Neighbors Magazine, November 2016 by Alabama Farmers Federation

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VOLUME 41,

NUMBER 11

A Membership Publication of the Alabama Farmers Federation

Winter/November 2016

_____________________________________

Debra Davis, Editor Mike Moody, Graphic Designer ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan, Executive Director Jeff Helms, Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jimmy Parnell, President, Stanton Rex Vaughn, Vice President/North, Huntsville Dean Wysner, Vice President/Central, Woodland George Jeffcoat, Vice President/Southeast, Gordon Jake Harper, Vice President/Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn, Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Brian Glenn, Hillsboro Paul Looney, Athens Phillip Thompson, Scottsboro Rickey Cornutt, Boaz Joe Roberts, Fayette Dell Hill, Alpine Joe Lambrecht, Wetumpka Dan Robertson, Uniontown Garry Henry, Hope Hull Steve Stroud, Goshen Sammy Gibbs, Atmore Fred Helms, Dothan Regina Carnes, Boaz Lance Miller, Snead

In This Issue 10

Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 or (334) 288-3900. For information about Alabama Farmers Federation member benefits, visit the website www.AlfaFarmers.org. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A.

Farmers Get Social

Headliners At Annual Meeting

10 Lending Farmers A Hand 13 Alabama Harvest Time 16 Timber Titan Trio 28 Elicious Cheesecakes

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001.

30 Saluting A Veteran

MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES: , 800-392-5705, Option 4 or BWatkins@alfafarmers.org

36 Country Kitchen

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Ben Shurett, (256) 997-7922 BenShurett.alfafarmers@gmail.com

On The Cover

DISCLAIMERS: Advertisements in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or Alabama Farmers Federation. Editorial information from sources outside the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of information does not imply an endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Monroe County’s Elmo Ziebach and his family have carved a place into Alabama’s timber industry. Photo by Marlee Moore

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Farmers Get Social Debunking Agricultural Myths One Post At A Time

Limestone County farmer Brady Peek attaches an external camera to his combine to film corn harvest.

By Marlee Moore

ern agriculture — or agriculture in general. “Many people that view my videos have never seen cotton before,” said McMichen, a State Wheat & Feed Grains Committee member. “When they see our farm, they can ask questions. We’re getting our message to a target audience we’ve never before been able to reach.” McMichen’s teenage children introduced him to social media, but the self-proclaimed tech junkie soon discovered its advocacy value and the importance of content and timing his posts. “At certain times of day, you get more hits than you ordinarily would,” said McMichen, who uses analytics applications to scout the best times to post. After attending a social media workshop at American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting, Joel Sirmon picked up his smartphone and told his wife, Patti, they needed to get to work. “Farming isn’t big in America like it used to be,” said the 59-yearold. “I want to tell people that farming is what made — and still fuels — this country.” Like McMichen, Sirmon seeks to dispel myths and misconceptions about agriculture. “Consumers might think potatoes just come from the store or peanuts grow above ground,” said Sirmon, who uses Facebook Live to share videos of farm life.

hirty-six thousand and counting. That’s how many views Nick McMichen’s 9-minute, 5-second cotton picking video reached within 24 hours of posting on Periscope one Monday morning. Cherokee County’s McMichen and farmers nationwide are tapping into Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope and other social media channels as agricultural advocacy avenues. At 45, he is quickly becoming an international sensation by debunking agricultural myths and transparently showing farm life. “If we don’t speak for ourselves and tell our story, no one else will,” said McMichen, who tweets, posts and shoots videos about life on his row-crop farm. “Social media outlets are powerful tools we can use to spread our message.” Periscope might be the most effective media at McMichen’s fingertips. An interactive smartphone application where farmers — or general users — videos of activities like cotton harvest, Periscope allows farmers to answer viewers’ questions in real time. Viewers from as far away as Hong Kong, South Africa and Eastern Europe tune in to McMichen’s feed and usually know little about mod-

Cherokee County farmer Nick McMichen uses live social media to allow worldwide viewers to ask questions about his farm. w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Winter/November 2016

He also learned to distill agricultural information and terminology into forms the public understands. “These are ordinary words for us, but some people don’t know what they mean,” Sirmon said. The Baldwin County farmer said his goal is to show the farming process from planting to harvest on social media. That way, consumers get the whole picture of farming sweet potatoes, cotton and more. Although he posts less frequently than McMichen’s almost-daily posts, Joel and Patti Sirmon often write captions together to fully explain video footage. Sirmon said he generally films from a tractor cab so followers see modern technology, like autosteer or hard-working H2A seasonal agricultural laborers gathering freshly turned potatoes. “Video helps broadcast what we, as farmers, go through,” he said. Limestone County’s Brady Peek, 23, has used social media longer than McMichen and Sirmon, but that’s expected of a millennial. Peek began using Facebook as a high school junior and said he sometimes feels he doesn’t share enough of his experiences – good and bad – on the farm. “I feel like there’s a fine line between posting too much and not enough,” said Peek, who posts pictures of his row crop farm every few days. While the general consensus is younger generations are better at social media, McMichen attended a National Cotton Council meeting earlier this year and was more technologically active than some attendees in their 20s. “Social media has nothing to do with age,” said McMichen, whose 88-year-old grandmother uses Facebook. Peek gravitates toward Instagram and Snapchat because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. “The picture describes what I’m doing on the farm better than words ever could,” he said.

While Peek said he realizes the importance of sharing agriculture’s story with the public, time – or lack thereof – often interferes. “Sometimes I don’t feel like I have the time to use social media,” Peek said. “But with Instagram and Snapchat, you post or send a picture and don’t have to say too much.” Peek said he usually doesn’t have issues with Instagram followers or Facebook friends criticizing agriculture, but rare attacks on GMOs are spurred with some Instagram hashtags. McMichen sometimes encounters inappropriate questions on Periscope and advises social media newcomers to carefully sift through and respond to questions. “Make sure you know your facts, and answer all the questions you can,” McMichen said. “Once you learn how to use it, you feel more prepared.” n

Baldwin County's Joel Sirmon films and photographs planting and harvesting so consumers can see how food is grown.

Winter/November 2016

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Annual Meeting Touts Famous Speakers, Musician

world-renowned expert on biotechnology, an award-winning country music singer and a Fox News political commentator are on the agenda when Alabama Farmers Federation members gather for the 95th Annual Meeting Dec. 4-5 in Montgomery. Author and international speaker Mark Lynas will highlight Monday’s Ag Issues Briefing. A former anti-GMO (genetically modified organism) activist, Lynas will share how science led him to become a biotechnology advocate. “As a scientist, you must have data to back up what you’re saying,” Lynas told American Farm Bureau Federation members at their annual convention in January. “And I realized I wasn’t holding myself to the same scientific standards on GMOs as I applied to my research on climate change. You can’t pick and choose where you use science to back up your argument. You have to be consistent.” Lynas’ talk will kick off an educational campaign by the Federation to help farmers better explain modern agricultural practices — particularly the use of GMOs — to the general public. “People need a believable source of information. As farmers, you have credibility because you understand what you’re doing and why. You can explain the real benefits GM crops have for both the land and consumers,” said Lynas, who lives in Oxford, England. The annual meeting begins Sunday with policy meetings, exhibits, a silent auction benefiting the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) and a general Winter/November 2016

session featuring the Federation video annual report. That evening, members will join other country-music fans for a Sara Evans concert, promoted by Lynas Alfa Insurance. Evans’ breakthrough album in 2000, “Born to Fly” was followed by a string of hits, including her most successful single, “Suds in the Bucket.” She is working on her eighth studio album. Monday’s annual meeting activities begin early with an AFAF breakfast and live auction. Outstanding county leaders will be recognized at a second general session, and state board of directors and officers will be elected during a voting delegate session. FarmPAC2018 contributors are invited to a reception with keynote speaker Dana Perino before the closing general session. Perino is co-host of FOX News The Five. She previously served as White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush. Other annual meeting highlights include the final four Discussion Meet contest; presentation of prizes to the Outstanding Young Farm Family and Excellence in Agriculture winner; and recognition of Service to Agriculture Award winner Dennis Evans, who was director of the Alabama Agriculture and Forestry Leaders Program at Auburn University. Visit AlfaFarmers.org for more annual meeting information. n

Perino 7

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Harvesting soybeans 100 years ago in Baldwin County, courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Celebrating A Century Farm Credit System Helps America Grow Strong Farm Credit System, said Auburn University’s Deacue Fields, chair of the college's agricultural economics ew historians dispute America’s department. sovereign position “It was, and is, in the farming different from a typiworld, but the United cal bank because it’s States’ place as a world a cooperative,” Fields power might be differsaid. “It’s owned by ent if not for legislation borrowers, and portions passed a century ago to of proceeds from the provide farmers lowcooperative are paid cost loans. back to them through The Farm Loan Act patronage refunds, of 1916 was created giving them a sense of to support rural comFields ownership.” munities and provide Before the early reliable funding for 1900s, settlers homesteaded land farmers through the nationwide By Debra Davis

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and created farms. But when homestead property became scarce, many farmers had to borrow money to buy land. That was considered risky by most traditional banks, Fields said. “The Farm Credit System provided a way to help young and beginning farmers get started. It helped make agriculture sustainable in America,” he said. “History shows the Farm Credit System met its objective by keeping farmers on the land. It certainly had a positive impact on the lives of every American, whether they realize it or not. It laid the foundation for our country’s food security by ensuring Winter/November 2016

farmland stayed in production.” While first created to help farmers secure long-term property loans, the Farm Credit System evolved to include short-term loans for equipment purchases, crop production and more. First South Farm Credit (FSFC), headquartered in Montgomery, operates statewide. It’s part of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank headquartered in South Carolina. Mike Pigg, FSFC president of operations in Alabama, said it’s hard to imagine agriculture today without the U.S. Farm Credit System. “Our forefathers were wise to make sure our country had a secure, sustainable food supply,” Pigg said. “The creation of the farm credit system was a key element in that security. I’m proud to work for a company that values farmers, agriculture and rural living. It’s what has made America the envy of the world.” Fields agreed. “We have the most efficient food production system in the world, and a large part of that is because of our Farm Credit System,” Fields said. “Farm credit lenders understand agriculture and the cash flow of

commodities. They’re also involved in their communities. They attend cattle auctions and ag meetings to stay involved with the farmers they serve.” Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit are part of the Farm Credit Bank of Texas. Alabama Ag Credit, with its home office in Montgomery, serves the southern part of the state. Alabama Farm Credit’s home office is in Cullman and serves north Alabama. “People who have worked at Farm Credit discover it’s easy to develop a passion for customers who impact our food, fiber, shelter and other needs. But even as we reflect on a century of accomplishments, the need to support those in agriculture, forestry and rural communities has

never been greater,” said Alabama Ag Credit Chief Executive Officer Doug Thiessen. “That’s what we do through the credit we provide, and now we’re focused on doing it well for the next 100 years.” Alabama Farm Credit Chief Executive Officer Ben Gore shared similar comments. “Alabama Farm Credit has evolved over the years to keep pace with our customers’ changing credit needs,” he said. “As Farm Credit begins its second century, we look forward to supporting our customers’ children and grandchildren, as well as the new farmers who will choose to enter the agricultural arena in years to come. Our cooperative stood the test of time, but we have not stood still. We will continue to change and grow along with agriculture and rural America.” For a broader recap of the Farm Credit System history, visit http:// tinyurl.com/FarmCreditSystem. n

A photo courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History shows wheat harvest in Alabama around 1916 when Congress created the Farm Loan Act. Winter/November 2016

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Spotty Summer Showers Yield Hit-Or-Miss Harvest By Marlee Moore

lack of timely summer rains across portions of Alabama plus sagging commodity prices and high input costs created low farm income projections and a hitor-miss harvest for farmers. Extreme drought plagued north Alabama during pivotal growth periods, but scarce and erratic rainfall was common throughout the state. “We had rain early on, and the corn looked great,” said Shelby County’s Terry Wyatt, who planted corn this season for the first time in seven years. “Then it stopped raining.” Wyatt’s Harpersville farm was dry almost six weeks. The 63-year-old’s non-irrigated cropland

Winter/November 2016

Terry Wyatt's Shelby County row crop farm received less than 4 inches of precipitation last June and July, leading to uneven yields across his corn fields.

received fewer than 4 inches of rain in June and July. While 70 bushels of corn an acre was Wyatt’s goal, in a good year he nearly doubles that. Farmers farther north prayed for 40 bushels this year. “We just didn’t know if we’d even have a crop this year,” said Wyatt, who is in his 40th year farming. “Once we started harvesting, we hit spots with good-sized ears of corn, but for the most part, they were small and undersized.”

Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Christy Hicks said while corn yields are off last year’s totals, soybean yields should be average. “We’re going to have decent soybeans this year,” said Hicks, regional Extension agent for east central Alabama. “Some beans that caught late rains will yield 60-70 bushels an acre.”

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Tennessee Valley Extension Specialist Tyler Sandlin estimated 35-50 bushels an acre for soybeans in north Alabama – nothing spectacular, but a fair harvest, he said. Hicks said hot summer days and nights with no relief from high temperatures caused irrigated corn totals in her region to drop to 220 bushels per acre, down 20-30 bushels from 2015. Across Alabama, farmers averaged 165 bushels of corn per acre, with irrigated land yielding from 130 bushels in Madison County to 200 bushels in Pickens County. Farther south, Monroe County’s Scott Saucer said his 900 acres of cotton and peanuts got adequate rainfall in crucial growth stages,

but were dry in late August and early September. “We had plenty of rain, but the three weeks before peanut harvest were a little dry,” said Saucer, 39, who planted 240 acres of the legume. “I think we’ll have an above- average year, but I won’t know until my checks come in.” High input costs caused the State Wheat & Feed Grains Committee member to adjust input costs by cutting cottonseeds per acre and reducing fertilizer and crop protection products. “I didn’t do some of the practices because I was watching my per-acre costs,” said Saucer, who grid-sampled plots last year to better manage soil nutrients. “I

don’t know if yields this year will hit it out of the ballpark, but they’ll be above average. The good Lord blessed me this year.” Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) Director Caleb Bristow predicted slightly above average peanut yields in Alabama – about 3,500 pounds per acre. Spotty rain affected the Wiregrass, too, during growing season and harvest. “In several parts of the state, we need a rain to dampen soil so we can get the plow in the ground and dig peanuts,” Bristow said. Poor peanut yields in Argentina plowed the way for Alabama farmers to sell surplus peanuts in storage to Chinese markets, leading to better contract prices. Shortages in Georgia peanut production also are helping Alabama farmers. For cotton, insect pressure seemed light this year, but boll rot was spotted near the top of plants in field borders, said Hicks. Optimistic about yields, Hicks predicts an average 900 pounds of lint per acre. Although early-planted cotton suffered from lack of moisture, Sandlin, too, expects good yields in the state, although prices are hovering near 60-cents a pound. For the third straight year, US farm profitability is expected to decline, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. The 2016 net cash farm income forecast is $94.1 billion, down 13.3 percent from 2015. Net farm income is predicted to drop 11.5 percent to $71.5 billion. Should predictions materialize, net farm income this year would reach its lowest in seven years. Despite price fluctuations, a fickle market and bad weather, Wyatt said faith – not yields – sustains him. “I don’t see how you can farm and not be strong in your faith,” Wyatt said. “Even though it can be hard, I wouldn’t do anything else.” n Monroe County farmer Scott Saucer expects above average peanut yields, although the weeks leading into harvest were dry.

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Winter/November 2016

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Timber Titans Three Generations Talk

Family, Forestry And Future

Elmo Ziebach, left, grandson Chase Luker, and son Douglas Ziebach are all graduates of Auburn University's School of Forestry.

By Marlee Moore

lmo Ziebach’s mother was determined her only son would earn a college diploma. “She didn’t give me much of a choice (about going to college),” said Elmo, a 1969 Auburn University (AU) forest management graduate. Three generations of Ziebachs, two bobtail short wood trucks and Auburn University’s School of Forestry later, Thelma Ziebach’s legacy lives on in Monroe County. Today, the 69-year-old co-owner of Ziebach & Webb Timber Co., Inc. is semi-retired but visits the company’s office in Peterman to keep an eye on the business and manage the family’s timberland. The timber — and paper — industry is in the Ziebach family blood. Elmo’s father worked for the Mobile Press Register newspaper. Elmo’s son, Douglas Ziebach, graduated from AU’s School of Forestry in 1995 in forest resources, and Chase Luker, Elmo’s grandson, received his AU forestry degree in 2014. When Douglas was in the sixth grade, his class left last will and testaments to younger students. His testament? To follow in his father’s footsteps. “I’m the only one in my class that did what I said I wanted to,” said Douglas, 47, who grew up painting land lines, planting pine trees and marking and cruising timber with his dad, Elmo. Luker was raised the same way.

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“One way or another, I was going to be in the wood business,” said Luker, 26. “Even on my dad’s side of the family, every male older than me was somehow in the timber business.” Although the Ziebach family’s passion for timber is unchanged, the industry constantly evolves. When Elmo and business partner Mike Webb began Ziebach & Webb in 1979 with two bobtail short wood trucks, one crew hauled around 150 cords — or 375 tons — of timber each week. Now, three-man crews haul 2,000-plus tons weekly. Modern crews replaced old-school chainsaws with feller bunchers, harvesters rapidly cutting and gathering several trees before they’re stacked for further processing. And air-conditioned machinery makes long days easier for workers. “Even rain doesn’t affect us as much as it used to,” Elmo said. “If a crew gets 2 inches of rain, they don’t even knock off early.” In the ‘70s, short wood pulpwood was the name of the game. Loading individual logs to be trucked to the rail yard was a time-consuming process. Most timber tracts were small, natural and owned by small-scale landowners. “Then, it wasn’t that hard to get a small business going,” said Elmo, who moved to Monroe County in 1972. “There were nine different paper mills owned by 16

Winter/November 2016

nine different owners in a 100-mile radius.” Today, three of those mills are closed, and two companies own the others. Ziebach & Webb has grown to 25 employees, 12 of whom are Auburn University graduates and registered foresters. “When my father started out, timber was all natural growth,” Douglas said. “Now, timber is all cut in plantations on a 20- to 25-year rotation. If the timber has been managed, it’s been clear cut and replaced.” Ziebach & Webb manages around 20 crews from central Alabama to the Florida Panhandle that annually deliver 1.5 million tons of raw material to paper and pulp mills. They also manage timberland and own a contract wood yard. “We work like family,” Douglas said. “Some loggers have worked 30+ years with our family. They’ve never worked for anyone but us.” For every ton of timber harvested each year, 1.55 tons of new growth is added to Alabama’s forests, according to Forest Inventory & Analysis data. That doesn’t happen overnight. “To grow more timber than you cut, you have to intensively manage the forests,” Luker said. As the timber industry adopted new production techniques, communication changed, too. During Douglas’s childhood, Elmo took the landline phone off the hook at supper for uninterrupted family time. “When you have a small business, you don’t leave it when you go home,” Douglas said. “Today’s technology is good and bad because you’re never away from it.”

Luker interned with the family business each summer during college and brought home tech-savvy skills in 2014. For example, instead of printing maps before cruising timber, Luker pulls out his smartphone and maps the location on Google Earth. Elmo, Douglas and Luker are one of the first – if not the first – three-generation AU School of Forestry graduates. Several professors who taught Elmo also taught Douglas. The same was true for Luker. Luker hopes his son, Chapman, will carry on the legacy of his father, great-grandfather, uncle – and great-great-grandmother Thelma, which pleases Elmo. “Who knows what’ll happen in the next 20 years?” Elmo asked. “But, it’s my dream that the family business will continue as long as the next generation wants it to.” n

Ziebach & Webb began in 1979 and hauls 2,000-plus tons of wood weekly to sawmills and paper and pulp plants. Winter/November 2016

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Book Helps Agriculture’s Message Sprout In Minds Of Young Students By Debra Davis

housands of students across Alabama can learn more about agriculture and American history thanks to books donated by the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation and Alabama’s Agriculture In The Classroom (AITC). First Peas to the Table, an award-winning children’s book, is a lighthearted story of how a little girl and her classmates learn about gardens and peas, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello. “The book was named the Foundation for Agriculture’s Book of the Year during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting in January,” said Kim Ramsey of the Alabama Farmers Federation. “The Book of the Year Award seeks to identify accurate ag books that educate and create a positive public perception of agriculture. This book definitely does that. We’re happy to help schools across the state share agriculture’s story.” County Feder-

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K4 teacher Carmen Gray reads “First Peas to the Table” to her students at Lowndes Academy. Gray said the book is a great resource for the school’s farming unit and helps students realize the importance of agriculture.

ation presidents are distributing nearly 1,000 books to public and private school libraries in their respective counties. Among the schools receiving the book is Lowndes Academy. K4 teacher Carmen Gray of Lowndes Academy is a graduate of AITC’s Summer Institute and a national AITC attendee. She was excited to share the book with her students. “The other teachers and I are

thankful for the book donation to use in our classroom because we are a private school and do not receive funds to purchase books,” Gray said. “It’s a great addition to our classroom library and will be a valuable resource for our farming unit.” Gray said her students are excited to learn about the life cycle of a pea, especially learning how one pea can make many peas. The book is a great informational story about Thomas Jefferson, pea cultivation and friends working together, she added. The Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation supports advancement of agriculture in Alabama through education, research and awareness. Primary funding for the foundation comes from Farming Feeds Alabama affinity tag sales, corporate donations and fundraising projects. The foundation provides numerous youth scholarships and supports youth livestock shows and AITC. n Winter/November 2016

Federation Members Urged To Vote Nov. 8 On Nov. 8, Alabamians will help select candidates to lead our state and nation. This voter guide lists candidates endorsed by FarmPAC, the political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation. County Farmers Federation leaders recommended endorsements for federal and state elections after reviewing candidatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; qualifications and voting records. Voting is an extremely important civic duty, and we hope this guide helps voters make informed decisions. Regardless of who you support, please exercise your right to vote Nov. 8. Remember, a photo ID will be required. Office

Endorsed Candidate

President / Vice President

Donald Trump / Mike Pence (R)

U.S. Senator

Richard Shelby (R)

U.S. Representative, District 1

Bradley Byrne (R)

U.S. Representative, District 2

Martha Roby (R)

U.S. Representative, District 3

Mike Rogers (R)

U.S. Representative, District 4

Robert Aderholt (R)

U.S. Representative, District 5

Mo Brooks (R)

U.S. Representative, District 6

Gary Palmer (R)

U.S. Representative, District 7

Terri Sewell (D)

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 1

Michael F. Bolin (R)

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 2

Kelli Wise (R)

Alabama Supreme Court, Place 3

Tom Parker (R)

President, Public Service Commission

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh (R)

State Board of Education, District 1

Jackie Zeigler (R)

State Board of Education, District 3

Stephanie Bell (R)

State Board of Education, District 7

Jeff Newman (R)

Paid for and distributed by Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191

Statewide Constitutional Amendments Statewide Constitutional Amendments

Synopsis

FarmPAC Position

Amendment 1: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to establish procedures to ensure that no more than three of the members of the Auburn University Board of Trustees shall have terms that expire in the same calendar year and to add two additional at-large members to the board to enhance diversity on the board.

Expands Auburn University’s Board of Trustees by three at-large members. Two of the new seats shall reflect the diversity of the state.

YES

Amendment 2: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to prohibit any monies from the State Parks Fund, the Parks Revolving Fund, or any fund receiving revenues currently deposited in the State Parks Fund or the Parks Revolving Fund, and any monies currently designated pursuant to statute for the use of the state parks system from being transferred for another purpose other than the support, upkeep, and maintenance of the state parks system. Notwithstanding, in the event that guest revenues to the State Parks Revolving Fund exceed the threshold of $50 million (as annually adjusted based on increases in the consumer price index) in a fiscal year, the sales and use and cigarette tax revenue distributed to benefit the State Parks System shall be reduced in the following fiscal year. The amount of the reduction shall correspond to the amount of guest revenue to the State Parks Revolving Fund exceeding the threshold. The amount of tax revenue not distributed to benefit the State Parks System shall be distributed to the General Fund. Proposing an amendment to Amendment 617 . . . at any applicable state parks in Alabama.

Prohibits any money being transferred out of the parks funds to any other entity and caps the parks funds at $50 million.

Amendment 3: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to revise the procedure for adoption of local constitutional amendments to provide that a proposed constitutional amendment the Legislature determines without a dissenting vote applies to only one county or a political subdivision within one or more counties shall be adopted as a valid part of the constitution by a favorable vote of a majority of the qualified electors of the affected county or the political subdivision and county or counties in which the political subdivision is located, who vote on the amendment.

Complicates the procedure for passing local constitutional amendments in the legislature by creating a two-vote process.

Amendment 4: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to authorize each county commission in the state to establish, subject to certain limitations, certain programs related to the administration of the affairs of the county.

Authorizes each county commission to establish “limited home rule” without a vote of the people.

Amendment 5: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to repeal and restate the provisions of Article III of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 relating to separation of powers to modernize the language without making any substantive change, effective January 1, 2017.

Modernizes the language of Article 3 of the 1901 Alabama Constitution related to separation of powers using the article-byarticle approach.

YES

Amendment 6: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to become operative January 1, 2017, to repeal and replace Article VII, Impeachments.

NEUTRAL

Amendment 7: Relating to Etowah County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that the employees of the Office of Sheriff of Etowah County, except for the chief deputy, chief of detention, chief of administration, chief of investigation, director of communications, and food service manager, shall be under the authority of the Personnel Board of the Office of the Sheriff of Etowah County.

NEUTRAL

Amendment 8: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to declare that it is the public policy of Alabama that the right of persons to work may not be denied or abridged on account of membership or nonmembership in a labor union or labor organization; to prohibit an agreement to deny the right to work, or place conditions on prospective employment, on account of membership or nonmembership in a labor union or labor organization; to prohibit an employer from requiring its employees to abstain from union membership as a condition of employment; and to provide that an employer may not require a person, as a condition of employment or continuation of employment, to pay dues, fees, or other charges of any kind to any labor union or labor organization.

Helps protect Alabama jobs by enshrining Alabama’s existing right-to-work statute in the Alabama Constitution. The right-to-work provision prohibits labor organizations from forcing employees to join unions and prohibits employers from denying union membership to workers who wish to join.

Amendment 9: A local constitutional amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901; to provide that a person who is not over the age of 75 at the time of qualifying for election or at the time of his appointment may be elected or appointed to the office of Judge of Probate of Pickens County. Amendment 10: An amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to provide that any territory located in Calhoun County would be subject only to the police jurisdiction and planning jurisdiction of a municipality located wholly or partially in the county.

YES NEUTRAL

Does not allow a city to expand its police jurisdiction across county lines if the city’s limits are not already established in another county.

YES

Amendment 11: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to permit cities and counties, notwithstanding any existing constitutional restrictions, to utilize tax increment district revenues collected within a Major 21st Century Manufacturing Zone and other moneys to incentivize the establishment and improve various types of manufacturing facilities located or to be located in such Zone, and to validate and confirm the Major 21st Century Manufacturing Zone Act, Act No. 2013—51.

NEUTRAL

Amendment 12: Relating to municipalities in Baldwin County; proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to authorize the Legislature by general or local law to provide for any municipalities in the county to incorporate a toll road and bridge authority as a public corporation in the municipality for the construction and operation of toll roads and bridges in the municipality and to authorize the authority to issue revenue bonds to finance the projects.

NEUTRAL

Amendment 13: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to repeal any existing age restriction on the appointment, election, or service of an appointed or elected official, with the exception of persons elected or appointed to a judicial office, currently imposed by a provision of the Constitution or other law; and to prohibit the Legislature from enacting any law imposing a maximum age limitation on the appointment, election, or service of an appointed or elected official.

NEUTRAL

Amendment 14: To propose an amendment to Amendment 448 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 71.01 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to ratify, approve, validate, and confirm the application of any budget isolation resolution authorizing the consideration of a bill proposing a local law adopted by the Legislature before November 8, 2016, that conformed to the rules of either body of the Legislature at the time it was adopted.

Ratifies about 500 local laws passed by the Legislature before Nov. 8, 2016, whose original passage may not have complied with the budget isolation resolution.

Paid for and distributed by Alabama Farmers Federation, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191

YES

Alabama Extension System Delivers Quality and Value

orman Rockwell depicted icons of American culture. His paintings were not only a snapshot of American life, but also of how Americans perceived themselves. From the doctor about to give a shot to a young boy to the county agent teaching a family how to care for a cow, Americans felt what Rockwell saw. Whether you know it as the county agent or the Extension office, this community-based learning agency that is free to all has shaped The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has been serving farmers and other Alabamians since 1914. Extension rural America and helped make Alabama helps farmers address agriculture production issues, including wildlife damage to crops. Autauga County Farmers Federation member Drew Wendland, left, discusses feral hog damage on his farm with Alabama Extension Regional the proud state it is Agent Christopher Jaworowski. today. Rockwell is gone. mitted to delivering programs with But Alabama Extension is still an total of $946,017. ROI 1:135 • $426 per acre increased profits active part of communities, helping a strong return on the investment of public funds and grant dollars. resulted from improved pest Alabamians make their lives better “We measure our service by scouting and management pracand improving the state’s economy. your successes and profitability,” tices on demonstration cotton One in four people in Alabama said Lemme. “For example, if an fields resulting in potential of participate in Extension programs. Extension program costs $1, but $127.8 million across Alabama’s That is 1.2 million people last year allows beef producers to earn $10 in 300,000 cotton acres. ROI 1:319 alone. additional profit, that program has a • 513 grandparents who received Alabama Extension Director Extension education kept grandGary Lemme observes that so many Return on Investment of 1:10.” children from entering foster people participate in Extension Here are a few samples of Return programs because programs are on Investment for specific programs. care saving Alabama about focused on issues that communities • Extension and Alabama Agri$32,000,000. ROI 1:3447 identify as important. cultural Experiment Station • Better health reduces health “Our professionals work with scientists created LED-lighting costs, work absenteeism and advisory groups to meet individsystems for poultry facilities. emergency food assistance ual counties’ needs,” said Lemme. It offers savings of $1,250 per needs. Extension’s Expanded “Statewide, we work closely with poultry house or $15 million for Food and Nutrition Education the Alabama Farmers FederaAlabama poultry producers. ROI Program (EFNEP) improves limtion, the Alabama Poultry and 1:175 ited-resource families’ health. Egg Association and the Alabama • Grazing Management Clinics $1 spent on EFNEP programs Cattlemen’s Association to create produces a benefit of $10.96. helped north Alabama beef programs beneficial to farmers and ROI 1:11 producers better manage almost producers.” For more information, visit 20,000 acres. Participants earned Alabama Extension is also comaces.edu/impact. � an additional $51 per acre for a

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Winter/November 2016

Live

at the Alabama Farmers Federation 95th Annual Meeting Sunday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. Montgomery Performing Arts Centre 6:30 p.m. Doors Open

SARA EVANS

At Christmas

Tickets On Sale Now! Ticket Prices: $65, $55, $45, $35 (plus service charge) Call MPAC Box Office, 334-481-5100, M-F, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. or Ticketmaster.com 1-800-745-3000 Brought to you by

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

mac washington

Winter/November 2016

Lamar County Extension Coordinator Mac Washington calls his 37-year career the “Cadillac of jobs” because he works every day with top-notch people around his county. Washington, 61, lives in Vernon with his wife of 27 years, Michelle, and their daughters Ashley, Amber and Alexis.

1 2 3 4 25

What’s Your federation connection?

I’ve been involved in some aspect my whole life, from having Alfa Insurance to serving on our board as former Lamar County president.

what Do you love about agriculture?

At Extension, I work with people to bring about solutions in agriculture. I like the challenge of having a plan, and then the needs of my community change.

what’s something folks don’t know about you? I’m not from Lamar County, even though I’ve spent my career here. I grew up on a farm in Pickens County.

How has ag changed in your lifetime?

Years ago, most farmers had mules and tractors. We picked and hoed corn and cotton by hand. Now, most manual labor is replaced by machines.

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Call Alfa

for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

Medicare Plans Contact Your Local Alfa Agent or Call 1-800-392-5705 Open Enrollment: October 15 - December 7

Blue Advantage (PPO) provides both medical and prescription drug benefits, making it a smart choice for those who want comprehensive coverage in one simple, affordable plan.

BlueRx (PDP) is a great choice as a stand-alone prescription drug plan. It provides the prescription drug coverage you need, giving you value, peace of mind and security.

Alfa Insurance®

Find a local agent: 1-800-964-2532 • AlfaInsurance.com

Blue Advantage (PPO) is a Medicare-approved PPO plan. Enrollment in Blue Advantage depends on CMS contract renewal. BlueRx (PDP) is a Medicare-approved Part D plan. Enrollment in BlueRx depends on CMS contract renewal. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. This is a solicitation of insurance. Contact may be made by an issuer or insurance producer or another acting on behalf of the issuer or producer. Alfa Services, Inc. is an independent authorized producer/agency licensed to sell and promote products from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Y0106_AlfaAd1_15 Accepted

Alfa Foundation Helps Lady Liberty Teach Students Civics, Patriotism By Marlee Moore

rom patriotism to patina and the pursuit of happiness to the power of citizenship, a walking, talking Statue of Liberty is laying the foundation for the next great Americans. Thanks to the Alfa Foundation’s donation of over $32,000, the Huntsville-based Liberty Learning Foundation is bringing its Super Citizen Program to 47 schools in 17 Alabama counties. The 10-week curriculum teaches first- through fifth-graders about civics, character, financial literacy, careers and social studies. “Our children are our future, and teaching kids to be wellrounded, responsible and civically engaged is a serious task,” said Jimmy Parnell, Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation president. “Partnering with Liberty Learning to help fund this program in schools across the state is a way to prepare students to become great American citizens. The curriculum involves students in community work and will make an impact on the rest of their lives.” Libby Liberty, portrayed by former Broadway actress Kristen Sharp, kicks off each school’s learning experience with a high-energy assembly. Students don patina-col-

The Alfa Foundation donated over $32,000 to bring the Liberty Learning program to 47 schools in 17 school systems across Alabama. From left are Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell, Liberty Learning President Patti Yancey, Libby Liberty and Lee County Farmers Federation President Mahlon Richburg.

ored crowns, wave miniature American flags and begin a journey that will teach them to fully appreciate American freedom and liberty. “We couldn’t bring the program to schools, train the teachers and orchestrate these engaging events free of charge without the partnership we have with generous sponsors like Alfa,” said Patti Yancey, Liberty Learning Foundation president. This is Dawn Stewart’s second year teaching the Super Citizen curriculum at Pick Elementary School in Auburn. The third-grade teacher said the civics-based materials and

books from Liberty Learning are especially important in an election year. “We’ll teach them about the entire voting process,” Stewart said. “This just makes the learning process come alive for the kids.” To conclude the 10-week program, students will honor local heroes later this year. Students will read their hero nomination essays and present each Super Citizen recipient with a Statue of Liberty replica trophy. The trophy contains fragments of the actual Statue of Liberty in New York. “It helps them bring their learning full-circle,” Yancey said. “They learn that when you honor a hero, you become a hero.” This year’s Alfa-Sponsored Super Citizen Program will be in Barbour, Coffee, Crenshaw, Cullman, Escambia, Etowah, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lee, Marengo, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Talladega and Winston counties. Since 2010, the Liberty Learning Super Citizen Program has reached over 81,000 students and honored almost 1,400 local heroes. For more information on Liberty Learning, visit LibertyLearning.org. n Auburn City Schools third-graders wave flags at a Liberty Learning Super Citizen Kickoff.

Winter/November 2016

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Ten years ago, Edith Synco baked her first cheesecake on a whim. Today, the Alfa retiree creates flavorful Elicious Cheesecakes for customers.

Elicious Desserts Take The (Cheese)Cake By Marlee Moore

hen Edith Synco eased her first cheesecake out of the oven and brought the perfectly set, delightfully creamy dessert to work at Alfa Insurance 10 years ago, becoming a cheesecake-making authority wasn’t exactly on her mind. These days, the 61-year-old Troy resident and retiree whips up and sells luxurious Elicious Cheesecakes for weddings, holiday parties, baby showers and folks just wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth. w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

“My secret is to use the freshest, best ingredients possible,” said Synco, who worked at Alfa for 34 years, first as a customer service representative and then for auto underwriting. “If you’re going to eat something as elegant as cheesecake, you want it fresh and good.” And these cheesecakes aren’t just good. They’re (d)Elicious. Synco bakes cheesecakes to customers’ tiniest specifications, from no-crust to gluten-free to her favorite order — an orange, lemon and lime double-crust cheesecake with mojito icing. That special 28

treatment and attention to detail keeps customers coming back. “You can’t do that at a big-box store,” said Synco, who began baking for the public in April 2013. Before her spur-of-the-moment foray into cheesecake baking, Synco had never made one of the cream cheese indulgences. “First, I decided I wanted to bake a plain cheesecake, and then I made one with a little extra something in it,” said Synco, who fine-tuned her recipe until it was just right. She never ran out of willing taste-testers, either, between Alfa home office employees in Montgomery and friends and family in Pike County. She also doesn’t scrimp on ingredients, with real butter, vanilla and cream cheese and local Whaley Pecan Co. nuts combining to make the freshest cheesecakes possible. Synco allows her ingredients to reach room temperature before mixing the filling. She then pats the crushed-cookie crust into an aluminum-lined springform pan, pours in the filling and bakes the cheesecakes according to her secret recipe. Once the cakes come out of the oven, she pops them in the freezer to set. The next day, she gently lifts the cheesecake from the pan and, if the recipe calls for it, drizzles icing to complete the decadent delight — almost 24 hours from the start. “Cheesecake is a slow and easy process,” Synco said. She bakes tea cakes and cheese bites, which are quarter-sized, cheese straw-like goodies she sells at Family Ties Boutique in Troy. Lauren Prawius co-owns Family Ties with her mother, Debbie Darby, a lifelong friend of Synco. “Her varieties are endless,” Prawius said. “She’s so quick to turn an order around.” Synco also keeps Family Ties Winter/November 2016

well stocked with cheesecakes, including turtle to peanut butter-chocolate to red velvet to maple-bacon. “I’m never surprised what Mrs. Edith comes up with,” Prawius said. “She’s creative and is definitely a one-of-akind, special lady.” Synco’s recipe for red pepper-spiced cheese bites came Cindy Boutwell samples turtle cheesecake while from a neighbor, and her tea picking up desserts for her son’s rehearsal dinner. cakes are tweaked from a the holiday, she had all ingreSynco family recipe. The tea cakes dients on hand for the family’s get the stamp of approval from all favorite caramel-apple cheeseages, including Synco’s 3-year-old cake, but the dessert never set grandson Jack. in the unfamiliar oven. While Synco has a menu cus“I was about to throw it tomers choose from, she said she’s away when my family came always willing to think outside the in and ate the cheesecake box. right out of the pan,” she When she does bake a new remembered. “While it looked flavor, Thomas, her husband of 40 horrible, it was a hit tasteyears, is ready with fork in hand to wise.” dig in. She still makes caramel-apple Although most Elicious Cheesecheesecake every Thanksgiving. cakes come out perfectly on Joyce Dix, who owns the bakery the first try, Synco did have one Synco operates out of, first tasted so-called “disaster.” Synco’s cheesecakes at a supper Two Thanksgivings ago, the club and said Elicious Cheesecakes Syncos headed to the beach. are popular for a reason — their Despite being away from home for taste. “You want to taste that delicious cream cheese flavor mingled with complimentary flavors,” said Dix, whose favorite cheesecake is banana nut. “Edith has broadened her horizons with Elicious Cheesecakes and does very well with the gift the Lord has

given her.” While Synco said she enjoys retirement, she knows her various responsibilities with departments and personalities at Alfa prepared her to run Elicious Cheesecakes. “I never thought I would do this when I retired,” she said. “But I’ll keep doing it until it’s not fun anymore.” Want to serve a delicious Elicious cheesecake over the holidays? Contact Synco as soon as possible for priority booking. Cheesecake prices start at $32. For more information or to place an order, message Elicious Cheesecakes on Facebook, or call (334) 268-1072. n

Synco uses the freshest ingredients available, including local Whaley Pecan Co. nuts, which dot the frosting on her red velvet cheesecakes.

Winter/November 2016

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American Made Remembering Veterans Who Kept Us Free By Debra Davis

James Roy Colquitt, a World War II veteran, joined the Navy when he finished 10th grade. He served aboard an LST similar to the one below that was responsible for supplying troops and tanks in preparation for an invasion of Japan’s mainland.

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t was a humid fall day as 90-year-old veteran James Roy Colquitt maneuvered his truck close to a heifer struggling to give birth. His watchful eye and experience led him to announce it was probably a bull calf trying to make its way into the world. He was right. An hour later, a black, wobbly-legged calf was nuzzling its mama looking for his first meal. “That’s what I enjoy most about this job,” he said. “Watching God’s creation never gets old even though I’ve seen it hundreds of times.” A native of Pike County, Colquitt’s family relocated to rural Russell County near Seale when he was 5. A few months later, a son was born to a neighboring family. His name

Winter/November 2016

James Roy Colquitt, center, with two fellow sailors who fought in World War II.

was Sonny Corcoran. Although six years separated the boys, they shared a lifelong friendship. Today, Colquitt helps tend his late friend’s farm as he recalls those who fought to preserve his freedom to do what he loves. Colquitt enlisted to fight in World War II in 1944, just days after finishing 10th grade. “When we were growing up, we watched soldiers at Ft. Benning dig foxholes in red clay for days on end,” said Colquitt, who was one of 10 children. “My (two older) brothers joined the Navy because they didn’t want to dig holes. I joined the Navy because that’s what they did.” Colquitt was sent to San Diego for boot camp and amphibious training. He was deployed on an LST, a tank landing ship that carried vehicles, cargo and troops. He first went to Pearl Harbor, then to Okinawa, Japan. “I remember Japanese suicide planes coming the second day we were in Okinawa,” he recalled. “Every gun we had was firing on a plane that exploded right next to our ship. The plane was trying to drop bombs on the ammunition we had carried to shore, but it didn’t matter. In our mind, they were trying to kill us.” Colquitt said the LST was filled with troops prepared for a mainland invasion, a scenario that struck fear in the hearts of young sailors. “We were told that if the U.S. invaded Japan, a half million of us wouldn’t make it back alive,” he said. “Then we (the U.S.) dropped the atomic bombs that ended the war. Our ship picked up Japanese from outlying islands and took them to occupational forces.” After being honorably discharged in 1946, Colquitt returned to Seale and married Mary Elizabeth Gleaton (now deceased). He later took a job with the U.S. Conservation Service in Butler County, trapping and relocating whitetail deer and wild turkeys to national forests in Alabama. When he retired from the conservation department, Colquitt worked for Union Camp Corp. in Chapman and raised beef cattle before retiring again. He moved back to Seale, and his friendship with Sonny Corcoran was renewed. “Sonny kept asking me to come work for him and help Tom (Sonny’s son) with the cows,” Colquitt said. “Finally, when I was 68, I started working here, and I’ve been here ever since.” Originally, Colquitt mended fence, fed cows and delivered calves. His main job these days is to check on the farm’s 850 beef cows, but his experience is hard to Winter/November 2016

put a price on, said Tom Corcoran. “Mr. Roy is an amazing man,” Corcoran said. “If it has to do with a cow, he’s just about seen it or done it. He’s a lot more than an employee — he’s like a family member. His dedication to our family, his job and our country is undeniable. People like him are hard to find.” Colquitt, who has two daughters and three grandchildren, said for years it was hard to talk about his military service. He still chokes up when he recalls the young men who died. “We didn’t talk about the war because we just wanted to forget about those hard times,” he said. But each Veterans Day, Colquitt remembers those who served with him. “I think about the war and all those young men who never made it back,” Colquitt said. “It makes me sad, but it also makes me proud of them. They fought for our country and the freedoms we have. I’m not a hero. I’m just proud to be a good ole American boy. They were the real heroes.” n

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Winter/November 2016

Why Soybeans?

The United States is the top soybean producing country in the world. Soy is one of the few plants that provides a complete protein, containing all eight amino acids essential for good health. Soybeans grown in Alabama are primarily used for animal feed, but can be used in a variety of products including adhesives, ink, cosmetics and foam padding. More than 800 soy-based products have been developed with farmer checkoff dollars since 1990.

“The Soybean Checkoff helps maximize profit potential for me and other farmers by investing in research and techology that reduces input costs and increases yields.” — Rickey Cornutt, Marshall County Soybean Farmer

A DIVISION OF THE ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION

Paid for by Alabama Soybean Producers Checkoff.

By Lois Chaplin

here’s an old saying, “The best time to plant a shade tree was 10 or 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” If you’ve wished for a shade tree, but think it takes too long, you’ll never have shade if you don’t get one started. Now is the season for planting. Many shade trees grow faster than expected if watered and fertilized regularly. Upon moving into our house, we planted two oaks, which are thought to be slow growing. They’ve reached 50 feet in 20 years. Tree aficionados consider oaks among the best shade trees for their majesty, strength and longevity. They are generally among the best, provided there is enough space to accommodate them. While there are many oaks native to our area, below are a few generally available for landscaping. White oak (Quercus alba) is one of the best, ultimately towering 60 to 100 feet tall and 60 feet wide, making a fabulous spreading canopy. The late Donald Peattie, a naturalist and author in the 1900s wrote, “Indeed, the fortunate possessor of an old white oak owns a sort of second home, an outdoor mansion of shade and greenery and leafy music.” White oak may be hard to find

at nurseries and is often expensive but worth tracking down. However, it is not well adapted to crowded city conditions because its roots are sensitive. Digging for lines, driveways or sidewalks and other root disturbances can cause serious damage. Give the tree space and rich, deep, moist soil, or make another choice. White oak seedlings are common underneath existing trees, so digging young seedlings or planting acorns is a way to obtain a tree. Willow oak (Quercus phellos), named for its narrow, willow-like leaves, is easier to find. Folks like the smaller leaves when cleaning up in the fall, and it transplants well. These are often seen in commercial landscape plantings. In a good setting, it will grow to about 60 feet tall and 40 feet wide. The leaves turn a yellow-russet color in the fall, and it tolerates poorly drained soils. Another popular landscape oak is the shumard (Quercus shumardii). Adaptable to a wide range of soils and drought, it is popular for commercial plantings, too. It also tends to have dependable maroonred fall leaf color. Most people are familiar with the broad, spreading evergreen live

oak pictured here. Even folks who don’t pay much attention to trees recognize a live oak, the queen of the coastal South. It’s a dependable shade tree in south Alabama for larger properties. Although live oaks are sometimes planted in central and north Alabama, cold limits their growth so they never reach the stature of those grown near the coast. Look for oaks in garden centers, or check online for nurseries specializing in native species for forestland improvements and wildlife forage. These nurseries often offer seedlings only a few feet tall, which can be very economical. With good care, these trees will catch up to larger ones within three or four growing seasons. The most common mistake in choosing an oak is selecting an acid-loving species, such as pin oak or red oak, for alkaline soil. Research them before choosing a tree to plant, and it will grace your property for generations. Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

FALL INTO SAVINGS @WWW.ALAFARM.COM w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

FA L L / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6

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TRIPLE LAYER MUD PIE Courtesy of Karen Hill Start-to-finish: 3 hours, 30 minutes (30 minutes active) Serves 10 3 1-ounce squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk 1 Oreo pie crust 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted 2 cups milk 2 3.9-ounce boxes chocolate instant pudding 8 ounces whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, thawed and divided

Mix melted chocolate and condensed milk. Pour into crust; sprinkle with pecans. Beat milk and pudding mix with whisk for 2 minutes. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of this mixture over pecans. Stir half the whipped topping into remaining pudding and spread over the pie. Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. w w w. A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

By Jill Clair Gentry

oliday meals are often full of nostalgia and tradition, but in the dessert category, holidays can be an excuse to depart from the routine. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners seem to bring a sense of freedom to try a few new ideas or revisit old recipes, but those recipes don’t have to be overly complicated or time consuming. After all, cooking a turkey and dressing is a huge undertaking. Who’s got time for an intricate cake or huge batches of cookies? This holiday season, dive into the diverse world of pies. While pumpkin and pecan immediately come to mind during late fall, there are many other options that please just about any palate. Many recipes don’t require baking, and with multiple varieties of prepared crusts, pies can be ready in a snap. No one knows the benefits of quick, crowd-pleasing pies as well as Karen Hill of Cullman County, who taught family consumer sciences for 28 years and now spends most of her 36

time running a chicken and cattle farm with husband Mike. The last 10 years of her career, Hill taught culinary arts at a vocational school that emphasized real-world skills. She and her students ran a full-service restaurant every Thursday. “We researched and tested so many recipes,” Hill said. “We’d try them in class and if they were good, we’d keep them and make them for the restaurant.” Quick pies were a favorite among her students and their customers, she said. In addition to making meals with her students, Hill grew up in a family that cooked almost every night — out of necessity and principle. “Living way out in the country, it’s a hassle to drive into town, so even though you’re tired, you really don’t just run and get a pizza,” she said. “You either eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or you cook dinner. Plus, it was always important that my family end each day by sharing a meal at the dinner table. We have passed that on to our children as well.” FA L L / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6

DOUBLE-LAYER SWEET POTATO PIE Courtesy of Karen Hill Start-to-finish: 4 hours, 30 minutes (30 minutes active) Serves 6-8 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon milk 1 tablespoon sugar 8 ounces whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, thawed and divided 1 9-inch graham cracker pie crust 1 cup milk 16-ounce can sweet potatoes 2 3.4-ounce boxes vanilla instant pudding and pie filling 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

CITRUS PIE Courtesy of Karen Hill Start-to-finish: 2 hours, 30 minutes (30 minutes active) Serves 6-8 For the crust: 1 1/4 cup crushed pretzels 1/4 cup melted butter or margarine 1/4 cup sugar For the filling: 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 1/4 cup orange juice Juice of 2 limes 8 ounces whipped topping, such as Cool Whip, plus more for serving Zest of one lime

Heat oven to 350 F. Mix crust ingredients well and press into 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool completely before adding filling. For the filling, blend condensed milk, orange juice and lime juice. Fold in whipped topping and place in cooled crust. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Garnish with a dollop of whipped topping and lime zest.

TOASTED COCONUT PIE Courtesy of Karen Hill Start-to-finish: 1 hour, 15 minutes (20 minutes active) Serves 6-8 3 eggs, beaten 1 1/4 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 4 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla 3.5-ounce can flaked coconut (1 1/3 cups) 1 unbaked 9-inch pastry shell

Heat oven to 350 F. Combine eggs, sugar, butter, lemon juice and vanilla and mix well. Stir in coconut flakes. Pour into unbaked pastry shell. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a knife inserted halfway between the pie’s center and edge comes out clean. Cool before serving.

Mix cream cheese, 1 tablespoon milk and sugar in a large bowl with a whisk until well blended. Fold in half of the whipped topping. Spread onto bottom of crust. Pour 1 cup milk into a large bowl. Add sweet potatoes, dry pudding mix and spices. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. Mixture will be thick. Spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 4 hours until set. Top with remaining whipped topping just before serving. Store pie in refrigerator. CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE Courtesy of Karen Hill Start-to-finish: 4 hours, 30 minutes (30 minutes active) Serves 6-8

2 eggs 1/2 stick butter, melted 12-ounce can evaporated milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 tablespoons cocoa 1 9-inch unbaked pie crust

Heat oven to 350 F. Combine eggs, butter, milk and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat until well blended. Add sugar and cocoa and blend until smooth. Pour into crust and bake for 35 minutes, until center is set. n

Find these recipes in the “Local Flavor” section of AlfaFarmers.org and save them to a virtual recipe box called “My Recipe Box.” FA L L / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6

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

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