ALABAMA FARM BUREAU
ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION
1921
2021
The Young Farmers Program cultivates leaders like President Jimmy Parnell. He, wife Robin and children James Robert and Anna Grace were the 1999 Outstanding Young Farm Family. The family is pictured with then-President Jerry Newby, a former State Young Farmers Committee chair.
Young Farmers Program Cultivates Leaders
By Marlee Moore
The Excellence in Agriculture contest was added to the Young Farmers slate of events in 2006. From left were Young Farmers Division Director Brandon Moore; winner Amy Belcher of Montgomery County; first runnersup Amy and James Burgess of Blount County with their daughter, Abby; and Federation Executive Director Mike Kilgore.
ubbed the Alabama Farm Bureau D Young People’s Program in 1956, today’s Young Farmers Program
remains a training ground for the next generation of leaders. The group has developed scores of leaders for Alabama agriculture, including statewide elected officials, legislators, and Alabama Farmers Federation board members and presidents, including current President Jimmy Parnell and his predecessor, Jerry Newby.
Training Ground
Fayette County organized Alabama’s first Young People’s county committee in 1957, shortly after the state program was formed to develop leadership skills
in 18- to 28-year-old farmers in 1956. Successive groups formed in Walker, Calhoun, Houston and Montgomery counties in 1959. Throughout the years, young farmers in all 67 counties have been active. The Young People’s Program was renamed Young Farmers in 1968. County voting delegates elect
State Young Farmers Committee members during the annual meeting business session each December. The committee has 10 elected district and at-large representatives, plus the Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF). Farmers from 33 counties have led the committee as chairman.
The State Young People’s Committee was created in 1956. From left are Lewis Harper, Tuscaloosa County, advisor, state executive committee; Bobby Roberts, Fayette County, reporter; Donald Springer, Tuscaloosa County, vice chair; Marvin Kelley, Etowah County, chair; Morris Stringer, Houston County, secretary; Betty Whitt, Limestone County; and Farm Bureau’s John Dorrill. Not pictured: Martha Yancey, Etowah County. 24
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NEIGHBORS
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December/Winter 2021
Statewide Contests
Since its inception, young farmers have participated in statewide contests. A 1957 Alabama Farm Bureau News advertisement offered involvement opportunities for young farmers, including Talk Meet and Talent Find. Today, farmers ages 18-35 compete in state contests; winners represent Alabama in American alfafarmers.org
