March / April 2012 – Vol. 7 No. 2
April 27, 2011 – One Year Later Address Service Requested AP&EA P.O. 240 Montgomery, AL 36101
Board of Directors Officers Spence Jarnagin, President, Huntsville* Johnny Adcock, Vice President, Woodland* Randall Ennis, Treasurer, Huntsville* Dale Gambrill, Secretary, Snead* John Pittard, Immediate Past President, Guntersville* Directors Ronnie Adrian, Collinsville George Attwood, Anniston Fred Cespedes, Hanceville Cory Early, Decatur Tim Esslinger, Eufaula* Billy Gilley, Cullman Harold Hunt, Gadsden* Heath Loyd, Boaz David Massey, Montgomery Dennis Maze, Horton Todd McMahen, Dothan Dr. Shannon Morgan, Birmingham John Pastrana, Russellville Mitchell Pate, Auburn Mike Pigg, Cullman John Roberts, Cullman Kenneth Sanders, Brundidge Roddy Sanders, Gordo Jason Shell, Gadsden Jack Sherwood, Troy Jason Spann, Hanceville Ken Taylor, Anniston Ben Thompson, Huntsville David Thompson, Ashland Stanley Usery, Athens Ricky Walker, Snead Craig Williams, Enterprise Advisors Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery Perry Oakes, Auburn *Executive Committee Members
AP&EA STAFF Johnny Adams – Executive Director Wanda H. Linker – Administrative Director Ray Hilburn – Membership Director Huck Carroll – Communications Director/Editor Jennifer Shell – Support Director Alabama Poultry Magazine is published by the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association 465 South Bainbridge Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: 334-265-2732 Fax: 334-265-0008 Send editorial and advertising correspondence to: Alabama Poultry Magazine Editor P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Advertising rates and closing dates available upon request. Editorial matter from sources outside AP&EA is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may or may not coincide with official AP&EA policy. Publication does not necessarily imply endorsement by AP&EA.
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MES S AG E
PRESIDENT’S
Dear Friends, The first anniversary of the tornados of April 27, 2011, has come, and across the state people are rebuilding. We are thankful that many of our poultry growers, so devastated by the tornados, are rebuilding and will continue growing chickens. Some, in fact, have already gotten chicks. Being a farmer, even in the best of times, takes courage. Today, with difficult economic times, political uncertainty, societal change and unpredictable weather, it takes an added portion of courage. It is gratifying to hear the individual stories of heroism and sacrifice, knowing that our industry is alive and well thanks to the efforts of these men and women. Their dedication to continue, despite their losses, is an inspiration to us all. It is also inspiring to know that, through the generosity of so many of you, the Association was able to distribute more than $127,000 through our Alabama Poultry Growers 2011 Tornado Relief Fund. Time and time again we heard words of thanks from growers who were helped by your contributions and compassion. To see a list of contributors, take a look at page 18. Be sure to thank these gracious folks the next time you see them. To the growers who have chosen not to rebuild, especially to our veteran growers, we thank you for your years of dedicated service to our proud industry. We wish you the very best and hope that you will continue to be a friend to the industry. On a happier note – This year’s Evening of Fun is going to be terrific. We have Nashville star Josh Turner for our concert and The Heather Hayes Experience for our after concert dance – what a lineup! The only way you can make it better is to add the award winning Arab FFA String Band. Just be sure to wear your dancing shoes. And remember, kids 18 and under get in free, so get your tickets today! I’ll see you there.
Featuring This Issue Governmental Affairs Association News Evening of Fun April 27, 2011 – One Year Later Contributors to the
pg. 4 pg. 8 pg. 11 pg. 12
Alabama Poultry Growers 2011 Tornado Relief Fund
Recipes Member News Auburn Happenings Practical Applications Calendar of Events
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Governmental Affairs
Endangered: Your Kids on the Family Farm? After a firestorm of complaints from farming organizations, rural communities and individual farmers and ranchers, the Obama administration’s Department of Labor withdrew its controversial proposed rule dealing with young people working in agriculture. The rule would have effectively made it illegal for children under the age of 18 to do all but the most menial chores around the family farm. Secretary Hilda Solis and her meddling minions at the U.S. Department of Labor wrote 200 pages of rules proscribing what kids cannot do on their own family farms, because she is convinced, “children employed in agriculture are some of the most vulnerable workers in America.” The list of prohibited activities included working in grain elevators, feed lots, silos, stockyards and livestock auctions. Operating power tools would also be off limits. It means that on a dairy farm, junior couldn’t operate a milking machine, no matter how much training and parental supervision he had. Driving a tractor would also be prohibited, despite the fact that many of us learned how to drive automobiles by first driving tractors as kids on our folks’ farms. Even using an electric screwdriver is taboo. Solis and her crew seem to believe the “evil factory farming” rhetoric that has been floating around in the circles of the urban intelligentsia for a decade. Believing that they should protect children from exploitation by heartless and greedy redneck farm factory bosses might well be a semi-legitimate rationale for their actions, if it weren’t for the fact that the majority of kids working on the farms are the farm owner’s own kids. (I know there were times when I felt like a slave on my grandmother’s
farm, but hey, I learned to put in an honest day’s work and it didn’t kill me.) To be fair to Solis, her “Fair Labor Standards Act” would have grudgingly made some limited exemptions for the farm owner’s kids, however, it made no such distinctions for nieces or nephews, grandkids or kids in the community who might want a job after school or in the summer. Since farming is usually a multi-generational proposition, this act would have kept younger generations from learning the trade of farming and inhibits generational continuity. To say that Solis’s actions were entirely subjective, by design, is confirmed by her department’s own press release, “[The government] charges the secretary of labor with prohibiting employment of youth in occupations that she finds and declares to be particularly hazardous for them.” Solis insists that her agency is “working to prevent unnecessary child injuries or deaths.” It is evident that in its efforts to usurp parental responsibility for protecting children, the Department of Labor has totally disregarded Department of Agriculture statistics showing a 50 percent decline in the mortality rate of kids under 20 in farm-related accidents from 2001 to 2009. What it does do, however, is to show a bureaucratic arrogance and a deliberate in-
This issue is just one more reason why staying informed is so crucial, especially for poultry growing farm families. Help us to keep you informed immediately on issues affecting your family and farm by sending us your email address or updating an old address.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
AP&EA Editorial
stitutional inclination in the direction of progressive federal nannyism. If Solis and this administration are so concerned about the vulnerability of children, perhaps they should bus some inner-city kids, voluntarily of course, from where life expectancy is considerably less, out to the farm, where they can breathe fresh air and learn the value of a hard day’s work in a safe, productive and wholesome environment. There is hope on the horizon, however. In Congress, conservative members are pushing a measure called Preserving America’s Family Farms Act that would stop Solis’s nonsense before it inevitably starts again. Like many of us, they are concerned the government is not only trampling on family’s rights, but it’s also robbing this generation and ones to come of the valuable legacy they gain working on a family farm.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
MONTGOMERY, April 5 – Democrats and Republicans, maybe even an independent or two, united to celebrate Alabama’s numero uno agricultural industry at the 15th annual AP&EA Legislative and Media Omelet Breakfast. Senators, legislators and other elected officials rubbed shoulders with members of the governor’s staff and state government workers as, underneath the tent on the historic Capitol’s south lawn, the master omeleteer, Howard Helmer, was joined by helpers from poultry and allied industry companies, faculty and staff from Auburn University poultry science department, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and AP&EA board members and staff gleefully lifting spatulas in the openair kitchen. Howard has retired from the American Egg Board, but came back for a special encore appearance. As popular as he is, he can return for as many encores as he wants. He is always welcome under our tent. The weather was mild and the faces were mostly smiling, even when there was some serious politicking going on. And, by the time the omelet pans had time to cool down, Howard and his merry crew of sous chefs had whipped up more than 500 scrumptious egg creations, to the delight of all. A lucky group of FFA students, visiting the Capitol, also got an opportunity to sample the fare under the AP&EA tent. One of the kids was particularly excited because his family has eight poultry houses. The annual Legislative and Media Omelet Breakfast is sponsored by the Heavy Penny-A-Hen Committee and Alabama’s egg producers through state support funding from the American Egg Board.
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Association News
Big Turnout for Spring Board Meeting
MONTGOMERY – Spirits were still high from the omelet breakfast, as the AP&EA spring board meeting began. Association President Spence Jarnagin opened the meeting and introduced Dr. Bill Batchelor, dean of the Auburn College of Agriculture. Dr. Batchelor reported on his foreign travels and the growth of the middle class throughout the world, and their demands for more protein in their diets. He also reported on the Auburn feed mill project and the efforts to secure funding for the Na-
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tional Poultry Technology Center. Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Dr. Gary Lemme reported a study that was underway to determine the economics impact of agriculture on the state. The study should be available next year. He also reported that 84,000 Alabama kids were now involved in the 4-H program. Casey Jones reported for the Allied Industries Committee that $14,000 had been raised for the Alabama Poultry Growers 2011 Tornado Relief Fund through the golf tournament and fishing tournament. A number of advisory reports were presented, including State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier, who reported that the Department of Agriculture and Industries is actively
Alabama Poultry Magazine
searching for a replacement for retired State Diagnostic Lab Director Dr. Fred Hoerr. The position is listed as a diagnostic pathologist with an avian option. He also reported that the department is facing 10.62 percent proration throughout the fiscal year, with no improvement seen for the next. Dr. Don Conner, head of the Auburn department of poultry science reported that the department was making progress on the 2 Plus 2 program with Wallace State Community College in Hanceville. The meeting concluded with Association Executive Director Johnny Adams’ report on the ever-evolving immigration issue and the search for CAFO money in the Legislature.
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The Arab FFA String Band
This year’s “Evening of Fun” will feature the amazing bluegrass skills of the award winning Arab FFA String Band. The young musicians, grades 7 through 9, have delighted audiences with a classic bluegrass sound that’s as true blue as the jackets they wear. They are the two-time Alabama defending champions and have appeared outside the Grand Ole Opry’s Ryman Theatre in Nashville. They also have a show band of their own called “Freshwater Creek.” Check them out on our Facebook page!
2012 “Evening of Fun” Annual Grower Meeting and Seminar The 2012 “Evening of Fun” will kick off with the grower meeting at 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in the Birmingham Ballroom. Kenneth Sanders, Grower Committee chairman, will welcome everyone and then we will get down to business by electing two additional grower directors for the two upcoming years. Next on the agenda will be the recognition of the 2012 Alabama Farm Family of the Year, which is always the highlight of the evening. This is quite an honor to be selected from the many outstanding nominees that we receive each year. We should be there to congratulate them on this outstanding accomplishment and thank them for what they do for
our poultry industry. Because of what we experienced in our state and industry this past year, the Grower Committee felt we needed to address some of the issues involving natural disasters. This year our topic will be “My Role During a Catastrophic Event” which will give growers information and suggestions for things to do before, during, and after a natural disaster. This will be relevant information for broiler, breeder, and pullet growers which we learned last year can all be affected by natural disasters. Our speakers for this presentation will be Ray Hilburn, AP&EA membership director, and Dana Bennett, former poultry unit manager for the Ala-
Alabama Poultry Magazine
bama Department of Agriculture and Industries. AFO/CAFO credits will be awarded for attendance, so please remember to register while you are at the seminar. Next on the agenda will be the exciting presentation of door prizes. Each farm will be given one ticket as they enter the meeting which makes them eligible for the drawing of five $100 bills to five lucky winners. This is worth the trip to Birmingham by itself. A meal will be served at the close of the meeting and then it is off to the concert. What a great start to the 2012 “Evening of Fun.” Please come join us for a great time!
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Johnny Wilkins points in the direction from where the third and most devastating tornado came.
When tornados ravaged Alabama on April 27, 2011, the Alabama poultry industry, which normally processes 21 million birds a week, had to function with approximately three million fewer chickens. All things considered, for the amount of devastation, it was a small price to pay for Alabama’s number one agricultural industry. But while the industry fared well through the storm, a number of growers were hit very hard, many losing everything. Probably, the hardest hit was the Hallmark family of the Ruth community near Arab. Shane Hallmark, a grower for Wayne Farms of Decatur; his wife, Jennifer; his parents; and an 18-month-old niece were killed when a tornado hit his parents’ home. The Hallmarks’ 6-year-old daughter, Ari, survived with severe injuries. Pilgrim’s grower, Phillip Dale Garrison of Russellville, also lost his cousin, Donald Heaps, when a tornado destroyed Garrison’s poultry houses. In Phil Campbell, Marshall Durbin growers Jerry and Ruby Cotham’s son, Jeffrey, was killed when his mobile home was destroyed. Their home was also annihilated, along with their poultry houses. Johnny Wilkins, of Mt. Hope, credits his Pilgrim’s serviceman, Marty Graham, with making the call that saved his and his son’s lives. Two tornados had already passed through the area, doing minor damage to his poultry houses and knocking out the power. Worried that his generators might fail in the heat, Johnny had been working on them as well as repairing his houses. At about 3 p.m., he got a call from Graham warning him about a large tornado headed his way and that he had
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better “get out.” One look to the west confirmed the report. Rushing up the hill to his home, he got his son, Jess, and they headed to his brother’s nearby home that had a basement. Along the way, they saw an Alabama Power Company crew working to restore power. They told the power company crew to follow them, which they did. They were just closing the basement door at his brother’s house when they heard, as Johnny says, a great “boom.” He looked outside quickly and saw the funnelcloud; it looked, he said, “like a giant mushroom.” Nothing was left. In just a moment, his home and livelihood were shattered. The six poultry houses were no longer there; his outbuildings were destroyed, as was much of his farm equipment. Of his 48 head of cattle, only 24 could be found, and many of them were injured. All had to be sold because the storm had destroyed all of his fences. Today, his home is being rebuilt, with finish work well under way. There is a wraparound porch so that he can overlook his poultry houses and keep a weather eye toward the west. The six poultry houses have been rebuilt and are awaiting the first flock of chicks. Wilkins says, “Before the tornado, I owed $80,000, now I’m in debt for 15 more years. It will be two years before I’m back up and running like before. They tell me, I’ve got three miles of fence to rebuild.” Still, he is thankful that he and his son are alive. Wilkins is also thankful for all the help that he has gotten. The FSA Indemnity Program has been helpful,
Alabama Poultry Magazine
as has AP&EA’s Alabama Poultry Growers 2011 Tornado Relief Fund check. His banker has also been helpful, not only lending him the money to rebuild, but also lending him a small backhoe to dig new water lines. Not far from Wilkins, Pilgrim’s growers, Kennard and Kathy Little, were also hit by the same storm. In their four 40’x 400’ houses, built in 1992, they had 3week-old birds. They too had lost power that morning, but their generators were functioning. They decided to visit Kathy’s mother who lived nearby. After they had been there for a while, Kennard decided to go back to the farm to check on the generators. Kathy stayed at her mother’s and monitored a police scanner. She was listening to the scanner when she heard that a large tornado had struck down in Phil Campbell and was headed toward them. She quickly called Kennard on his cell phone, but could not get him. Desperately, she called twice more before he answered. She told him of the approaching storm and he headed toward his mother-in-law’s house. He had just made it into the basement when the tornado struck. The devastation was such that it took two hours before they could get back to their farm. The four poultry houses were destroyed and their home was badly damaged. While their cattle all survived, they found Kennard’s horse lying atop the ruins of one of the poultry houses badly hurt. Sadly, he had to be put down. Their home was so badly damaged that it had to be condemned and torn down. They converted an outbuilding that had survived the storm into a living place and began work on rebuilding their home. By June, the structure was up and brick work almost complete. In October, they moved in.
Work on the chicken houses took a little more time. Clearing the land of debris was the first priority, so it wasn’t until August that they could start on the chicken houses. This time they built two 600’ houses instead. They recieved their first chicks in early April. In her application for assistance, the diminutive Christina Cooper of Phil Campbell stated boldly, “I am a third generation poultry farmer. We are staying and we will rebuild.” To emphasize her commitment, she underlined “We are staying.” The Coopers, who grow for Pilgrim’s, lost their four poultry houses and had extensive damage done to their home. She and her husband, Kerry, and their two sons lived in two campers in their driveway while their home was being repaired. Now, back in their home, they are struggling to get their poultry houses built. Heavy rains and the lack of contractor availability have slowed the recovery, but with the pads finished, they are looking forward to beginning construction. Jeff Saarinen, a Marshall Durbin grower in Spruce Pine, also lost his home and two poultry houses. He had serious back injuries when he was flung through his control room wall into his feed bins, while his wife, Ladonna, hiding in the basement, broke both ankles when their home collapsed on top of her. Little was left from their home. Ladonna had collected porcelain figurines by Fenton, and, several days after the storm, her father was looking around outside where the home had been and found the first figurine that her mother had given her. It was undamaged, and, according to her husband, it brought tears to her eyes. Since then, several others have been found, chipped but intact. Two months ago they were able to move back into
Kathy and Kennard Little are excited to be getting chicks, but have also had a little more time for grandson, Joe.
Kerry and Christina Cooper are waiting for the mud to dry up so they can get their chicken houses under construction.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
their new home after having lived with their son for the past nine months. Both are still in physical therapy, though Jeff has taken a part-time job with a company that builds fireplace mantels. They are going to wait a while before determining if they will get back into the poultry business. Located in the green rolling hills just southwest of Mt. Hope, Pilgrim’s grower, Phillip Roberson, lost his six poultry houses, built in 1996-97. His home also suffered damage. He laments that on his family farm, nothing is going to be the same from his memories of growing up there. Still, as he and his daughter, Anna, stand on the deck of their home, overlooking the four new, modern and larger chicken houses that replaced those destroyed in the tornado, and with his first flock of chicks coming the next day, it’s hard not to see the silver lining. A year ago that wasn’t the case; things looked pretty bleak with 130,000 dead or dying chickens and a mass of broken timber and mangled tin. Destruction was everywhere. But, he credits the community for helping in the cleanup effort. People seemed to come from all over wanting to help. Some, especially those from out of town, couldn’t handle the dead bird removal, but they helped in other ways. Churches brought meals to the cleanup workers. Others brought water and ice. Law enforcement also played a part in keeping looters away and directing traffic. Roberson, like the other growers who have rebuilt, is anxious to get back into business and start generating some income. He accepts the consequences of 15 more years on indebtedness as a way of life. He also realizes that, although his equipment is up-to-date now, in five years he will probably have to make upgrades to stay
competitive. Across the state, Cleburne County grower Marti Short’s husband, Charlie, was working in Sugar Valley, Ga., for the railroad. That morning, he had witnessed a tornado come through with devastating results. After working all day to clear miles of track, he was asked to go to Tennessee to help clear debris there. But, because of the weather forecast for the Piedmont area, he decided to head for home and family. Arriving at home exhausted, he had Marti prepare beds in the basement for the four kids while he took a much needed nap. A short time later he was awakened by the sound of the tornado siren in nearby Rock Run. Hustling the kids into the basement, he had them put on baseball or motorcycle helmets, whatever they could find. His 15-year-old daughter, Morgan, says, “I thought he was crazy.” Charlie remembers getting everyone down the spiral staircase into the basement, when the power went out and he heard the poultry house generator start. The storm hit almost simultaneously, the noise of the storm drowning out the sound of the generator. The basement had a suspended ceiling and tiles started falling, causing the kids to get hysterical. With the storm’s passing, an eerie silence followed. Through the opening in the staircase, Charlie could see sky, and knew that the roof was gone. As he cautiously climbed the stairs, he saw that it was much worse than he imagined. All that was left of their log home was a section of the porch. Across the hollow, where the chicken houses were, he could see flames shooting skyward from the destroyed generator. From the glare of the flames, he could see that his four poultry houses were also gone.
Anna and her dad, Phillip Roberson, are glad to be back in the poultry business after a difficult year.
(L to R)Short family friend Dylan Kirk, joins Dylan, Mason, Hayden and Morgan, as Charlie and Marti (back) look on.
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Before the tornado knocked out their power, they had heard that other tornados might be headed their way. Unwilling to risk his family in their damaged basement, Charlie decided it was time to get out. He found shoes for the kids and got them upstairs. Fortunately one of their vehicles, a four-wheel drive Tahoe, would start, although all of the windows had been knocked out. They brushed the glass out of the seats and climbed in. Because of debris blocking the roadway, Charlie was forced to cut through the field, dropping off a five foot embankment to get to the highway. They found shelter with a nearby neighbor, whom they had never met, for the night. The next morning they came back to survey the damage. The devastation was total. Their home and all their belongings were gone. Their four poultry houses, which would have been a year old in May of 2011, were gone. All that was left were dead and dying 13-day-old birds. One year later, and after much difficulty, the Koch Foods’ growers have rebuilt their chicken houses and are on their third flock. They have also rebuilt their log home with a new addition, however. The basement now has a reinforced “safe room” with bunk beds and heavy safe-like metal doors. No helmets required. The heartache of lost memories will haunt them for years to come. But, unlike others, they have the opportunity to make new memories. There are many other stories coming out of this disaster. These are just a few, but they represent the courage and determination of Alabama poultry people. No one in our industry has been untouched by the tragedy of April 27, 2011. If we were not directly involved, our friends and neighbors suffered loss, and that loss is felt throughout the Alabama poultry community. All of the growers that I talked with, in the course of researching this article, expressed gratitude for the generosity of those who contributed to the Alabama Poultry Growers 2011 Tornado Relief Fund, giving their greatest appreciation to other growers who generously contributed. They also expressed a feeling of being blessed: blessed to have survived; blessed to be able to rebuild; and blessed to be part of the poultry growing community. They are years away from being whole, but they are on the way. See the list of contributors to the fund on page 18.
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Ari Hallmark , One Year Later
RUTH – Ari Hallmark has been “a little edgy” this week leading up to the April 27 anniversary, according to her grandmother, Susan Garmany. Ari’s young life is returning to some normalcy, though she still sees a counselor once a month. Her physical wounds have healed and she now enjoys gymnastics and plays soccer. She and her grandmother have moved into the home that her parents built and moved into just weeks before they were killed. Ari now sleeps in her parents’ big bed. Ari is also using her experience to help Dr. Lisa Moses develop a curriculum for churches and hospices to help children who have lost parents. Ari and Dr. Moses are publishing a book, To Heaven, After the Storm, which will tell Ari’s story through her own words and drawings. The book will be published in July. Dr. Moses says that Ari is doing better than many would expect. She says, “Ari is, at her core, a happy child. Her parents prepared her well.” On Saturday morning, April 28, she was at Guntersville State Park to help Bo Jackson continue on his bicycle ride across Alabama to raise money for tornado relief.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
CONTRIBUTORS Below is a list of companies, individuals and poultry growers, who, in a time of extreme need, answered the call and gave to the Alabama Poultry Growers 2011 Tornado Relief Fund to help growers in the poultry industry who had suffered loss due to the tornados of April 27, 2011. We thank them for their generosity and willingness to help in so worthy a cause.
COMPANY CONTRIBUTORS $50,000 or more Alabama Poultry & Egg Association $20,000 or more Aviagen Inc. $5,000 or more Alabama Farm Credit First South Farm Credit/NA and SA Elanco Animal Health USPoultry Harold E. Ford Foundation $2,500 or more AlaTrade Foods, LLC Ceva Biomune D & F Equipment Sales Lee Energy Solutions $2,000 or more Hubbard Farms Charitable Foundation $1,000 or more Alabama Ag Credit Fitco - Food Ingredients Technology Co. Fibrowatt LLC $500 or more Centurion Poultry, Inc. CTB, Inc. Edd Johnson & Associates Walker360 Valley State Bank $100 or more Alabama Poultry Foundation Chick Master Incubator Co. Core Industries, Inc. B. H. Dunlap, Dunlap Accounting Edward E. Smith & Co., Inc. Gainco, Inc. INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS $2,000 or more Dwight and Ruth Ann Bond $1,000 or more Roy and Beverly Crawford Mary Virginia Moore
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$500 or more Bob Cryar $250 or more Johnny and Kim Adams Ray Hilburn Fred Hoerr $200 or more Larry and Beverly Long $100 or more Cliff Clegg Jr. Ken and Patricia Edwards James and Alice Graff Joe and Karen Hess Gregg Hodges Gene Simpson Debbi Weaver William Weaver $50 or more Wallace Berry Jesse and Jill Campbell Donald and Kim Conner POULTRY GROWER CONTRIBUTORS $1,000 or more Johnny and Maricile Adcock, Homestead Farms $500 or more Craig and Denise Grant Hilburn & Sons Poultry Farm Kenneth Sanders, S & S Poultry Farm $250 or more Kevin and Brandy Allen Glenn Rogers, Rogers Farm Donald and Terri Edmonds Timothy and Patricia Wise $200 or more Phillip and Tammy Ashley Farm Wayne and Maxine Black Wayne Davis, P. D. Davis & Sons David and Barbara Dunlap, Dunlap Poultry Farm
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Bill, Juanita and Gregg Griffith, Griffith Agricultural Corporation Billy Fred and Delane Lipham Larry and Debra Upchurch, Upchurch Farm $100 or more Frank and Carolyn Croft Greg Edwards, Flying E Farms LLC Kevin Gainer, Sundowner Farm, LLC Grady Bain Poultry LLC Chad and Heather Grant Russell and Donie Harden, Harden Poultry Jerry Holladay, Holladay Farms Corwin and Lenore Knestrick Charles and Myrtle Lott Andy and Rhonda Neill Steve and Missy Owens Garry and Annette Palmer Hoyt and Faye Plunkett, J. H. Plunkett Farm Winford and Patricia Smith Larry and Wanda Swiney, L and W Farms Danny and Elesia Thrash, T & C Farms, LLC Christopher Upchurch Andy and Peggy Vardaro J. C. and Betty Ward Kenny and Carol Waters, Waters Poultry Burk Williams, Alexis Farms, LLC Eric and Sydney Wilson, Wilson Poultry Farm Lane Wright, Wright Farms $20 or more Christopher German, R & C Farms Nhu Van Tran Peggy Snider, Snider Poultry Farm Phillip and Yvonne Edmonds, Edmonds Farms William Kimmey and Deborah Maddox, Maddox Poultry Farm Jervis and Sharon Farley Mark Knox Farm N3 Farms, LLC Victor and Debra Smith Mark and Donna Ward
Russty Parrish Announces His Retirement
County Extension Agent Russty Parrish
LUVERNE – Crenshaw County Extension Agent Russell “Russty” Parrish announced his retirement after 30 years with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System at the Central Alabama Poultry & Egg Association meeting at the Tom Harbin Ag Center. Association President Michael Oglesby presented him with a plaque honoring his service to the poultry industry. Fudd Graham, research fellow in the department of entomology at Auburn University, spoke on the topic Control of Fire Ants Around
the Farm to Include Poultry Houses and Buildings. He reviewed the types of effective control and best uses for different situations. He talked about a proactive approach versus a reactive approach. He recommends fireant baits, because, he says, “it lets the fireants do the work for you. Fireants think that it’s food, they carry it back to the mound and feed it to the queen, killing the mound from the inside out.” The meeting featured a meal catered by the Chicken Shack in Luverne.
Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association Holds Annual Meeting
CULLMAN – On April 14, the Cullman County poultry professionals and their friends and family got together to fellowship, feast on barbecued chicken and celebrate their industry at the Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association annual meeting. Folks were still enjoying their meals at the Cullman County Civic Center when Association President Julie Barck called the meeting to order. The first order of business for the evening was the distribution of checks to community organizations. These funds were raised as a result of raffle ticket sales for a John Deere Gator. Checks for $500 were presented to the American Red Cross – Cull-
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man Chapter; Cullman Caring for Kids/United Way Food Bank; Daystar House; Good Samaritan Health Clinic; Hospice of Cullman County; Pilot Light Home; Project Lifesaver; and Victim Services of Cullman Inc. “Harbor Haus.” Robert Page, an Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems economist and CPA, presented an in-depth look at preparing for next year’s tax season. The program also featured the presentation of the Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association Hall of Fame award to Minnesota native, Bill Peterson, by Dr. Francene Van Sambeek. Peterson has worked for Chick Master and Ingram Farms. In 2005, he moved to Texas and
Alabama Poultry Magazine
worked for Holmes Foods in Gonzales. In 2011, he returned to Alabama and now works for DSM as a consultant. “Bill has always been busy promoting poultry and better ways of doing things,” says Van Sambeek. Following the Hall of Fame presentation, Charles Pinkston, Alabama Cooperative Extension Systems regional agent, presented outgoing Association President Julie Barck with a plaque and gavel in honor of her outstanding service as president. Following the presentations, door prizes were awarded. Then a hush fell over the room in anticipation of who was going to win the coveted Gator. And the winner was, Tim Pinkard. Congratulations, Tim!
RECIPES
Serves 4
1½ 1½ 2 1 4 3 2 1 2 ½ 4 2 1 ¼ 2
Chopped Watercress Chicken Salad with Asian Orange Dressing
pounds chicken tenders cups orange juice teaspoons honey tablespoon sesame oil teaspoons soy sauce tablespoons rice wine vinegar tablespoons water teaspoon grated fresh ginger cloves garlic teaspoon red chili flakes cups watercress, washed and chopped (arugula may be substituted) cups romaine hearts, washed and chopped bunch green onions, sliced cup cilantro, chopped tablespoons peanuts, chopped
In a small saucepan, bring orange juice to a boil over medium heat. Boil to reduce by half, about 5 minutes. In food processor or blender, combine juice, honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, water, ginger and garlic. Process until smooth. Remove half of mixture and place in a large plastic, sealable bag. Add red chili flake and chicken tenders. Marinate for 30 minutes. Reserve remaining dressing. In a large serving bowl, combine watercress, romaine, onions, and cilantro. Warm large saute pan over medium high heat. Remove tenders from marinade and add to pan, along with marinade. Saute tenders until cooked through and caramelized brown, about 3-4 minutes per side, turning. Toss reserved dressing with greens. Top with grilled tenders. Add chopped peanuts before serving.
First South Farm Credit Pays $9 Million Cash Patronage Ridgeland, MS – In April, memberborrowers of First South Farm Credit recieved patronage refund checks for 2011, Roger F. Chappell, CEO, announced today. The amount of patronage declared for borrowers of First South Farm Credit will total $20 million from 2011 earnings. The cash portion of the refund paid in April totaled $9 million, or approximately 13 percent of the interest that accrued on their loans in 2011. The remainder was placed in allocated
capital accounts for future revolvement. “First South Farm Credit had another successful year in 2011. We are pleased to be able to share our success with our borrowers by putting our profits in their pockets,” said Ray Makamson, chairman of the First South board of directors. “This is the 17th consecutive year we’ve paid a patronage refund. Over that period of time First South has declared patronage totaling over $209 million to be paid to its member-bor-
Alabama Poultry Magazine
rowers through patronage refunds and retirements of allocated surplus.” “When we distribute our profits to our borrowers it reduces their effective cost of borrowing,” Chappell stated, “and it proves there are distinct financial benefits in doing business on a cooperative basis. We give you a competitive interest rate up front then return a portion of our profits back to you through the patronage program.”
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Member News Aviagen’s Richard Obermeyer Stresses the Need for Proactive Measures in Ensuring Food Safety at 2012 Feed Mill Seminar HUNTSVILLE – Biosecurity should be an integral part of any feed mill operation – and proactive measures largely defining the success of food safety efforts. That’s what Richard Obermeyer, director of feed operations for Aviagen, the world’s leading poultry breeding company, told attendees of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s 2012 Feed Mill Seminar in March. In a presentation titled, “An Effective Biosecurity/HACCP Plan for Feed Mills,” Obermeyer described how feed mill managers can preserve food safety by following proven biosecurity and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) protocols. The presentation included tips on getting started, seven principles of a HACCP plan, and a series of crucial gating factors, such as working safely with raw ingredients, managing a fa-
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cility and its grounds, environmental concerns, and contamination from employees. “Modern animal feed production is a process of constantly assessing the biosecurity risks associated every moment in the feed production cycle, and then taking action at critical control points to mitigate those risks before they become a problem,” said Obermeyer. “To produce feed that’s reliably safe, day in and day out, these practices need to be as much a part of feed mill operations as OSHA, FDA and EPA and standard operating procedures.” Obermeyer oversees Aviagen’s state-of-the-art feed processing facilities, which adhere to strict biosecurity best practices aimed at ensuring poultry feed is free of pathogens that can infect breeder stock. As a leading poultry breeder, Avi-
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agen’s health and biosecurity protocols consistently exceed industry standards. “Aviagen takes its role in the food chain very seriously, and we recognize that keeping pathogens out of the food chain begins with the primary breeder,” added Obermeyer. “We’ve implemented rigorous biosecurity protocols on the movement of people, stock and equipment within the entire production operation to reduce the risk of infection. We preserve the health of our breeding program through generational and geographical separation of our farms. A comprehensive monitoring program encompasses serology, bacteriology and virology testing, which helps us maintain the highest health standards and ensure traceability. Plainly put, biosecurity is a huge part of what we do at Aviagen.”
Auburn Happenings
It’s Always Fun When Friends Get Together ... ... Friends of Auburn Poultry that is! The big chicken was everywhere, as the Friends of Auburn Poultry got together to celebrate the proud heritage of the Auburn University’s department of poultry science in preparing the leaders of Alabama’s number one agricultural industry. The party began on Thursday, April 5, at the farm pavilion with a festive barbecue chicken dinner. That was followed the next day by an exciting golf tournament at the beautiful Auburn Links Golf Course. Seventy poultry pros teed-off in the Poultry Classic. Most were glad that they didn’t have to make a living with a golf club, but still enjoying the spirit of competition and the warmth of fellowship. Some of the putts, including this one, actually made it into the cup. The intrepidly cute team from Koch Foods of Montgomery may have taken home the coveted golden eggs, but everyone left as a winner. That is the ultimate reward of being a friend of Auburn Poultry! Many thanks to Dr. Don Connor and his team for continuing to supply high quality graduates for the poultry industry. Keep up the good work!
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
Practical Applications
Get Ready for Hot Weather
Now By Jim Donald, Jess Campbell, Dennis Brothers, and Gene Simpson National Poultry Technology Center, Auburn University
An unmistakable sign that this house will not meet the hot weather challenge. The poorly maintained and dirty shutter will restrict airflow, and the severely worn fan belt riding low in the pulley will result in lower fan rpm and thus lower wind-speed in the house. Conditions like these are not difficult or costly to remedy. Maintenance to correct ventilation and cooling system problems must not be put off until hot weather arrives.
Hot weather devastated the poultry industry in most parts of the United States last year. From Texas to Maryland and Kentucky to south Alabama, no one escaped triple digit temperatures for days on end. Here at the NPTC our phone rang off the hook with questions from growers and managers looking for the magic bullet to stop rising mortalities and decreasing performance. In too many cases, after asking questions about the particular situation we found that there was no simple solution, and most of the steps we could recommend to cope with this problem were things that should have been done in April or May, not put off until July or August. After last summer, we all know how bad hot weather can get. We can hope that this summer won’t be so bad – but it would be foolish not to do everything we can reasonably do to be ready for another long, hot summer. Most of these steps are not hard to do and are not expensive. However, they must be done in advance. In other words, preventive maintenance is a must! Checklists are a great way to keep on track and set priorities on servicing equipment and houses. This article provides handy checklists for preventive maintenance on the most critical parts of a poultry house environmental control system: Fans, Evaporative Cooling, Electrical Systems, and the Backup Generator. You can print and carry these checklists with you (or give to
helpers), as well as post in convenient places in your office or your houses as both reminders and records to make sure your houses and equipment keep running smoothly. Keys to Understanding the Challenge of Hot Weather Modern poultry house ventilation and evaporative cooling systems are designed to allow growing the maximum number of birds in a given house floor area. Extreme heat is a challenge to individual bird performance and survival, and extremely hot weather challenges our goal of maximizing live weight production. To maintain comfort, birds must be able to dissipate about 12 BTUs of heat per hour per pound of body weight. If the air temperature surrounding the birds is close to the desired temperature for comfort they will lose up to about 5 BTUs per pound per hour from their body surface and lose about 7 BTUs per pound per hour through respiration or breathing. Under these conditions the heat balance of the bird is at equilibrium. They eat, drink, behave and grow normally. Problems arise if the surrounding air temperature increases above that normal level. Warmer air will not allow the transfer of the 5 BTUs per pound per hour from the bird’s body. When
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the bird’s ability to dissipate heat from its body’s surface is diminished due to warmer surrounding air, the bird must compensate by increasing its respiration rate through panting. Then, if surrounding air is so warm that the bird cannot adequately compensate by panting, its internal body temperature will rise, causing severe heat stress, and eventually mortality. The goal in hot weather is to keep the bird dissipating body heat so that panting does not result. The first and most important tool we have to keep the bird from panting is air velocity or wind speed. As we increase the velocity of the air over and around a bird, the windchill effect greatly helps the bird’s ability to shed surface body heat. Every broiler grower has seen this phenomenon over and over again. Birds mildly panting in still air quit panting when the house is put into tunnel ventilation. In extremely hot conditions, especially as birds approach market age, the ventilation system must be operating at 100 percent capacity, which is why fan and shutter maintenance is so important for achieving the goal of maximum live weight production. The second tool we have in a modern house is evaporative cooling. Reducing the incoming air temperature further accelerates the bird’s ability to lose heat from the surface of its skin. It’s important to realize that the effectiveness of the evaporative cooling system also depends on maintaining adequate airflow with adequate water applied to the pads. Clogged cool cells not only reduce cooling, they reduce the wind-chill effect of tunnel ventilation, which is why evaporative cooling system maintenance is so important. While first-class and top-functioning ventilation and cooling systems can take us a long way toward meeting the hot weather challenge, a point can be reached when we get into triple digit temperatures with market age birds, where heat stress, reduced performance, and increasing mortalities are inevitable. In other words, the heat load of the house is more than the ventilation and cooling system can handle on that day. At that point, we are outside of the design envelope for that particular house on that particular day. The fact is that it’s not only warmer air, but also heat given off by the birds that make up the severe hot weather challenge. This means that stocking density may need to be taken into consideration well in advance of anticipated hot weather. Houses with inferior insulation, hot air leaks, and inadequate air speed will especially do better in severe hot weather if we take some of the heat load out of the house by reducing the density.
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People don’t like to talk about reducing densities because of the effect on cash flow. For example in a 40 X 500 house changing the hot weather density from 0.90 to 1.05 results in 3,175 fewer birds in the house. But at 6.5 pounds market weight that reduces the total heat load on the poultry house by over 100,000 BTUs per hour. Adjusting stocking density ahead of anticipated severe heat conditions is a business decision, and one that can make good economic sense, resulting in slightly lower live weight production, but better overall flock performance and fewer mortalities; however, it has to be made at the time of placement, often four to six weeks ahead of the time we think the hottest conditions of the summer might prevail. Make no mistake, however: whatever the weather, a well-maintained Class A tunnel house will always get you closer to the goal of maximum live weight production. Fan Maintenance Checklist 1. DRIVES (PULLEYS AND BELTS) - The drives transmit power and provide the gear ratio between the motor speed and propeller speed. Anything that goes wrong with the drive system causes lost fan performance. Check belt tension – loose belts reduce the gear ratio, causing loss of airflow, and reduce belt life. Check belts for wear. Worn belts ride lower in the pulleys, Loose or cracked fan belts, as shown in this photo, can cause lowered airflow as well as threaten complete loss of airflow when the belt breaks. Worn belts or motor pulleys are often overlooked, and will cause lowered fan rpms and reduced house air flow.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Worn fan belts ride low in the motor pulley, as shown in the left photo. Result: blade rpm is greatly reduced, thus robbing cfms, air speed and wind chill cooling. Belts should be tight and ride high in the motor pulley, as in the photo on the right, to achieve maximum fan rpm and best wind-chill and evaporative cooling. NOTE: The same effect is caused by a worn pulley, even if belt is new. Retensioning the belt will not cure either problem, worn belt or worn pulley.
changing the gear ratio and lowering fan performance. Check pulley alignment. Misaligned pulleys cause excessive belt wear and more drive losses. Check pulleys for wear: cupped out pulleys allow belt (even a new belt) to ride lower in the pulley, which changes gear ratio and lowers air flow.
2. DOG HOUSE – Sweep all cobwebs and other debris off of the back of the pads with a broom. Once everything is on the floor, remove it from the dog house. 3. PAD RINSE – Close inlet curtain or tunnel doors. Wash excess debris from pads with water hose and spray nozzle carefully. High pressure washer rinsing is
2. SHUTTERS AND GUARDS - Anything that obstructs the airflow causes lost fan performance. Clean shutters once per week during tunnel ventilation. Dirty shutters require more energy from the airflow to open and reduce airflow and efficiency. Clean guards once a week because dirty guards present more surface area to obstruct airflow. 3. MOTORS - Most electric circuits and electrical devices run more efficiently and last longer at cooler temperatures. Clean motors once per flock. Dirty motors run hotter, lose efficiency and have reduced motor life. 4.BEARINGS - Lubricate bearings twice per year where applicable (spring and fall). Dry bearings require more power to turn, causing you to lose fan efficiency and shorten bearing life. Evaporative Cooling Checklist 1. PADS – Blow debris from outside of pad system to dog house with backpack blower with pads dry. This will push all debris and cobwebs into dog house to be later removed. If pads are damaged they must be replaced.
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not recommended. Wash anything left inside dog house out. (If pads require a chemical cleaning use only recommended chemicals and cleaning procedures.) 4. DRAIN SYSTEM – Drain the evaporative cooling system recirculation trough and sump tanks and clear all dirt/debris from the system. Leaving trash in the system causes premature fouling of filters, pads and pumps. 5. FLUSH SYSTEM – Flush the top header system and the trough to the best of your ability. 6. FILTERS – Remove and clean or replace filters. Replacement filters must be stored on site and be readily available when needed. Filters must be checked once a week at times of high use. Do not operate system without filters and screens in place. 7. PUMPS, FLOATS & TANKS – Make sure pump intake screens are cleaned, floats are in place and adjusted and tanks are clean and free from debris. Pump screens must be checked at least once a week during periods of high use of cooling system or as often as system is drained and flushed. 8. WATER SUPPLY – Test run recirculation system to make sure the fill levels are adjusted properly and adequate water is available to fill system. Make sure the supply system fully wets the entire pad system and no dry streaks are left on pads. If supply water quality is a problem, additional filtration or treatment may be necessary. 9. DISTRIBUTION HEADER – Flush distribution header. Loosen union at distribution header and carefully clean all distribution holes in header with screwdriver or soft bristle brush. Do not change the size of the hole in the header. Run water in system to ensure all holes are free from debris or clogs. 10. INLET OPENING - Inlet curtain opening must be at least a minimum of 80 percent of the area of the cooling pad system area. Six hundred square feet of 6-inch recirculating pad requires at least 480 square feet of free air unobstructed inlet opening minimum. Bunched up curtains or partially opened tunnel doors must not restrict the tunnel inlet opening!! 11. DOG HOUSE TIGHTNESS – The dog house on
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each side must be as air tight as possible. A little spray foam and carpentry work will go a very long way. All cracks, holes, and leaks must be sealed. Air that bypasses the recirculating pads is not cooled and works against the system. Electrical Systems Checklist 1. MAIN PANEL – Main panel breaker must be checked on a weekly basis during the summertime to make sure it is not overheating. Breaker spots can be installed on both sides of each main breaker to help spot early warning signs of trouble. At least one exact replacement main breaker should be stored on site preferably in a common location on the farm site. 2. CONTROLLER BACKUP – Check that controller backup system is set to turn on automatically if controller fails. Make sure that if controller fails, siren and dialer operate properly. Make sure backup batteries have been installed in dialer or backup controller box. 3. BACKUP THERMOSTATS – Test backup thermostats for proper operation and temperature setting. Placing backup thermostats near cooling systems is not recommended. may not have the same “shelf life” as previous fuels so more frequent fuel changes might be necessary. 4. CIRCUIT BREAKERS – Check to make sure breakers are not overheating or tripping. Problem may be in the electrical system or the breaker itself. Make sure exact replacement circuit breakers are readily available. If replacing the breaker does not solve the problem, get a qualified electrician to troubleshoot the system. 5. ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS – Electrical connections in transfer switches, generators, service disconnects, and main panels/subpanels should be checked and tightened every year. This should only be done by a qualified and/or licensed electrician. Damaged fan outlets, equipment outlets, light fixtures and junction boxes are fire hazards and must be repaired! 6. GROUNDING LUG – Grounding lug on ground rod should be checked for tightness at every house and generator shed. This is done by moving wire at lug-to-rod connection. Solid acorn style grounding lugs are recommended to tie ground wire to ground rods.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
7. LIGHTNING PROTECTION – Check to make sure lighting protection is in place and properly installed. Lightning protection works best when installed in layers to protect major electrical and electronic components. Protection systems must be sized to protect the equipment it is intended to protect. One-size-fits-all is not the best way to go. Lightning protection must only be installed by a qualified or licensed electrician.
Electrical Inspections should be done every year! ELECTRICIAN EMERGENCY CONTACT:
5. TRANSFER SWITCH – Check transfer switching to make sure it is set to automatically transfer power when the grid power fails. Transfer switch testing must be done at least once a week when the generator cycles on. Most transfer switches have a backup means for transferring power installed in case electronic controls fail. Make sure all farm hands know how to manually transfer power in case of emergency. 6. FEEDER DISCONNECTS – Breakers or fuses must be inspected to ensure proper operation. Exact replacement breakers or fuses must be stored in generator shed in case of emergency.
NAME: ______________________________ PHONE #:______________________________ Generators must be fully serviced one time every year! GENERATOR SERVICE EMERGENCY CONTACT:
Generator Service Checklist 1. FUEL LEVEL – Check the fuel level in the tank to make sure that you have at least 20 gallons of fuel on reserve in case of an emergency power outage. Maintaining a fresh fuel supply is a must. Fuel filters should be changed each year. Newer fuel mixtures may not have the same “shelf life” as previous fuels so more frequent fuel changes might be necessary.
NAME: _____________________________ PHONE #:______________________________
2. BATTERY – Batteries should be replaced every three years regardless of condition. Check all battery connections to ensure that there is no corrosion buildup and all connections are tight. Check the battery charge level to make sure there is a full charge on the battery. Many growers have installed inexpensive trickle chargers on batteries to ensure a full charge when needed. 3. FLUID LEVELS AND AIR FILTERS – All vital fluids must be kept at proper levels. Engine oil must be changed and fluids must be checked at least once per year. Oil, water/coolant, and fuel gauges should be double checked. Air filters must be inspected and replaced as needed. 4. GENERATOR SETTINGS – Make sure backup switch is set to automatically turn generator on or switch to ON when the power fails. Backup “key” switches may be installed so that if electronic or analog generator control board malfunctions occur, the generator can still be manually started.
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ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR In our last issue, we inadvertantly identified this precious baby. He is Emerson Cooper Shell, the son of AP&EA Support Director Jennifer Shell and her husband, Jonathan. We called him Cooper, when he actually prefers to be called Emerson. Being called by the right name is important, even to an infant. So, to Emerson, Jennifer and Jonathan, we apologize. We like to be accurate here at Alabama Poultry Magazine, but sometimes we do make misteaks.
Bowen is a Marine Congratulations to Robert and Debi Bowen. Their son, Robert Kyle Bowen, graduated from U.S. Marine boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., on March 9, 2012. He is currently undergoing advanced individual training at Twentynine Palms, Calif. Robert Bowen is the territory manager for Chick Master Incubator Company. ADVERTISING INDEX Alabama Ag / Alabama Farm Credit American Proteins Aviagen Bobcat of Oxford Central Energy Solutions Daughtry Ins. Agency Farm and Ranch Hardware First South Farm Credit Georgia Poultry Equipment Hayes Rasbury Ins. Agency Jones-Hamilton PLT Lee Energy Solutions Northwest Envirofan Randy Jones Ins. Agency Thompson Tractor
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pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg.
13 31 22 17 29 8 16 9 4 5 19 2 27 32 23
Pyron Keener Passes Away AP&EA is saddened to report the death of Pryon Keener, 90, on March 9, in Montgomery. Mr. Keener had a 41-year career with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, much of which was devoted to the poultry industry. He graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in 1944. During his career with the Department of Agriculture's Poultry Division, he helped write the Alabama Baby Chick Law and served on the committee that drafted the Alabama Shell Egg Law. He also served on the committee that founded the Alabama Poultry Industry Association, now the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and served as an advisor to the board for 32 years. CALENDAR OF EVENTS AP&EA Golf Tournament Friday, June 8, 2012, 8:00 am Limestone Springs Golf Course AP&EA “Evening of Fun” Saturday, June 9, 2012 Grower Seminar, 5:00 pm, Birmingham Ballroom/Sheraton Program and Concert, 7:00 pm, BJCC Complex Dance, 9:30 pm, Sheraton Ballroom AP&EA Annual Meeting July 23 – 24, 2012 Sandestin Beach COUNTY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS Clay County Poultry & Egg Association Meeting Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 6:30 pm Ms. Anita’s, Lineville Southeast Alabama Poultry & Egg Association Meeting Thursday, May 31, 2012, 6:30 pm Abercrombie’s, Clayton Central Alabama Poultry & Egg Association Thursday July 19, 2012, 6:30 pm Beeland Park, Greenville
Alabama Poultry Magazine