Letter from the Editor

Le er from the Editor

Happy New Year and welcome to our rst issue of 2022! Like any new beginning, we’re excited to get into a routine while we continue bringing you the “down to earth news from your friends at the Co-op.” While this issue is lled with contributions from our regulars, we’ve added a few new additions. We’re covering everything from stories on backyard ocks and hobby farms, to information on forestry and outdoors to recipes like chocolate mousse and squirrel potpie. We’re also helping our friends at Sweet Grown Alabama highlight their members one at a time, which gives you the perfect opportunity to meet the hardworking families who provide our state with food and ber! Over the past year, we’ve built relationships and researched topics to bring you a wider variety of information from all aspects of agriculture. Our hope is to provide quality articles that are relatable and enjoyable. We’ve also given the inside a bit of an update with fresh graphics and headers. is publication is a team e ort, and we are thankful that you’re a part of that team – we couldn’t do it without you! ank you for being a loyal reader, customer and part of the AFC family.

Samantha Hendricks

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief: Samantha Hendricks Editor: Jessie Shook Associate Editor: Mary Delph Contributing Editor: Jade Randolph

Advertising, Editorial, Subscription and Publication O ces 121 Somerville Road NE Decatur, AL 35601-2659 P.O. Box 2227 Decatur, AL 35609-2227 256-308-1618

AFC O cers Rivers Myres, President Ben Haynes, Chairman of the Board

AFC Board of Directors Rickey Cornu , Ma Haney, Brooks Hayes, Rick Hendricks, Bill Sanders, Je Sims, Mike Tate, David Womack

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Cooperative Farming News is published bi-monthly by Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. 121 Somerville Road NE, Decatur, AL 35601-2659 P.O. Box 2227, Decatur, AL 35609-2227

Reproduction in whole or in part without wri en permission is strictly prohibited. e publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and will not be responsible for copy errors or misprints in advertising or editorial material, other than to publish corrections of errors in fact. Feature articles, news items and columns are published for the information of our readers from quali ed, reputable sources; however, the editors and publisher make no guarantees and assume no liability for any reader’s decision to implement any procedure, recommendation or advice printed in this publication. Photos are credited to author unless otherwise noted. Advertised sale items may not be stocked by every Quality Co-op store and prices may vary.

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DIRECTORY OF MEMBER COOPERATIVES

ALTHA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

James Lynn, Gen. Mgr. Phone 850-674-8194

ANDALUSIA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Russell Lassiter, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-222-1851 FLORALA - Pete Blackwell, Mgr. Phone 334-858-6142 OPP - Brandon Bledsoe, Mgr.Phone 334-493-7715

ATMORE FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Todd Booker, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-368-2191

BLOUNT COUNTY FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Eric Sanders, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-274-2185

CENTRAL ALABAMA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Tim Wood, Gen. Mgr. SELMA - Thomas Reeves, Mgr. Phone 334-874-9083 FAUNSDALE - Bryan Monk, Mgr. Phone 334-628-2681 DEMOPOLIS - Tom Eunice, Mgr. Phone 334-289-0155

CHEROKEE FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Seth Eubanks, Gen. Mgr. CENTRE Phone 256-927-3135 JACKSONVILLE - Tommy Thomas, Mgr. Phone 256-435-3430 PIEDMONT - Kevin Bobbitt, Mgr. Phone 256-447-6560

CLAY COUNTY EXCHANGE

Jeff Kinder, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-396-2097

COLBERT FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Daniel Waldrep, Gen. Mgr. LEIGHTON - Tommy Sockwell, Mgr. Phone 256-446-8328 TUSCUMBIA - Chuck Hellums, Mgr. Phone 256-383-6462

DEKALB FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Jason Plunkett, Gen. Mgr. RAINSVILLE Phone 256-638-2569 CROSSVILLE - David Tierce, Mgr. Phone 256-528-7188 ALBERTVILLE - Nicholas Byars, Mgr. Phone 256-878-3261

ELBERTA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Justin Brown, Gen. Mgr. Phone 251-986-8103

FARMERS COOPERATIVE MARKET

Doug Smith, Gen. Mgr. FRISCO CITY - William Womack, Mgr. Phone 251-267-3175 Fertilizer / Phone 251-267-3173 LEROY - Jeff Hughston, Mgr. Phone 251-246-3512

FARMERS CO-OP OF ASHFORD

Timothy Tolar, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-899-3263

FARMERS COOPERATIVE, INC.

Todd Lawrence, Gen. Mgr. LIVE OAK, FL - Barry Long, Ag Div. Mgr. Phone 386-362-1459 MADISON, FL - Jerry Owens, Operations Mgr.Phone 850-973-2269

GENCO FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Ricky Wilks, Gen. Mgr. HARTFORD - Todd Smith, Mgr. Phone 334-588-2992 WEST GENEVA - Robert Pittman, Mgr.Phone 334-898-7932 ENTERPRISE - Ricky Wilks Phone 334-347-9007 ELBA - Colin Morris, Mgr. Phone 334-897-6972

HEADLAND PEANUT WAREHOUSE CO-OP

Jay Jones, Gen. Mgr. Chris Hix, Store Mgr. Phone 334-693-3313

JAY PEANUT FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Ryan Williams, Gen. Mgr. Phone 850-675-4597

LUVERNE COOPERATIVE SERVICES

Perry Catrett, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-335-5082

MADISON COUNTY COOPERATIVE

Keith Griffin, Gen. Mgr. HAZEL GREEN - Phone 256-828-2010 MERIDIANVILLE - Matt Dunbar, Mgr. Phone 256-828-5360 NEW MARKET - Phone 256-379-2553 Ramsey Prince, Mgr. SCOTTSBORO - Phone 256-574-1688 Patricia Rorex, Mgr. STEVENSON - Phone 256-437-8829

MARION COUNTY COOPERATIVE

Steve Lann, Gen. Mgr. HAMILTON - Phone 205-921-2631 FAYETTE - Kellie Trull, Mgr. Phone 205-932-5901 HALEYVILLE - Jessica Steward, Mgr. Phone 205-486-3794

MARSHALL FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Brian Keith, Gen. Mgr. HOLLY POND - Phone 256-796-5337 ARAB - Mark Upton Phone 256-586-5515

MORGAN FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Bradley Hopkins, Gen. Mgr. HARTSELLE - Jason Pealor, Mgr.Phone 256-773-6832

PIKE COUNTY COOPERATIVE

Danny Dewrell, Gen. Mgr. GOSHEN - Phone 334-484-3441 TROY - Jeff Baron, Mgr. Phone 334-566-3882

QUALITY COOPERATIVE, INC.

Daniel Salter, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-382-6548

TALEECON FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Scott Hartley, Gen. Mgr. Phone 334-257-3930 WETUMPKA - Timothy Richardson, Mgr. Phone 334-567-4321

TALLADEGA COUNTY EXCHANGE

Chris Elliott, Gen. Mgr. Phone 256-362-2716 ASHVILLE - Allen Bice, Mgr. Phone 205-594-7042 PELL CITY - Joseph Taylor, Mgr. Phone 205-338-2821 COLUMBIANA - Barry Keller, Mgr. Phone 205-669-7082 RANDOLPH - Tim Brown, Mgr.Phone 256-357-4743

TENNESSEE VALLEY COOPERATIVE, LLC

John Curtis, President ATHENS – Britt Christopher, Mgr.Phone 256-232-5500 LYNNVILLE, TN - Kyle Doggett, Mgr. Phone 931-527-3923 PULASKI, TN Phone 931-363-2563 Reggie Shook, Vice Pres. FLORENCE - Robbie Neal, Mgr. Phone 256-764-8441 ELGIN - Blair Shook, Mgr. Phone 256-247-3453 John Holley, Vice Pres. MOULTON - Greg McCannon, Mgr. Phone 256-974-9213 COURTLAND Phone 256-637-2939

TUSCALOOSA FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Wayne Gilliam, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-339-8181

WALKER FARMERS COOPERATIVE

Cody King, Gen. Mgr. Phone 205-387-1142