will not only bolster the state’s $2.39 billion horse industry but will also help develop the next generation of trail riders and provide a forum on such issues as tort claims, landowner incentives and public land policies.

For more information about SETC or sponsorship of the event, contact Sandy Pegram at (205) 6632309 or swpjp@aol.com. n

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Career Day The Elmore County Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Committee participated in the Elmore County Career Day Sept. 14 at the Wetumpka Civic Center. County Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Betty Barrett, right, encouraged students to consider agriculture as a career choice and course of study in college.

Alfa Ag/Forestry Scholarships Deadline is Dec. 1

S

tudents planning to pursue degrees in agriculture or forestry at Auburn University have until Dec. 1 to apply for Alabama Farmers Federation/Alfa scholarships.

The scholarships of up to $1,750 per student, per year are awarded to students who plan to enroll or are currently enrolled in AU’s College of Agriculture or School of Forestry or who are majoring in agricultural engineering or ag education. The scholarships are renewable yearly to students who maintain a 2.5 grade point average and exhibit good moral character and citizenship.

23

“This scholarship program is an excellent resource, not only for students, but also for all of Alabama agriculture because it helps ensure that our best and brightest young men and women pursue agricultural careers,” said Paul Pinyan, executive director of the Alabama Farmers Federation. “As the state’s largest farm organization, we’re proud to support this program.”

Students are urged to apply early for admission because enrollment at Auburn University is limited.

Applications are available from the university and AlfaFarmers.org.

Students must complete a separate application for scholarships. n w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

By Debra Davis

A

trip back in time for 74-year-old Eugene Glenn is just a few yards away from the back door of his home in the Lawrence County community of Hillsboro. There, amid rolling fields of corn and soybeans, is the shop that holds his iconic time machine – a fully restored 1930 Model A Ford.

The black paint on the car is so shiny Eugene can see his reflection as he polishes the hood. Atop his head is his favorite cap Eugene Glenn poses beside his fully restored Model A Ford. that looks like something from the The Eugene says he loves to drive the vintage car. SomeGreat Gatsby. The wide, white-wall tires times it’s just a leisurely ride into town, but the couple give the car a snappy appearance and a sense of royalty also has taken several 1,000-mile trips where they join befitting such an antique beauty. with other Model-A owners who share their love of old Photos that cover the refrigerator in the house cars.

They also participate in several local Christmas where he and his wife, Rita, live are filled with memoparades. ries of children and grandchildren, but there’s a photo “When I bought this car, it already had a new paint that holds a special place there. It’s an old black and job, but I’ve completely redone the interior,” Eugene white of the Glenns as a young couple in their colsaid.

And he’s added some modern amenities like seat lege days at Florence State (Teachers) College (now the belts, brake lights and a key ignition system.

University of North Alabama). It was taken in 1956 in “We still have the old crank start on it and it front of Eugene’s first car — a 1930 Model A Ford. works, but it wasn’t called an arm-breaker for nothMore than a half-century later, one of his favorite ing,” he said.

“If it (the starter crank) jumps on you, it places to be is back behind the wheel of the Model A can break your arm.” he purchased four years ago with his wife of 52 years The couple mostly takes longer trips in spring and beside him. fall, when the weather is cooler, because of all the “I saw this car online and we traveled up there to things he has added, the car does not have air conditake a look at it,” Eugene recalled about his trip to Virtioning.

That’s fine with Eugene though, he likes to ginia to make the purchase. “I bought my first one my feel the breeze as he cruises along viewing the world at senior year in high school and paid $100 for it — it was a slower pace. used, but we loved it.” He didn’t want to reveal what “Top speed I guess is about 55 miles per hour, but his latest Model A cost, but indicated it was considerusually we travel at about 45,” he said. “It could probably more than his first one.

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NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

ably go faster, but that’s a good, safe speed for us. We did give a driving lesson to veteran actor Dan Lauria, don’t travel the interstate, and sometimes we do make who plays the role of the local sheriff in the movie. some drivers irritated because we drive so slowly.

Lauria is best known for his portrayal of Jack Arnold in Sometimes it backs traffic up, and we’ll just pull off the television series The Wonder Years. Reese Witherand let them go by, but most people just stare at us spoon was not on the set for the one-day shoot involvwhen they pass.” ing Eugene’s car.

“It used to bother me some when we first started Eugene didn’t want to reveal his compensation for traveling in the Model A,” Rita said. “People who were the use of his car in the movie, but he and Rita did total strangers would look at us and come up and start spend two nights at the Marriott in Chattanooga. talking. I felt sort of like While he’s obviously a spectacle. It was kind fond of his 1930 model, of unnerving. But now, an even older one soon we’re used to it, and could be sharing the people are generally very road. It’s the 1929 Model nice.”

A Eugene bought a couMany admirers want ple years ago in North to have their photo made Carolina. It’s hard for an with the Model A and amateur to tell where share stories about when exactly all the parts fit they or their parents together, but Eugene says owned a similar car. he knows he can put it The car recently had back together. a chance to be immorAs a retired farmer, talized on the silver Eugene has done his screen when it was used share of mechanic in an upcoming movie work over the years.

Water for Elephants, That’s come in handy filmed in a rural area for rebuilding antique outside Chickamauga, cars that don’t have the Ga. The story from the computerized systems Sara Green novel, which that modern-day vehicles is set during the Great require.

Depression, originates in “These old cars are Tompkins County, N.Y. lots easier to work on,” The movie stars Brithe said as he adjusted the ish heartthrob Robert spark plug on his 1929 Pattinson, who appears model. in the popular vampire And while much of movie, Eclipse. his time is spent tinkerGlenn takes his antique car for a spin near his Hillsboro home.

In Water for Eleing on the vintage cars, phants, Pattinson he’s very attuned to modportrays a veterinary ern technology, includstudent who abandons his studies after his parents are ing computers, the Internet and progressive farming killed and joins a third-rate traveling circus as the vetequipment. erinarian. Reese Witherspoon also plays a leading role His sons, Brian and Don, have some of the most in the movie. advanced farm equipment available, like an auto-steer “My friend Scott Owens saw an ad on Craig’s List tractor that uses a global positioning system to keep looking for cars to be in the movie,” Eugene recalled. the rows straight. Eugene said when he began his farm“After I sent in photos, they said they’d like to use my ing career, he had a 50-horsepower tractor. Now, the car.” tractors on their farm are five times that size.

There were some minor modifications, like switch“Today’s tractors are a lot bigger and more efficient, ing the white-wall tires to standard black walls, replac- that’s for sure,” he said as he looked over the engine ing the license plate and removing the modern turn of the 1929 model he’s restoring. “But they’re a lot signals. harder to work on, too. They’re filled with all kinds The Glenns hauled the car on a trailer to the movie of electronics and computers that the average person set. They were met by hundreds of teenage fans seekjust can’t work on. That’s why I like these old things ing to catch a glimpse of Pattinson. Glenn said their — I can still work on them. Been doing it all my life, I contact with the actors was very limited, although he guess.” n NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

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Alabama Gardener

By Lois Chaplin

N

ovember is the month that sweet balls of sugar called persimmons drop from high in the trees. These native fruit were prized by American Indians and settlers, but are not a part of the urban landscape except in wooded neighborhoods where an occasional tree remains. American persimmon (Diospyros viginiana) is not an easy tree to find for sale in nurseries, but if you have one on your property, you’re all set. If not, look for its cousin, the Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki), which rewards you with fruit 4 to 5 times larger.

The Japanese persimmon is a great tree for home gardens because it is pretty, not too large, relatively carefree and offers fruit late in the year. I grew up with a persimmon in the yard and always looked forward to the soft, sugary fruit that I thought of as pudding from a tree.

This time of year you will find persimmons in the grocery store, but don’t be put off by one that is not sweet and flavorful. The difference in homegrown versus grocery store persimmons is like the difference between homegrown and commercial tomatoes.

To try a Japanese persimmon, where do you start? You need an open, sunny spot large enough for a tree about 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Japanese persimmons are often wider than they are tall, and they get even wider in the fall when the big fruit weighs down the branches.

Despite a sour reputation, persimmons can be sugary sweet.

You can select varieties that don’t need cross-pollination so one will do, but if you have the space, enjoy more than one type. The fruit are of two types: astringent, which must be eaten when soft or your mouth will pucker like never before, and non-astringent, which taste sweet even when firm.

Fuyu produces seedless fruits that are non-astringent, so you can eat them while firm. It is easy to slice into fruit salads and other dishes, whereas the soft ones just won’t slice. Fuyu likes hot summers, and is at home in Alabama.

Eureka produces a flattened fruit and is very sweet when it softens, but is astringent when firm. It bears heavily and is well suited here, too.

Maru is another astringent type, is very sweet when it softens and has a beautiful color, a little darker orange than the others. This one is less likely to get zapped by a late spring frost because it has a higher

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requirement for chilling hours than do some of the others.

You can leave the astringent varieties to ripen on the tree, but if the birds get more than you can stand, let the fruit turn orange and bring it indoors to soften.

One medium-sized fruit is only 120 calories and contains half the daily requirement of vitamin A, 20 percent of your vitamin C requirement and 6 grams of fiber.

You can learn more about persimmons from the fruit tree guides published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Now is the prime time for planting. n ____________________________________ Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

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NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Eufaula High School Math Teacher Chosen Alfa Teacher of Month

By Melissa Martin

right paths, Rasberry serves as the Eufaula High School honor society sponsor and math tutorial teacher. t didn’t take Amy Rasberry a It’s for her service to her school quadratic equation to realize that and the Eufaula community that her career as a staff accountant Rasberry earned her designawasn’t adding up to her tion as Alfa’s Teacher of the idea of a dream job. But Month for November. As it’s certainly her experiNovember’s honoree, she ence in the corporate will receive $1,000 from Alfa world that has helped Insurance. Her school, a diviprepare her for a life of sion of Eufaula City Schools, teaching math to high will receive a matching award school students. from the Alabama Farmers “Since I did not follow Rasberry Federation. the traditional route to Though her students will often becoming a teacher, I think it is be the first to sing her praises, feloften easier for me to think outside low faculty members are in equal of the box,” said Rasberry. “I see reverence of Rasberry’s character, when I differentiate my instructeaching style, enthusiasm and tion and incorporate many stratepositive attitude. gies that I have added to my bag of “As her building principal and tricks . . . I am able to better serve my children and engage all different supervisor, I have come to believe in and rely on the strength of her types of learners.” character, the depth of her knowlWith a fervor for education edge and the breadth of her comand guiding children down the

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NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

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mitment to provide each student with child-centered instruction in a developmentally appropriate, nurturing environment,” explains Eufaula High School Principal Steve Hawkins.

Rasberry received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration with an accounting emphasis, both from Troy State University. A member of the Alabama Education Association and National Education Association, she received her Class B Secondary Alternative Teaching Certificate from Troy State University in 2007.

During 2010, Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation are honoring one outstanding teacher from each of Alabama’s eight state board districts, two principals and two private teachers. Application information is available in the Agricultural Resources section of AlfaFarmers.org under Ag Links. n

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St. Clair County Cook Wins Heritage Cooking Contest

By Debra Davis

C

arol Simpson said she felt a little out-classed when she walked into the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Annual Heritage Cooking Contest in Montgomery Sept. 2. The St. Clair County cook was carrying an Autumn Harvest Pie, her entry in the state cooking contest, in a grocery bag.

“I didn’t see mine as being in the same class as those,” she said looking around the room filled with fresh-baked pies. “I just really didn’t think it would win.”

But it did, and her family’s favorite pie not only earned high praise from the judges, it also won her a blue ribbon and $150.

Other winners in the contest were Shannon Murray from Franklin County who won second place with her mouth-watering Key Lime Mousse Pie and Toni Flowers of Montgomery County who won third with her delicious Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie. Second- and

Winners in the 2010 Heritage Cooking Contest are, from left, first place, Carol Simpson of St. Clair County; second place, Shannon Murray of Franklin County; and third place, Toni Flowers of Montgomery County.

third-place winners received cash awards of $100 and $50, respectively.

Participants in the statewide

First Place

Carol Simpson, St. Clair County Autumn Harvest Pie

competition, sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Division, had earlier won their county Federation’s annual cooking contest. The state competition was held at the corporate offices of Alfa Insurance and drew winners from 35 counties.

Simpson said her award-winning pie actually began life as a cake recipe given to her by her niece, Sarah Crocker.

“I’ve used it (as a cake recipe) for my family and they liked it,”

Autumn Harvest Pie Crust: 1 box yellow butter cake mix 1 egg 8 tablespoons butter, melted Filling: 1 (8-ounce) bar of cream cheese 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 stick butter, melted or softened 3 ¼ cups powdered sugar 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin ¾ teaspoon cinnamon ¾ teaspoon nutmeg

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Mix and press into 2, 8-inch pie dishes.

Mix all filling ingredients and pour into the prepared crusts, divided. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until just firm in the middle. Cool and serve with sweetened whipped cream.

NOTE: I do not use anything but real whipping cream.

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

SECOND Place

Shannon Murray, Franklin County Key Lime Mousse Pie

she said. “I wondered how it would be as a pie, so I changed a few things and it was even better as a pie!”

Besides its taste, the pie also is simple to make and takes only 45 minutes from start to finish, she said. It also keeps well and can be made a day or two ahead of time, she added.

When asked what made her pie a winner, Simpson paused a minute and said, “Well, it must have been the

Crust: 2 cups crushed graham crackers 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

Key Lime Mousse Pie

Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a 10-inch spring form pan. Set aside.

The winning recipes and a full list of all the state entries are available online at www.AlfaFarmers.org.

taste – and the Lord’s blessings.”

During the judging, contestants learned about the Buy Alabama’s Best Program from Montgomery businesswoman Virginia Whitfield of Whitfield Foods, Inc. The program encourages shoppers to look for and purchase food products from Alabama.

The Heritage Cooking Contest strives to showcase the flavor, versatility and nutritional value of Alabama agricultural products.

Dishes were judged on taste, appearance and ease of preparation. n

Filling: 6 tablespoons fresh key lime juice 1 (1 1/4-ounce) package unflavored gelatin 2 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided 1 (10-ounce) package white chocolate, chopped 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons lime zest In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the lime juice. Whisk in the gelatin and ½ cup of the heavy cream and simmer. Remove the pan from the heat. Add white chocolate and stir until smooth. Allow to cool.

Using an electric mixer, blend together the cream cheese, sugar and lime zest in a medium bowl until smooth. Slowly beat in the cooled white chocolate mixture into cream cheese mixture. Using clean, dry beaters, beat the remaining 2 cups heavy cream in a small bowl until it forms soft peaks. Fold it into the white chocolate mixture and pour into the pie crust. Cover and freeze overnight.

Remove from freezer and run a sharp knife around inside of spring form pan to help loosen the pie. Release spring form ring on the bottom of the pan and transfer pie to a serving plate.

Garnish: 1 1/2 ounces white chocolate 6-8 lime slices Garnish with white chocolate (grated or shaved into curls) and lime slices. Serves 16.

THIRD Place

Toni Flowers, Montgomery County Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

Old Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie 2 pie crusts 3 whole chicken breasts 4 hard boiled eggs, sliced 1 stick of butter 8 tablespoons of flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 4 cups chicken stock Prepare two pie crusts and chill or use Pillsbury’s Pie crust. Boil chicken in salted water until tender, then cut chicken into large

NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

pieces. Cover bottom of 9-inch pie dish with 1 crust, then with chicken and top with egg slices. To make sauce: melt butter and stir in flour, salt and pepper.

Add stock and cook until thickened. Pour over pie, then top with 2nd rolled out pie crust and cut vents in top. Dot pie with butter and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Serves 4-6.

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Neighbors Classifieds Classifieds Facts

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For just $2 per word, your classified ad in Neighbors reaches more than 95,000 subscribers. Ads must be received by the first day of the month prior to publication. NO changes after closing. PRE-PAYMENT REQUIRED FOR ALL ADS. Minimum 10 words per ad. No fax, phone orders or credit cards accepted. For questions, call Paula Culver at (334) 613-4410. Send your ad with payment, payable to Alabama Farmers Federation, to Neighbors Classifieds, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191-0001.

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NEIGHBORS • NOVEMBER 2010

Let your lens do the talking — and show us how Alabama’s farm families care in these categories ...

...For Our Animals ...For Our Land ...For Our Food

Win Cash Prizes In EACH Category

$300 — First Place $200 — Second Place $100 — Third Place

RULES • Prizes for each “We Care...” category - For Our Animals, For Our Land, For Our Food - are: 1st Place, $300; 2nd Place, $200; 3rd Place, $100.

• All photos must have been taken in Alabama.

• Each photographer is limited to three entries per category.

• Prints must be 8” by 10” and should be packaged to prevent bending.

• The entrant must include his or her name, address, phone number, title of photo, name of category and Federation membership number on a 4” by 5” card. Any persons in the photo must be identified on the card as well.

• Entries must be received by Nov. 1, 2010.

• Ship entries to: “We Care…” Photo Contest, Neighbors Magazine, 2108 E. South Blvd., Montgomery, AL 36116. The Federation is not responsible for any lost or misdirected materials.

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN NOV. 1, 2010 SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO: ‘WE CARE...’ PHOTO CONTEST, Neighbors Magazine 2108 E. South Blvd.

Montgomery, AL 36116 • Competition is open to amateur photographers living in Alabama who are members of Alabama Farmers Federation.

• Employees of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance and their immediate families are not eligible.

• All entries must be original photography taken between Nov. 1, 2008 and Nov. 1, 2010.

• No retouching of photos or digital manipulation of images is permitted.

• Entrant acknowledges entry constitutes permission to publish the photo and has the right to grant permission for publication of photo as well as permission of any person or persons depicted in the photograph.

• Photos become the property of Neighbors magazine and the Alabama Farmers Federation and will not be returned.

• Decision of the judges is final.