December 7, 2023

Special Edition Featuring

Annual Meeting Highlights

The Cultivator will be back Dec. 20 with commodity-focused news.

Faith, Family, Farming Frame Annual Meeting

A flurry of activity filled downtown Montgomery Dec. 3-4 as 900 Alabama Farmers Federation members descended on the state’s capital to elect leaders, honor individuals and enact policy changes.

The theme Faith, Family and Farming reflected members’ values and guided work during the organization’s 102nd annual meeting. That included opening sessions with prayer and allowing ample time for fellowship, said Federation President Jimmy Parnell.

“Lord knows we need to talk to folks who think like we do,” said Parnell, citing the divisive political climate and difficult farm economy. “We need time to visit with each other. This meeting is one way we can do that while taking care of business.”

Gov. Kay Ivey addressed the farm community during the closing banquet.

“Agriculture is woven into the very fabric of our state,” said Ivey, who was raised on a Wilcox County farm. “The success of our economy and the health and well-being of our people relies on farmers.”

A keynote address from Fox and Friends Weekend Co-Host Pete Hegseth followed.

A veteran, Hegseth commended the group for its conservative values.

“I love the motto of what you’re doing here,” said Hegseth, referencing the conference’s Faith, Family and Farming theme. “The first place we should go is to the Bible, to the good news.”

Farmers Elect Peers to Federation State Board

Four hundred sixty-two farmers from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley gathered in Montgomery to conduct business for the state’s largest farm organization.

Agenda items included voting on policy recommendations and electing nine leaders to the Alabama Farmers Federation state board.

Steve Dunn of Conecuh County was reelected to his 13th two-year term as secretary-treasurer of the 353,000-member-strong Federation. 

Meanwhile, Jon Hegeman and Jake Harper were chosen to serve two more years as vice presidents.

This is the third term for Hegeman, a Calhoun County greenhouse owner. His Central Area includes Autauga, Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.

Harper of Wilcox County now begins his 11th term serving the Southwest Area, which covers Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties. Harper manages a timber and cattle farm.

Four district directors were also elected to three-year terms. They are:

• District 3 - David Bailey, DeKalb County
• District 6 - Phillip Hunter, Shelby County (reelected)
• District 9 - Bill Cook, Montgomery County (reelected)
• District 12 - Jerry Peak, Geneva County

Debra Dunn of Geneva County and Dillon Turk of Mobile County will serve one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board. The two were elected chairs of the State Women’s Leadership Committee and State Young Farmers Committee, respectively.

South Alabama Farmers Slated to Serve State Women’s, Young Farmers Committees

Geneva County’s Debra Dunn and Mobile County’s Dillon Turk were elected to lead the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) and State Young Farmers Committee, respectively, during the annual meeting.

On the WLC, Rachel Chastain of Talladega County was elected vice chairman, while Carla Trantham of Calhoun County was elected secretary. 

For the Young Farmers, Denzil Dees of Sumter County was elected vice chair and Natalie Lee of DeKalb County was elected secretary. 



The committees also elected and reelected individuals to lead their respective regions and districts.

Wiggins Receives Service to Agriculture Award

The Service to Agriculture Award was presented to Ricky Wiggins of Covington County during annual meeting. This is the organization's highest honor.

A former Alabama Farmers Federation Southeast Area vice president, Wiggins has a strong moral compass and sharp business sense honed through success and struggles on his family farm outside Andalusia. Wiggins is a row crop and cattle farmer in the Carolina community.

“Ricky is one of those men you can sit with and just talk about farming and life,” said Federation President Jimmy Parnell. “He’s a deep thinker and a man of even deeper faith. That shows. Ricky has a desire to do what’s right, whether on his farm in Covington County or in the nation’s capital fighting for farm policy reform. I’m pleased to present Ricky this Service to Agriculture Award.”

Brown Honored for Impact on Community, Cattle 

Tommy Brown has a penchant for helping people. A retired Alabama Extension agent, Brown spent decades cultivating community, investing in youth and improving farmers’ bottom lines.

For that and more, Brown received the Alabama Farmers Federation Cultivator Award. The award honors leaders who foster relationships to benefit farmers, Federation members and rural communities, said Federation President Jimmy Parnell.

Alabama Farmers Federation grassroots leaders received high praise when voting delegates elected peers to commodity committees during the annual meeting.

State commodity committees are as effective as ever, said Federation Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department Director Mitt Walker.

“The process of allowing farmers to select the best among their peers for these committees has bolstered each group’s influence and resilience,” Walker said. “These members understand present and future issues facing agriculture. Our exceptional group of commodity directors is prepared to work with every member to determine strategy and make Alabama even better.”

Walker said the Federation relies on policy recommendations from state committees to shape and direct the organization’s work. 

In addition to elections, state commodity committee members who rotated off committees were honored for serving the maximum nine years. 

• Bee & Honey – Justin Hill, Calhoun County
• Beef – Larry Bowen, Randolph County; Tim Whitley, Blount County
• Cotton – Richard Lindsey, Cherokee County
• Equine – Frank Chirico, Coffee County 
• Forestry – Emory Mosley, Washington County 
• Greenhouse, Nursery & Sod – Brian Keller, Mobile County 
• Hay & Forage – Joe Ching, Mobile County
• Sheep & Goat – Charlie Loveless, Calhoun County; Melissa Palmer, Elmore County
• Wheat & Feed Grain – James Walker, Lauderdale County 

A group of elite Young Farmers rose to the top during the annual meeting.

All winners will represent Alabama at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, in January.

Limestone County’s Brady and Anna Peek were honored as Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF). They raise row crops and have one son, Ridge. As the winner, they received a prize package worth more than $80,000, including $40,000 toward a new Ford truck, compliments of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere 825i Gator sponsored by Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a year’s lease on a John Deere tractor, thanks to John Deere, TriGreen and SunSouth. 

Greyson Lauderdale of Limestone County won the Discussion Meet competition. He received a four-wheeler from First South Farm Credit. Discussion Meet simulates a committee meeting where participants discuss solutions to agricultural issues. Lauderdale is a third-generation farmer on his family's row crop and poultry farm.

Winston County’s Zack Brannon was recognized as the top competitor in the Excellence in Agriculture contest. Brannon, the Winston County Extension coordinator, received a zero-turn lawnmower from Corteva Agriscience. Brannon won the contest based on an application and presentation. He and wife Hannah are raising two daughters, Elliott Grace and Vivie Mae, on their hay and cattle operation.

As the OYFF first runner-up, Whit and Amanda Lovelady of Talladega County received the year’s use of a Kubota tractor from new sponsor Kubota. They raise hay and cattle. The Loveladys have two children, Annagrace and John Luke.

Mitchell and Rebecca Henry of Lawrence County received a custom chemical package from Corteva Agriscience as OYFF second runner-up. They raise stocker calves and have a son, Clint.

Season 9 of Simply Southern will come to a close at the end of 2023, and we’re excited to bring you new episodes next year as we begin season 10.

Dec. 9/10/20: A boom in demand for ag-related jobs featuring Elmore County High School FFA; Gross Out Camp; a brand new Rural Roundup of agricultural news; Extension’s segment on identifying snakes; and a Southern Bite recipe for Deep Fried Pecan Pies, sponsored by Priester's

*Note: On Dec. 13, Simply Southern TV will be pre-empted on RFD-TV for coverage of the National Rodeo Finals. This show will be moved to the following week, airing Wednesday, Dec. 20.

Dec. 16/17/27: the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame; the importance of H-2A guest workers for Alabama’s farmers, an interview with the Federation’s Blake Thaxton; and a Southern Bite recipe for Peanut Butter Chess Pie, sponsored by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association

To find out where and when the show airs near you, visit simplysoutherntv.net and click “Where To Watch.”