july, 2011, neighbors magazine

N E I G H B O R S • J U LY 2 0 1 1 3 w w w . A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

Neighbors

Freshness of SummerA small Black Belt community gets a new farmers

market, and opening day is a

huge success. • 16

Tangled Timber The timber industry took a major hit from April

storms. Find out about programs and services

available to help landowners. • 6

Small Towns, Big SuccessAlabama Communities of Excellence gives small

towns across the state the tools and direction they

need to plan and prosper. • 22

Riding the TrailThose interested in trail development and

horseback riding shouldn’t miss the Southeastern

Equestrian Trails Conference July 21–23. • 24

A Publication of the Alabama Farmers Federation

VOLUME 36, NUMBER 7

Lawley farmer William Crowe displays his variety of produce during opening day of the Greensboro Farmers Market in Hale County.

— Photo by Debra Davis

4 President’s Message

26 Alabama Gardener

28 Country Kitchen

30 Classifieds

ON THE COVER DEPARTMENTS

JULY 2011

w w w . A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g 4 N E I G H B O R S • J U LY 2 0 1 1

When legislators arrived in Montgomery earlier this year, they were met with

tight budgets and high expecta-tions.

Voters who gave Republicans control of both the House of Rep-resentatives and Senate for the first time in 136 years demanded fiscal responsibility and smaller govern-ment, but lawmak-ers also were asked to address high unemployment and the sluggish economy.

Three months later, the Legisla-ture adjourned following one of the most productive sessions in recent history. Regardless of whether we agree with every bill passed, there’s no arguing that lawmakers avoided the lengthy stalemates that had become commonplace in Mont-gomery and were able to pass the state budgets as well as tort reform and incentives for small businesses.

For Alabama farmers, the leg-islative session began with two of their own — Sen. Tom Whatley and Rep. Chad Fincher — taking over the reins of the Senate and House agriculture committees. Thanks to their leadership and the support of other legislators, a number of bills were passed this session that will have a positive impact on Alabama agriculture.

One of those new laws limits the liability of landowners who lease their property for hunting and fishing. While this measure does not release landowners from the responsibility to warn visitors of known dangers, it does protect them from liability for accidents that are beyond their control.

Meanwhile, the Legislature passed another bill that provides procedures for agritourism opera-tions to advertise their businesses

along roadways. Other states already promote on-farm tourist attractions, and since agriculture and tourism are Alabama’s two largest industries, the new signs should be an economic boost for the whole state.

Other agricultural bills to win final passage included a measure affirming the state’s authority to regulate fertilizer so that farmers don’t have to comply with different rules in each county or town where they work. The Legislature also passed a bill creating a license-plate category for mini-trucks as well as legislation that strengthens the protection of Alabama honeybee colonies from pests and diseases.

Farmers and small businesses were disappointed that Alabama’s new immigration reform law does not exempt small businesses from the federal E-verify program, but the Farmers Federation supports secure borders and is committed to educating members so they can comply with these new regulations.

We also commend the Legisla-ture for allowing voters to decide whether to reauthorize funding for Forever Wild when they go to the polls in November 2012. The Federation has long supported the preservation of the state’s natural treasures for future generations. As voters consider whether to con-tinue the program for the next 20 years, this constitutional amend-ment gives them time to evaluate current preservation efforts.

Of course, with the state still suffering the effects of the reces-sion, the Legislature had to make some tough decisions about spending, and agriculture was not immune to the cuts.

Still, considering what our elected officials faced when they arrived in Montgomery this year, they have done a good job of balanc-ing priorities while bringing about needed reform. n

V O L U M E 3 6 , N U M B E R 7_________________________________________

Debra Davis, EditorMike Moody, Graphic Designer

ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATIONPaul Pinyan, Executive DirectorJeff Helms, Director of Communications

FEDERATION OFFICERSJerry Newby, President, AthensHal Lee, Vice President/North, HartselleDean Wysner, Vice President/Central, WoodlandRicky Wiggins, Vice President/Southeast, AndalusiaJake Harper, Vice President/Southwest, CamdenSteve Dunn, Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen

DIRECTORSJoe Dickerson, LexingtonTed Grantland, SomervilleDonnie Garrett, CentreDarrel Haynes, CullmanJohn E. Walker III, BerryMarshall Prickett, WellingtonRichard Edgar, DeatsvilleDickie Odom, BoligeeGarry Henry, Hope HullCarl Sanders, BrundidgeDavid Bitto, ElbertaSammy Williams, ColumbiaDebbie Freeland, Grand BayBen Haynes, Cullman

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

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

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Wendy McFarland, McFarland AdVantage, 133 Bridlewood Lane, Hope Hull, AL 36043. Phone: (334) 652-9080. Email: [email protected]. Classified ad and editorial inquiries should be directed to the editor at (334) 613-4410.

ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: Ad vertise -ments contained in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or the Alabama Farmers Federation.

EDITORIAL MATTER from sources outside of the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of material does not necessarily imply its endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

ADDRESS editorial, advertising and change of address correspondence to Neighbors, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001.

www.AlfaFarmers.org

A member ofAmerican FarmBureau Federation

Jerry Newby

President’s Message


Farmers Federations Reach Out To Victims Of TornadoesCounty Farmers Federation organizations around the state rallied to help others soon after the tornadoes hit the state on April 27. Baldwin, Mobile, Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox counties raised more than $30,000 and donated equipment and supplies. From left are Richard Cox of Baldwin County, Chase Bradley of Monroe County, Donna Stephenson of Bethel Baptist Church in Pleasant Grove, David and Gloria Bitto of Baldwin County, Will Nahrgang of Grace Life Baptist Church in McCalla and Debbie Freeland of Mobile County.

At right, Clay County Farmers Federation Board Members volunteered with members of the Lineville Baptist Church to work in the Fairview Community of Cullman County to help remove debris and repair structures. Women’s Leadership Committee members also assisted with the cleanup. From left are board members Brad Stewart and W. N. McCollum, Area Organization Director David Farnsworth, County President Lamar Dewberry and board member Larry Upchurch.

Farmers Federation presidents from Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Dallas, Green, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry, Pickens and Sumter counties pooled their resources to raise almost $21,350. Checks were presented to United Way of West Alabama and the American Red Cross. At left, Farmers Federation directors from Hale, Greene, Pickens and Sumter counties and other volunteers prepared 500 plates of barbecue for victims in the Holt Community in Tuscaloosa County. Covington, Dale and Houston county organizations also contributed to storm relief efforts, as did the Alabama Peanut Producers Association.



By Jillian Clair

In addition to loss of life and destruction of homes and busi-nesses, the storms that tore

across the state in April left Ala-bama forest landowners with 205,590 acres of tangled timber and $266 million in lost revenue.

Jimmy Graham, a Farmers Fed-eration member and Elmore Coun-ty landowner, said a large portion of his 180 acres of trees was damaged.

“The storm came through and just wrecked everything,” Graham said. “We’re out here surveying and doing the best we can to bring it all together and see what we can salvage and replant.”

In most cases, it takes 40 to 50 years to grow trees before they are mature, said Steve Guy, director of the Alabama Farmers Federation’s forestry division.

“This is a crop you don’t grow every year,” Guy said. “Even if you’re able to salvage some of it, you’re only going to get about one third of what it was worth. When something like this happens, you’ve lost a generation of work. It’s tough and expensive to deal with.”

Although timber isn’t 56-year-

old Graham’s livelihood, he said he will have to adjust his retirement plans.

“I had planned on cutting this timber when I turned 62 and retir-ing,” Graham said. “But now that I’m having to cut early and salvage, I probably won’t be able to retire at 62, so we’ll just keep plugging along and see what happens. Hopefully we’ll be able to harvest again in 15 years.”

Ninety-eight percent of the storm-damaged timber was on private land, and for landowners, finding someone to harvest downed timber can be difficult, mainly because it is dangerous, Guy said.

“You’ve got timber standing on top of timber in a lot of cases, and some of it may be bent and in a bind, so it’s dangerous out there harvesting the timber,” Guy said. “Most of your timber harvesting equipment is designed to harvest timber that’s standing upright.”

Because of hidden stress frac-tures that devalue the wood, sawmills are hesitant to take wood from damaged areas. Generally, Guy said, damaged timber becomes pulpwood and loses about two-thirds of its value.

Because of the state of the tim-ber industry in the current econom-ic climate, Guy said the industry would be fortunate to salvage even 15 percent of the downed timber.

“The timber economy is down substantially because the housing market has not recovered from the recession, and the pulp and paper industry has not seen much of a recovery as a result of the down-turn as well,” Guy said.

And if landowners are fortunate enough to salvage and sell some of the damaged timber, they are still faced with the cost of clearing the land and preparing it for replanting.

The Alabama Forestry Commis-sion estimates it costs landowners about $350 per acre to replant, and the total cost of replanting has been estimated at nearly $66 million for Alabama landowners.

However, a recent adjustment of the load limit for hauling storm-damaged wood may help landown-ers get timber off their land and into the market more quickly.

In normal circumstances, the load limit for hauling wood is 80,000 pounds, but by obtaining a weight limit waiver, those trans-porting the wood can now haul

The April tornadoes destroyed 205,590 acres of forest land across the state. Photo Courtesy The Birmingham News / Joe Songer



up to 95,000 pounds on approved routes.

“The new load limit will help because in these hot, humid condi-tions, the wood will deteriorate much faster than in the fall,” Guy said. “So the quicker we can get this wood out to market, the bet-ter.”

To obtain a waiver, contact Ray Clifton at (334) 481-2130.

The devastation and economic impact the storms have had on forest landowners haven’t gone unnoticed by Alabama leaders.

Shortly after the storms, Gov. Robert Bentley organized a forest recovery task force that will help the forestry industry with salvage and recovery efforts.

Guy attended the task force meeting May 17 and was assigned to the Governmental Affairs and Forest Health and Reforestation Subcommittees within the task force.

The Governmental Affairs sub-committee will work with govern-ment officials to obtain funding to assist landowners with salvage and reforestation efforts.

The Forest Health and Refor-estation subcommittee will work with nurseries, forest products companies, contract service provid-ers and others to ensure an ade-quate supply of resources needed for reforestation efforts.

At the meeting, the task force discussed the request to the federal government for $66 million for reforestation efforts. The requested money for restoration would typi-cally be drawn from the Emergency

Forest Restoration Program (EFRP); however, it is not currently being funded, so there is no immediate money available. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. is sponsoring legisla-tion to fund the EFRP.

State Forester Linda Casey said she is also concerned about the increased risk of wildfires around the state.

Because of budget cuts and sub-sequent layoffs in 2010, Casey said Alabama has a shortage in firefight-ers, and the Forestry Commission expects the number of wildfires in the state to double because of the drought and downed timber.

“There are 12 million tons of fiber on the ground drying out—that’s fuel,” Casey said. “And most of that volume is going to remain right where it is.”

The projected 2012 state general fund budget is almost $4 million short of the funding needed to adequately prevent and subdue

wildfires, Casey said. She wants to counteract the

shortage by raising awareness among landowners.

“We’re going to have an all-out fire mitigation campaign working with communities and landown-ers in the affected areas to raise awareness about the risk of fire and things they can do for little or no money that might help reduce their risk to both homes and forest property,” Casey said. “We’re trying to be more proactive than reactive.”

Despite so much loss and risk, many landowners, like Graham, are staying optimistic about the future.

“Most of the landowners in Elmore County have a pretty posi-tive attitude,” said Kenny Mehearg, a forest ranger with the Elmore County Forestry Commission. “I think this area will rebound and be better than ever—they can come back and reforest their land and hopefully have a better future for their kids and grandkids.”

Storm damaged forest land should be reported to the landown-er’s county Farm Service Agency office.

A list of FSA offices can be found at www.fsa.usda.gov or by calling (334) 279-3500. More infor-mation is available at the Alabama Forestry Commission website, www.Forestry.State.Al.US. n

From left, Elmore County Forest Ranger Kenny Mehearg, landowner Jimmy Graham and Federation Forestry Division Director Steve Guy survey the damage to Graham’s land.

A skidder gathers several trees for harvest in Kowaliga. The process took much longer than it would have if the trees were upright.



High temperatures and low rainfall have Alabama farmers fearful of what the summer

holds for crops and livestock in the state. Such conditions don’t usually occur until well into summer, but early drought conditions that cover two-thirds of the state have delayed and damaged crops. The weather also is costing livestock producers extra money when it comes to feed-ing cattle.

“With average annual rainfalls below normal, our members who raise livestock are feeling the effects of drought as much as anyone,” said Nathan Jaeger, director of the Farmers Federation’s Beef, Equine and Hay and Forage Divisions. “It is especially difficult for cattle farmers because they do not normally rely on outside assistance during hard times, and while there are some programs available that individuals utilize, they often are just a fraction of their expenses.”

Webb Holmes, the Perry County Farmers Federation’s beef chair and owner of the Holmestead Co., said

he doesn’t know if he will be able to make it through the summer months without more rain.

“We’ve only gotten about an inch of rain in May, and we really depend on that rain because most grass grows from April to the middle of June,” Holmes said. “I’m really afraid that we’re not going to have enough grass to get through the sum-mer.”

Holmes said if he doesn’t have enough grass to get through the summer, he’ll have to sell his cows or wean his calves early. “It just depletes your stock,” Holmes said. Jaeger said although farmers may have to sell their cattle, they will still be able to stay afloat—for now.

Droughts that have blanketed the Southwest for the past few years, combined with floods in other areas of the country, have caused farmers to liquidate their herds, he said.

Currently, the United States has the lowest number of beef cattle in more than five decades.

“The only silver lining in this emerging dust cloud is that at the

moment, cattle prices are very high, so farmers will receive premiums for what cattle they can sell,” Jaeger said.

The weather is caus-ing concern for row crop farmers as well, said Buddy Adamson, director of the Federation’s Feed Wheat and Grains and Cotton Divi-sions.

Crops in south Alabama have been deteriorating over the last month because of the lack of rainfall and the

extremely high temperatures over the last couple of weeks, he said.

Chip Stacey of Conecuh County said his corn crop, which looked promising in early spring, is a total loss.

Adamson said cotton planting across the state slowed in early June when conditions were dry, even though the crop should have been planted by then.

“Many farmers have had to replant some fields because of poor emergence, and many have stopped planting, waiting on rain,” Adamson said. “They are evaluating condi-tions to determine if more replant-ing will be necessary. Some are also ‘dusting in’ their crop, hoping for a rain.”

While the forecast for most crops appears bleak, a bright spot for Alabama farmers is the small grain crops. Weather has been good for wheat harvest and yields, and prices are above average. Even wheat farm-ers, however, who also grow cotton, corn, soybeans and peanuts, would welcome a good soaking rain on all their land.

Adamson said conditions in north Alabama are better, although the high temperatures are taking their toll on the corn, cotton and soybean crops. Wheat harvest yields are above average there.

Although Holmes is anxious about what the summer holds for his farm, he said he is still hopeful enough rain will fall in July to get him through until fall.

“We’re always optimistic,” Holmes said, “or we’d be in another business.” n

Drought has spelled disaster for Chip Stacey’s crops in Conecuh County.

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Agriculture Fairs Well During 2011 Alabama Legislative SessionBy Jeff Helms

Agricultural legislation fared well in a regular ses-sion of the Alabama Legislature that was domi-nated by tight budgets and an ambitious agenda by

the new leadership.The year began with Republicans gaining control

of both the Senate and House of Representatives for the first time in 136 years. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, was elected Senate President Pro Tempore, and Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, was elected Speaker of the House. Meanwhile, legis-lators with farming roots were appointed to chair the agriculture commit-tees in both houses. Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, was named chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Committee, and Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, chaired the House Agriculture & Forestry Committee.

Among the legislation that passed this session was a proposed constitutional amendment by Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Montgomery, that lets voters decide whether to reauthorize funding for the Forever Wild program for another 20 years during the Novem-ber 2012 general election. Earlier in the session, a bill that would have bypassed voters and reauthorized the land-buying program a year early stalled in the Senate. The Alabama Farmers Fed-eration supports Forever Wild, but favored a plan that would allow lawmakers to study the program in order to set goals and priorities.

Major reforms passed by the Republican-led Legisla-ture included a bill ending the state’s Deferred Retire-ment Option Plan (DROP); teacher tenure reform; a package of tort reform bills; and an Arizona-style immigration reform bill. The Federation and other business groups had sought an exemption for farmers and small businesses from a requirement in the bill that requires employers to use the federal E-verify sys-tem to confirm the legal status of workers, but those efforts were unsuccessful. The Federation is now devel-

oping plans for workshops and education programs to help members comply with the new requirements.

Agriculture bills that passed this session included a bill by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, and Rep. Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, limiting the liability of landowners who lease their property for hunting and fishing. Rep. Elwyn Thomas, R-Oneonta, and Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Red Hill, succeeded in passing a bill that provides procedures allowing agritourism operations to post signs along roadways. A bill by Sen. Marc Kea-

hey, D-Grove Hill, and Rep. Elaine Beech, D-Chatom, also was signed into law creating a license plate category for mini-trucks. In addition, Sen. Whatley and Rep. Fincher successfully sponsored a bill affirming the state’s authority to regulate fertilizer as well as a bill protecting Alabama’s honeybee colonies from pests and diseases brought in from out of state.

“We appreciate the legisla-tors’ efforts to address a vari-ety of agricultural concerns while they were working to pass an ambitious package of reforms,” said Federation Governmental and Agricul-tural Programs Assistant Director Brian Hardin. “Calls, emails and visits by Federa-tion members were critical in getting important legislation passed for the farmers of this state.”

Despite the tight budget situation, funding was pre-served for several programs important to rural Alabama. Those include the Career

Technology Initiative, $2.4 million; the Rural Medi-cal Scholars Program, $440,909; fire ant eradication and prevention, $100,000, down 30 percent; an alloca-tion to offset Concentrated Animal Feeding Opera-tion (CAFO) registration fees, $150,173, down 36 percent; the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program, $119,308, down 6 percent; and the Alabama Agricul-tural Land Grant Alliance, $5.25 million, down 12 percent. Funding for the Alabama Agricultural Experi-ment Station and Alabama Cooperative Extension System was down slightly, while the Department of Agriculture and Industries, Farmers Market Authority and Forestry Commission had cuts of 5-8 percent. n

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Bassett Brothers Honored With Environmental Stewardship AwardBy Jillian Clair

Brothers Jimmy and Wayne Bassett, owners of Beck’s Turf in Tuskegee, have been named

the 2011 recipients of the Mosley Environmental Award.

Retired Auburn University registrar Doyle Bickers said he nominated the brothers because of their efforts to develop heirloom species of apples and pears as well as their work with species of trees that enhance wildlife habitats, like the Chinese chestnut.

“Their work has contributed to the health and survival of numer-ous plants, trees and animals,” Bickers said. “It will probably be generations before the full impact of their work is felt.”

Bickers said the development of these plants is voluntary for the Bassetts, as their main source of income is selling turf grass.

Wayne said developing the heir-loom apples and pears is especially rewarding because of the nostalgic meaning of the trees to many of his clients.

Wayne said he also enjoys the feedback he receives from custom-ers who are surprised with how good the fruit tastes compared to store-bought produce.

“You just see a twinkle in people’s eyes when they grow their own, and it tastes better,” Wayne said. “That’s my little slogan—‘Grow your own; it’ll taste better.”

Although the Chinese chestnut has been an Auburn University project since the late 1930s, the Bassetts will be integral in the mar-keting and sale of the trees, which will be available to the public this fall. Different cultivars of the Chinese chestnut feature staggered nut-drop dates that allow deer, turkey and other wildlife to enjoy a steady supply of nutritious nuts from August through December.

“We feel like we have a great working relationship with Auburn in bringing these plants to the gen-

eral public,” Wayne said. “In that, the horticulture department will continue through royalties to get money coming back to the program to help fund new projects, so we’re pleased with that.”

Kathryn Flynn, the Auburn Uni-versity Mosley associate professor, said the Mosley award is awarded to the “unsung heroes” of conserva-tion of natural resources.

Jimmy and Wayne each received $500, a certificate of recognition and a framed limited-edition repro-duction of a forestry/wildlife paint-ing by William Baggett.

“It was a great honor,” Jimmy said. “It felt kind of strange getting an honor for something that we just love to do and that we’d be doing anyway—we certainly didn’t do it to win any awards, that’s for sure.”

The Mosley Award, first award-ed in 1980, is named for W. Kelly Mosley, a 1924 Auburn University graduate and Atlanta businessman who initiated discussion about how to use and renew Alabama’s forests and natural resources in the 1960s.

The award is given for voluntary efforts in forestry, wildlife, fisher-ies, soil, water, air, wildflowers,

non-game wildlife, environmental education, conservation and urban forestry.

“It’s truly humbling to be recog-nized for such a great honor, espe-cially when you know more about what Mr. Mosley accomplished during his life,” Wayne said. “It’s a challenge to do more in service now that we’ve been recognized.”

The Bassets have been active members of the Alabama Farmers Federation since the late 1980s.

Wayne, a board member of the Lee County Farmers Federation, has been the horticulture young farmer of the year, served two terms on the state wildlife committee and serves on a county wildlife committee as well.

Jimmy, a previous president and current board member of the Macon County Farmers Federa-tion, has served on the board of the Federation’s Greenhouse, Nursery and Sod Division and is currently on the state water committee.

To nominate someone for the Mosley Environmental Award, con-tact the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife sciences at (334) 844-1036. n

Jimmy Bassett, left and Wayne Bassett examine a Chinese chestnut tree. They received the Mosley Environmental Award in part for their work with trees like these that enhance wildlife habitats by providing food from August to December.

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By Jillian Clair

Farming is often a family busi-ness, but relationships can become strained when young

enthusiasm collides with conven-tional wisdom and experience.

There’s room for both points of view on the farm, according to Jolene Brown, a professional speak-er, farmer and author who will conduct a workshop at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Commodity Conference in Huntsville, Aug. 4-6. She believes it takes more than luck to succeed in family busi-ness—it takes careful planning.

This year’s conference expanded its focus to include the Federation’s Young Farmers Division with spe-cial attention on multi-generations working together.

Brandon Moore, director of the Farmers Federation’s Young Farm-ers division, said Brown is one of

agriculture’s most sought-after speakers.

“Jolene has a passion for the family business, specifically farm-family businesses,” Moore said. “She brings years of experience both as a farmer and as counselor to farm families. She has a unique way of encouraging them to balance doing what is best for the business and the family, and not putting one against the other.”

Brown’s workshop, “The Top Ten Things Families Do To Break Up Their Business,” involves dis-cussion of in-laws, off-farm family members, estates, daily communi-cations and important meetings.

Brown advises that a successful farming family is a business-first family. She also will discuss the relationship between the “senior generation” and the “next genera-tion” and how to select the next business leader based on qualifi-

cations, not only age, gender or genetics.

“Having multiple generations of farmers in the same room hope-fully will begin conversations back on the farm that will help with an orderly and beneficial transfer of Alabama farms to the next genera-tion,” Moore said.

Previous attendees say Brown’s presentations are both informative and practical.

“Boy, Jolene’s information hits close to home,” one former partici-pant said. “You’d swear she’d been sleeping under our bed. But after today’s workshop, we found out there’s hope. Not only will what we learned today make us more profit-able and efficient as a business, it will keep the egos and emotions of our family working toward a com-mon goal.”

Brown lives in West Branch, Iowa and is the co-owner and active

Dale County farmer Jerry Byrd and his son, Brian, work together daily on their farm.

Ph

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partner of an Eastern Iowa corn and soybean farm. She speaks around the world about practices that have the power to increase productiv-ity and profitability of agriculture industries.

The conference is expected to attract nearly 700 farmers from around the state and begins Aug. 4 with an opening banquet in the Rocket City. The next morning, conference participants will head out to tour some of the best farms in north Alabama and southern Tennessee.

The Young Farmers’ Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agricul-ture programs are scheduled for Saturday, with preliminaries set for that morning. The winners will be announced during Saturday’s clos-ing banquet.

Seminars on Saturday morning will be packed full of information farmers can take back and use on their farms.

Topics include state and federal agricultural programs; biofuels and

fertilizer prices; national environ-mental issues, emergency prepared-ness for natural disasters; forage variety trials; marketing agricul-tural products; immigration; and rural road restrictions. Saturday’s sessions also include two hours of continuing education unit credit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.

Saturday also will spotlight the Women’s Leadership Division’s annual quilt, handbag/purse and tablescapes contests. Contestants who previously won their county contests are eligible to participate. Winners will be announced during the women’s luncheon that day.

The closing banquet Saturday evening will feature a performance by comedian Mickey Dean, spon-sored by Alfa Dental, Alfa Health, Swisher International and Sunbelt Ag Expo.

Those interested in attend-ing should contact their county Farmers Federation for registration information. n


By Jillian Clair

The growing season for fruits and vegetables may be getting longer thanks to the USDA’s

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and farmers like Earl and Clarisse Snell of Dale County.

The Snells were named the Ala-bama NRCS Small Farmers of the Year for their successful implemen-tation of seasonal high tunnels, also known as hoop houses, which look a lot like greenhouses, but require no artificial energy source.

The award was presented to the Snells May 7 during the Outreach/Youth Day in Skipperville.

As Alabama’s winners, they will represent the state at the 2011 National NRCS Farmer of the Year competition.

By using the seasonal high tun-nels, the Snells have successfully extended the growing season of vegetables, fruits and other crops on their Skipperville farm.

“Our tomato growing season (in Alabama) probably ends in late-to-mid-September, and we extended it on into February,” Earl said. “We got top price for them, and they did real well.”

He said the price he receives for his tomatoes in the off-season is twice what he gets in the normal growing season.

The Snells have two 30’ by 72’ seasonal high tunnels that hold 400 plants each. Each plant produces 30 to 40 pounds of tomatoes. They plan to build two more houses in the coming years.

The Snells, along with other farmers across the nation, received a three-year grant from NRCS two years ago to determine how effective the seasonal high tun-nels would be in conserving water, reducing pesticide use, maintaining soil nutrients and increasing crop yields.

So far, Earl, who has been farming for nine years, said he is a

believer in the efficacy of the new technology.

Unlike a greenhouse, there are no energy costs with the high tunnels, and he said he has saved money on just about every aspect of his operation.

“That’s the best part of all—the expenses you cut down,” Earl said. “You don’t get any runoff or water evaporation because it’s dripping right there at your plant, so you don’t have to use as much water.”

In addition to using less water, Earl said he has also reduced the use of pesticides, and his crops are protected from wind and hail.

“The Snells are pioneers in the field,” said NRCS State Conser-vationist William Puckett. “They were the first farmers in Dale County to construct a seasonal high tunnel, and they have been instru-mental in adopting and promoting this new technology in the area.”

Earl said although he was the first, he certainly isn’t the only producer in Dale County to put up hoop houses.

“It’s catching on in my area tremendously,” Earl said. “In the next year or two, you’ll see more and more of them because of the drought situation.”

But Earl’s interest in agriculture reaches beyond the borders of his farm. Helping out his community as well as other farmers trying out the new technology has been the goal all along, he said, adding that he never thought he’d win an award for it.

The Snells also participate in Alabama’s “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” initiative, providing vegetables to seven high schools, two recreation-al departments, local farmers mar-kets, grocery stores, senior citizens groups, low-income communities, local events and local restaurants.

“It was kind of shocking,” he said of receiving the award. “I’m honored to be honored by NRCS, but I’m just out here trying to help other farmers—it’s not all about me. I wouldn’t want it to be that way.” n

NRCS Names Dale County Family Alabama’s Small Farmers Of The Year

Earl and Clarisse Snell of Dale County won the NRCS Small Farmer of the Year award for their work with growing produce using seasonal high tunnels.

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By Jillian Clair

At first glance, it seems that in a place where the soil is black and fertile and agriculture is the top employer, fresh fruits and vegetables

would be bountiful and readily available.That was not the case in the tiny Black Belt

town of Greensboro, where row crops farms can be scarce and catfish is king.

But that changed when a group of dedicated citizens joined forces with organizations that included the Hale County Farmers Federa-tion. Add to the mix help from the staff of the Auburn University Rural Studio program and residents of Hale County now have access to fresh, Alabama-grown vegeta-bles every Thursday from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Opening day for the Market was June 2, and the community showed up in droves despite the oppressive heat. Shoppers pur-chased a variety of produce, fresh beef and flowers from the six farmers selling at Greensboro Farmers Market.

“I got to looking around at Greensboro, and we needed some things—fresh produce, something to bring the community together,” said Steve Gentry, a Greensboro resident and city council member.

Gentry began a discussion in August about what it would take to bring a farmers market to the community.

In December, the Rural Studio staff joined the effort and began developing a marketing campaign

and semi-permanent stands the town could use on the land it rents from a local business owner.

“The challenge to us was to making something that was durable and strong, but you could also move it somewhere else,” said Andrew Freear,

director of the Rural Studio program.The end result was a $1,200 14’ by

28’ structure that can be loaded on the back of a flatbed truck and takes only two days to build. Materials for the project are available at any hardware store, he said.

Freear enjoyed the market’s open-ing day almost as much as the farmers. He watched about 150 people from the area flock to the market and enjoy the entire shopping experience — starkly dif-

ferent than buying food at the local supermarket chain, he said.

Gentry said even with all the preparations and efforts to let the community know about the market, he didn’t expect such a crowd the first day, especially

with temperatures peaking in the upper

90s. Walking around the

crowded area on opening day, Gentry and the others involved were pleasantly surprised.

“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “The first hour, you couldn’t hardly park out here, and it’s been a steady stream of people ever since. I’ve been extremely pleased. Based off of what I’ve seen today, it’s very obvious that this is something that has been needed.”

A variety of products were avail-able at the market—frozen beef, cucumbers, potatoes, peaches, cab-bage, green beans, green tomatoes and even lilies.

William Crowe, a Chilton County farmer from Lawley, brought a variety of produce to the market and sold most of what he had.

“With a market like this, there’s

To find a farmers market in your area, visit www.BuyLocalAlabama.com



always a rush,” Crowe said. “When you get here, they want to see what you’ve got, and they want it immedi-ately. It’s really kept me busy today.”

Crowe said along with good busi-ness, he was impressed by the new stands for the farmers.

“We’ve got a roof over our head and got a little breeze coming through, so we appreciate that,” Crowe said. “Some markets have the tents, and they do all right ‘til you have a thun-derstorm. I like this setup right here. You don’t have to take down—all you have to do is load everything up and go.”

Joe Wilkerson, president of the Hale County Farmers Federation, pro-vided free glasses of cold sweet tea to the sweating farmers and attendees.

Wilkerson said he thinks the weekly farmers market will bring the community together as well as pro-vide a good source of revenue for the farmers.

“One of the growers was telling me he was extremely pleased with

the first day, and all the vegetables look good,” Wilk-erson said. “All I see is positive. I think the people that came today are going to go tell their neigh-bors, ‘They’ve got good produce out there.’”

He said he is also excited about the health benefits for the community.

“I’m just hoping they’ll get some healthier, fresh vegeta-bles,” Wilkerson said. “People

just don’t know how much better a fresh vegetable is than going to the grocery store and getting something that’s two weeks old by the time they get it.”

Bettie Briggins, a Greensboro resident, bought a bag of peaches

from Crowe’s booth. After a taste test, she said she was surprised at the sweetness of the fresh, Alabama-grown peaches compared with the ones she gets at the grocery store.

She was also impressed with the appearance of the market.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “Everything looks very attractive.”

Betty Jo Ferguson of Greensboro and Bessie Edwards of Moundville strolled from booth to booth, shopping, asking questions about the pro-duce and talking with other visitors. Ferguson and Edwards were impressed with the bargain price of the produce and the variety that was available for shoppers to buy.

Ferguson said she was delighted to hear Greensboro was getting a farmers market and had been anticipating opening day for weeks. She plans on coming back often.

“I love it,” Ferguson said. “I’m really glad we have it.”

The social aspect of a farmers market is some-thing Wilkerson said he would like to see

develop in Greensboro.“One week they’re going to

have tomato sandwich day, and I’m going to ask if I can make a couple tubs of ice cream,” Wilkerson said. “I want to get people standing around

and talking and visiting—that means a lot.”

Gentry spent the day mingling with farmers and talking to custom-

ers. He said the unfamiliar sight of so many different people in the community gathered in one place was touching.

“Greensboro needs a way to bring the commu-nity together in a social way, and it’s been obvi-ous from our opening day that this has occurred,” Gentry said. “There has been a wide range of older and younger people and different races that have all been here, and I think this is important to our community.

“Maybe through this, we can feel more like a community—like this community is doing some-thing good, something right.”

There is still space available for more farmers to sell, and Gentry said the Rural Studio staff is prepared to build more structures if necessary.

For more information about selling at the Greensboro farmers market, visit TheGreensboroFarmersMarket.com. n

Top to bottom: Greensboro City Councilman Steve Gentry, Chilton County farmer William Crowe and Hale County Farmers Federation President Joe Wilkerson; A scale model of the new market stands created by Auburn’University’s Rural Studio; Roderick Anderson, 12, and his sister, Kaitlin, 8, of Newbern sell produce to customers at the market; Farmer Broox Scott of Choctaw County and Andrew Freear, director of Auburn University’s Rural Studio.



As Tommy Martin looks back at more than three decades of service to Alabama farmers, he

says it’s the personal relationships he made over the years that have brought him the most pleasure.

Martin, 59, retired as District 6 area organization director for the Alabama Farmers Federation June 30 after 32 years of service. Although he won’t be work-ing “for agricul-ture” any longer, he still plans to work “in” agricul-ture for as long as he can.

“First of all, I give God the credit for allowing me to have the opportunity to retire,” Martin said. “I plan to chill out for a while and try to catch up on my lists of things to do. People make fun of me for my lists – I have lists for everything, it seems. But I plan to use retirement as a chance for me to be a better Christian, a better husband and a better father.”

Martin said he and his wife, Rhonda, will likely do some travel-ing, and he wants to spend more time with the children Jonathan (and his wife, Kristen), Michael and Rachel. A third-generation cattle farmer, he said he also plans to spend more time tending his herd of beef cattle.

“I’m a workaholic, and I guess the biggest adjustment for me is going to be getting up at a normal time and ending the day in time to eat supper at a decent hour,” Mar-tin said of retirement. “But since I am able to retire, I do plan to stop and smell the roses, so to speak, and spend time with Rhonda and the children. ”

Martin said he will miss the relationships he has developed over the years with county leaders and said he will especially miss the close relationship he has with his co-workers in the Organization Department. “They are like broth-ers and sisters to me,” he said.

The Federation will miss Martin as well. Mike Tidwell, who is direc-tor of the Department of Organiza-tion, called Martin an example of all that’s good about the organiza-tion.

“Tommy is as solid as they come,” Tidwell said. “He is one

of those people who has a positive effect on everyone he comes in con-tact with. He has been an outstand-ing employee for the Federation, and I’m thankful he will now be able to spend more time with his wonderful family.” n

Tommy Martin Retires As Federation’s Area Six Organization Director

County Federation Annual MeetingsDATE COUNTY LOCATIONJuly 1 – 7:00 p.m. Sumter Alfa Office, LivingstonJuly 18 – 6:30 p.m. Coffee Community Room, 1055 East McKinnon St., New BrocktonJuly 19 – 7:00 p.m. Elmore Wetumpka High School, 1251 Coosa River Parkway, WetumpkaJuly 21 – 7:00 p.m. Montgomery Alfa Home Office Auditorium, 2108 E. South Blvd.July 21 – 7:00 p.m. Pike Alfa Service Center, 1208 South Brundidge St., TroyJuly 25 – 7 p.m. CST Russell Old Russell County Courthouse, SealeJuly 25 – 7:00 p.m. Clay Red’s Catfish Cabin, Mellow ValleyJuly 26 – 6:30 p.m. Shelby Alfa Service Center, ColumbianaJuly 28 – 7:00 p.m. Mobile Mobile County Fairgrounds, 1035 North Cody Road, MobileJuly 28 – 6:00 p.m. Lee Cooperative Extension System Office Kitchen, OpelikaAug. 1 – 7:00 p.m. Dale Dale County Ag Plex, 202 Highway 123 S., OzarkAug. 1 – 4:00 p.m. Madison Holiday Inn Express-Downtown, HuntsvilleAug. 2 – 6:30 p.m. Lawrence Lawrence County Ag Center, MoultonAug. 2 – 7:00 p.m. Henry Wiregrass Research & Experiment Center, 167 E State Hwy 134, HeadlandAug. 2 – 6:30 p.m. Jackson County Federation Office, 23625 John T. Reid Parkway, ScottsboroAug. 8 – 7:00 p.m. Washington Federation Building, 54 Court St., ChatomAug. 8 – 7:00 p.m. St. Clair Alfa Service Center, 32775 U.S. Highway 231, AshvilleAug. 9 – 6:30 p.m. Franklin Best Western Hotel, RussellvilleAug. 9 – 6:30 p.m. Cleburne Heflin Community Arts Center, 279 Martin Luther King Drive, HeflinAug. 9 – 7:00 p.m. Baldwin Federation Building, 21332 Highway 59, RobertsdaleAug. 11 – 7:00 p.m. Geneva Geneva County Farm Center, 2765 Highway 52, GenevaAug. 11 – 6:30 p.m. Calhoun County Federation Office, 1535 Pelham Road South, JacksonvilleAug. 11 – 6:30 p.m. Coosa Old School Building, Nixburg Road & County Road 18, RockfordAug. 11 – 7:30 p.m. Wilcox Lower Coastal Plain Substation, CamdenAug. 11 – 7:00 p.m. Cullman Cullman County Federation Office, Main Avenue, CullmanAug. 12 – 6:30 p.m. Cherokee Dean Buttram Senior Center, 229 Dean Buttram Ave., CentreAug. 12 – 7:00 p.m. Morgan Hartselle Civic Center, HartselleAug. 12 – 6:30 p.m. Marion Hamilton Recreation Center, HamiltonAug. 13 – 6:00 p.m. Chambers Alfa Office, LafayetteAug. 15 – 6:30 p.m. Etowah County Federation Office, 125 Broad Street, GadsdenAug. 15 – 6:00 p.m. Butler Pioneer Electric Conference Room, GreenvilleAug. 16 – 6:30 p.m. Dekalb Alfa Insurance Office, 346 McCurdy Ave. S., RainsvilleAug. 16 – 6:30 p.m. Monroe Ag Center, 334 Agriculture Drive, MonroevilleAug. 16 – 6:30 p.m. Lauderdale Underwood-Petersville Center, FlorenceAug. 16 – 6:30 p.m. Fayette Fayette Civic Center, FayetteAug. 17 –7:00 p.m. Autauga Ag Center, AutaugavilleAug. 18 – 7:00 p.m. Covington Oakwood Lodge, 13725 Brooklyn Rd., AndalusiaAug. 18 – 6:30 p.m. Blount Frank J. Green Building, Oneonta (BBQ served at 6 p.m.)Aug. 18 – 6:30 p.m. Talladega Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center/ Stephens Center, TalladegaAug. 19 – 6:00 p.m. Limestone Alabama Veterans Museum, 100 Pryor Street, AthensAug. 20 – 5:00 p.m. Randolph Wedowee Kiwanis Park Antique Tractor Pavilion, WedoweeAug. 23 – 6:30 p.m. Tallapoosa First Baptist Church, DadevilleAug. 23 – 6:30 p.m. Houston Alfa Office, 1038 Ross Clark Circle, DothanAug. 23 – 6:00 p.m. Escambia Ag Center, 175 Ag Science Drive, BrewtonAug. 23 – 7:00 p.m. Marshall County Federation Office, 1333 Blount Ave., Guntersville, AL 35976Aug. 26 –10:00 a.m. Jefferson Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road, BirminghamAug. 29 – 6:30 p.m. Colbert Northwest Shoals Community College, Muscle ShoalsAug. 29 – 7:00 p.m. Chilton Alfa Office, 301 1st Street North, Clanton

Martin


Two new advocates for agriculture have joined the Alabama Farmers Federation team as a summer interns.

Jillian Clair, a May 9 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communica-tions, will be working with the Farmers Federation’s public relations and communications division this summer.

Martin Smith, originally from Sarasota, Fla., is an Auburn University senior who gradu-ates in December with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in history.

Clair, originally from Williamson, Ga., concentrated on print journal-ism during her time at Auburn. She worked for The Auburn Plainsman for two years, serving as news editor.

“We are glad to have Jill on our team,” said Jeff Helms, director of the Federation’s Department of Public Relations and Com-munications. “Her background in agricultural commu-nications and extensive writing experience with The Plainsman will allow her to hit the ground running. Jill’s appreciation for the importance of agriculture and ability to help tell farmers’ stories will serve our members well.”

Clair said her experience with The Plainsman was integral to her development as a writer and confirmed her desire to work in journalism and public relations.

“Not only did I learn how to cover a variety of topics, I also learned how to work with a variety of people,” Clair said. “I learned that as a writer, 90 per-cent of my time is spent with people, and I love that. I love people.”

Clair also enjoys traveling and experiencing differ-ent cultures. She spent six weeks in France and Tunisia during the summer of 2010 documenting her experi-ences through blogging and photography.

Clair said she is looking forward to using her background in journalism to promote Alabama agriculture.

“Ag is something I can get behind and really support,” Clair said. “Farm-ers and other professionals in the agri-culture industry need to be heard, and I can’t wait to share their stories.”

Smith will be working with the Farmers Federation’s Governmental

and Agricultural Programs Division.“We are excited to have Martin join the Federa-

tion family this summer,” said Brian Hardin, assistant director of the Farmers Federation’s Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department. “He comes to us eager to learn more about the issues affecting Ala-

bama’s farmers, while broadening his experiences as a political science student.”

Smith, who wants to be a lawyer, said he is excited to learn more about agriculture law through the intern-ship.

“I’m interested in ag law, and working for the Alabama Farmers Federation should be a great way to develop my interests,” Smith said. “I’m very happy they’ve given me this opportunity. It’s a great group of people doing good work.”

Hardin said Smith will learn more about the Fed-eration’s advocacy for its members, including participa-tion in the legislative process.

“Even though his time here with us is brief, Martin is ready to contribute to the Alabama Farmers Federa-tion’s mission to improve opportunities for agriculture and rural Alabama,” Hardin said.

At Auburn, Smith is involved with the Student Government Association and his fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho.

He previously served as AGR’s scholarship chair and new member chair, and he is currently serving as philanthropy chair.

In addition to his involvement at Auburn, Smith enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, mountain biking and hunt-ing. n

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Agriculture Advocates Join Federation Staff For Summer Internships

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With summer now here, it’s not just temperatures con-tinuing to rise. High gas

prices are hitting wallets hard, and the Alabama Farmers Federation

understands that members are looking for savings. So as summer vacation plans get underway, remember to take advantage of just a few of the ways to save money as a valued member.• Heading out of town

for a well-deserved vacation? One of the most popular benefits helps members save big on hotel accommodations during the summer or anytime! Save 20 percent at participating Choice Hotels. Use Alabama Farmers Federation ID number 00800590 at www.choicehotels.com or when calling 1-800-258-2847.

• Or check out our newest hotel discounts with the Wyndham Hotel Group. As a member of the Ala-bama Farmer’s Federation you will receive up to 20 percent off the “Best Available Rate” at participating locations when you travel. Book online or call and

give the agent your spe-cial discount ID number 66511 at time of book-ing to receive discount.

Whether you are looking for an upscale hotel, an all-inclusive resort or something more cost-effective, we have the right hotel for you…and at the right price. So start saving now. Call our special member benefits hotline 1-877-670-7088 and reserve your room today at one of these fine hotels: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®,Days Inn®, Ramada World-wide®, Super 8®, Wingate® By Wyndham, Baymont Inns and Suites®, Hawthorn Suites® By Wyndham, Microtel Inns and Suites®, Howard Johnson®, Trav-elodge® and Knights Inn®.

• Need to rent a car? Alabama Farmers Federation members enjoy a discounted rate on car rentals at both Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental. Call 1-800-736-8222 (Enter-prise) or 1-800-227-7368 (National) or visit www.enterprise.com and www.nationalcar.com. Use cor-porate account number 55E8138 and PIN# ALF.

• The world’s largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquar-ium, located in the heart of downtown Atlanta,

Ga., is a must see sum-mer attraction. Did you know Alabama Farmers Federation members can save 10 percent on ticket purchases? All tickets

must be purchased from a special web link available via the Member log-in area at www.AlfaFarmers.org. Print tickets at home or pick up at the Will Call window by providing an order number.

• Looking to cool off by plunging down a 50 foot water slide or hanging out in a giant wave pool? Perhaps the thrill of one of the top rated wooden roller coast-ers in the world is more your speed? Enjoy big sav-ings at Alabama Adventure Water and Theme Park in Bessemer, Ala. Visit www.AlabamaAdven-ture.com and type in the promotional code ALFA to save today.

These are just a few of the benefits available to members. Enjoy your summer of savings! For more information and a com-plete listing of member benefits visit www.alfafarmers.org/member_benefits. n

© 2011 Wyndham Hotel Group, LLC. All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham and international Ramada hotels which are managed by our affiliate or through a joint venture partner. “Best Available Rate” is defined as the best, non-qualified, publicly available rate on the Internet for the hotel, date and accommodations requested. The discount for some International properties may be less than or equal to 20% of Best Available Rate. Certain restrictions apply. To redeem this offer, click our URL link on Organization’s website or call the phone number above and give ID at the time of reservation. Offer not valid if hotel is called directly, caller must use toll free numbers listed above. Advanced reservations are required. Offer is subject to availability at participating locations and some blackout dates may apply. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounts, offers, group rates, or special promotions. Discounted rates vary by location and time of year. Offer is void where prohibited by law and has no cash value.

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By Jillian Clair

Terri Dalton left Heflin when she was 25. When she came back at 30, it hadn’t changed a bit.

That was just the way it was in Heflin—the way it always had been.

But in 2004, Heflin’s image began to change after Dalton heard about Alabama Communities of Excel-lence (ACE), a program started in 2002 to help small towns with com-munity development and planning.

Dalton began working as Heflin’s ACE coordinator. She, along with Mayor Anna Berry and others in the community, took on the extensive application process for the competi-tive program despite warnings of “it’s just too big of a step right now” from skeptics. However, Heflin was accepted into the ACE certification process.

Seven years later, Heflin isn’t the same town.

“Everything’s changed,” Dalton

said. “We’re always trying to find some new activity or new program. We’ve had more people get involved in this than I ever thought possible.”

Heflin has seen the develop-ment of programs like the adult and youth leadership programs, a farmers market, agritourism, an arts council, a disc golf course and gateway signs that welcome tourists—yes, tour-ists—to the tiny town.

Heflin, currently home to 3,500 people, is growing in population, too.

“We’ve grown more in the past six years than we did in the past 30,” Dalton said.

A growing agritourism industry has connected Heflin to growers in the surrounding area and has drawn in people from other communities, said Extension agent Debbie Mat-thews.

“It’s a good supplementary income on a seasonal basis, and it

brings people into the community and exposes them to a quality of life here in this community that people find most attractive,” Matthews said.

So what is it about ACE that has helped transform this sleepy small town along with dozens of others into proud, progressive communi-ties?

“What we hear from the mayors is that the best thing about being in ACE is the networking and the resources, and that it’s a vehicle for bringing the community together as one voice,” said ACE State Coordi-nator Stacey Bryan.

Becoming a certified Alabama Community of Excellence is a three-step process.

The first step is assessment. “We come in and look at the

gateways to the city, education, healthcare, economic development,

Heflin Mayor Anna Berry, left, and Heflin’s ACE Coordinator Terri Dalton say tourism has helped redesign their town.


the historical society, arts, quality of life, the business sector and other areas,” Bryan said. “Then our tech-nical team compiles a report that gives observations and recommenda-tions.”

Bryan said the community then decides whether to proceed to the second step: the leadership develop-ment and strategic planning phase.

During this phase of the process, the city must designate a 501c3 orga-nization. Bryan said this allows the cities to apply for and receive grants.

The community must also form a leadership committee and develop its strategic plan, which should provide a compelling vision for the future along with specific strategies for realizing that vision, Bryan said.

“The strategic plan has to have broad-based community involve-ment—it can’t just be the mayor and the city council,” Bryan said.

The final stage in the certifica-tion process is the implementation phase.

During this phase, the communi-ty must develop and begin to imple-

ment its comprehensive plan, a more technical land-use plan.

“Planning is the most important thing you’ll ever do,” Berry said. “The framework that came out of the ACE program is really what has made a difference for us.”

After completing all three phases, the community is formally desig-nated as an Alabama Community of Excellence and receives a $5,000 grant to use for a community devel-opment or economic growth project.

Because agriculture is an integral part of the economy and lifestyle of many of the small communities ACE serves, the Alabama Farmers Federation has recently become a funding and technical partner with the organization.

Along with contributing funds for the program, the Federation also allows area organization directors to serve as consultants during the three phases of ACE certification.

Federation Organization Depart-ment Director Mike Tidwell is an ACE board member. He said the Federation’s participation in ACE

focuses on how agriculture fits into communities and can help them grow and prosper.

“It is of such vital importance in a community for agriculture to have a presence and a voice in the leadership programs,” Tidwell said. “Where you’ve got a good strong agricultural economy, usually, the community as a whole is going to be sound.”

Applications to enter the ACE certification process go out every January, and the program is extreme-ly competitive, Bryan said.

ACE communities also must be recertified every three years, ensur-ing the long-term implementation and success of each community’s plans. Bryan said success looks dif-ferent for each community.

“We stress that we want to build on assets—you don’t want to be a cookie cutter community,” Bryan said. “You want to maintain your identity, but develop assets.”

For more information, go to www.AlabamaCommunitiesOfEx-cellence.org n

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Trail riders, land owners and public land managers who are interested in building,

maintaining and enjoying eques-trian trails will gather July 21-23 at Auburn University for the 2011 Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “Creating, Coordinating and Conserving a Trail Friendly Environment.”

Dr. Cindy McCall, an equine specialist with the Alabama Coop-erative Extension System, says the conference will offer a variety of seminars related to trail develop-ment and trail riding.

“It will feature workshops on development, preservation and sustainability of trails, as well as rider protocol and horse care,” says McCall. “The Southeastern Eques-trian Trails Conference strives to foster the education and develop-ment of a conservation force that will influence land-use policies at local, state, regional and national levels.”

Alabama Farmers Federation Equine Division Director Nate Jae-ger said trail riding is the number-one equine activity in the state, yet

Alabama lags behind most south-eastern states in the miles of trail available for the pastime.

“Many Alabamians do not realize that our equine industry generates about $2.4 billion annu-ally,” Jaeger said. “That plays a huge role in maintaining the state’s rural infrastructure and bolstering Alabama’s economy. Equestrian tourism is supported by numerous small businesses and land bases and reduces the economic vulnerability of a community or county. That’s why hosting the Southeastern Equestrian Trail Conference (SETC) will be so important for future development of the equine indus-try as an economic engine for rural Alabama.”

Dr. Susan Stormer will give the keynote address on July 22. Stormer, who is both an active trail builder and a doctor of clini-cal psychology, will discuss what she calls “nature deficit disorder.” Nature deficit disorder refers to the decreasing amount of time children spend outdoors, which some say has negative impacts on children’s physical and social well being. The July 21 keynote speaker will be

Garth Rumsmoke, writer for Trail Rider magazine and leader of many trail improvement projects that engage trail riders.

Dr. Gene Wood, a retired Clem-son Extension trails specialist, will discuss how fostering horse trails can affect local economies. Jan Hancock, author of Eques-trian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads and Campgounds, will discuss building and maintaining sustainable trails. The conference is filled with many additional speak-ers, workshops and activities.

McCall says this year’s con-ference also will feature special programs for youth involvement, and non-equestrians are encouraged to attend to share their perspectives with those who value recreational use of horses on trails.

Extension and Auburn Univer-sity are two of several organiza-tions sponsoring the conference. For more information on the conference agenda and registration information, visit the conference website at www.southeasterne-questriantrails.com. n


By Melissa Martin

Teaching children how to read is an important step in their future, but encouraging them

to read during their free time is a challenge all its own. To overcome this struggle, one Birmingham prin-cipal utilizes carnival-like methods to captivate his students’ interest in books.

“To motivate the students, I have allowed them to throw pies at me and attempt to dunk me in a tank of water. This year, they have decided to slime me,” said Michael Wilson, Glen Iris Elemen-tary School principal. “It is all a lot of fun, and the students are read-ing a record number of books. Last year, we logged over 50,000 books school-wide.”

Though he has a strong rapport with students and faculty, Wilson is also quite active in securing Glen Iris’ future through grant writing and community advocacy pro-grams. Most recently, the school was able to build a playground after securing a grant from KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide play spaces in urban areas. The tangible effects of his efforts are humbling, but his unremitting hands-on approach to improving the community, school, students and the faculty are prime examples of Wilson’s character.

It’s for his dedication to educa-tion that Wilson earned his designa-tion as one of two principals hon-ored in Alfa’s Teacher of the Month program this year. As July’s honor-ee, he will receive $1,000 from Alfa Insurance. His school, a division of Birmingham City Schools, will receive a matching award from the Alabama Farmers Federation. While Glen Iris is successful because of Wilson’s talent in securing funds and programs through grants and community outreach, he is the first to admit that the support he’s given enables him to be a better leader.

“Such participation allows me

to gain constant perspective from various viewpoints and allows me to have a greater understanding of the issues we face in our schools and communities,”

said Wilson. “Through associations with various groups, we have been able to bring programs and guests to our school that students would not ordinarily have the chance to experience.”

Wilson received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 1975; his Master’s Degree in Special

Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1993; an Educational Specialist (Ed. S) degree in Special Education from UAB in 1995; a second Ed. S. in Educational Administration from the University of Montevallo in 1990; and a Doctor of Education in Instructional Leadership from the University of Alabama in 2003.

Alfa and the Alabama Farmers Federation honor one outstanding teacher from each of Alabama’s eight state board districts, two principals and two private school teachers throughout the year. Information is available under Alfa Teacher of the Month in the Ag Links section of AlfaFarmers.org. n

Birmingham’s Wilson Named Principal of the Month

Wilson

Ground Broken For New Building At Belle MinaGround was broken May 25 for a new administrative building at the Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center (TVREC) made possible by a donation from the Alabama Farmers Federation. Shown with their shovels at ceremony are, from left, Jim Bannon, director, outlying units, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station; Bill Batchelor, AAES director and Auburn University College of Agriculture dean; Jerry Newby, president, Alabama Farmers Federation; Paul Pinyan, executive director, Alabama Farmers Federation; Paul Mask, assistant director, Ag, Forestry and Natural Resources, Alabama Cooperative Extension System; and Chet Norris, TVREC director. The facility will be called the Alabama Farmers Federation Administrative Building and will provide office space and meeting rooms.


GET GROWING AT THE CO-OP. WWW.ALAFARM.COM

By Lois Chaplin

When the weather is hot, it’s always nice to have something you can enjoy from the window. Soothing, cool blue flowers are a good start. So

are flowering trees. Combine the two and you’ve got Vitex, a small flowering tree that’s been around long enough to earn old-fashioned status. This tree isn’t as widely used today as it deserves to be. Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) blooms at the peak of summer, when the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are most active. If placed in the right spot, the activity the tree attracts can be enjoyed from a window. It is fast growing, long blooming and likes the full blazing sun. It is tolerant of drought and difficult soil conditions. In fact, it blooms better where dry and slightly stressed.

Even if it is cut back, it will sprout with a ven-geance, popping up with so many stems it may have to be thinned. In fact, Vitex may appear to be a big shrub, especially in the coldest parts of the state where it gets clipped by 10-degree weather. In south Alabama, old specimens 20 to 25 feet tall can be found.

Although it’s been around a long time in its original form, there are also Vitex selections that have much

showier, larger flowers. These include Texas Lilac, Montrose Purple, LeCompte and Shocal Creek. There is even a white flowered form. Using a pole pruner to clip back the spent blossoms as they fade will allow the tree to bloom again.

Another suggestion for high summer is a group of plants known for their shape and drought toler-ance—the yuccas and agaves. There are a multitude of these, including a few natives, such as Adam’s Needle (Yucca filamentosa). Their succulent leaves, spiked form and interesting and varied shades of green, gray, red or variegated add spark and accent where planted. Most are great for containers because they don’t need much water once established, but they are good in the ground, too, either in a group or alone. Some of them

sucker and multi-ply. Many of the big, succulent agaves are native to cooler parts of Mexico, allowing them to survive Alabama winters, too.

Finally, don’t over-look oleander. Any non-invasive plant that thrives along the Florida interstate median deserves a look. This is a shrub that blooms continuously through hot weather in the blazing sun and poor soil. It is a good choice for a container or the ground in south Alabama anywhere the soil drains well, but even more so at the beach because it tolerates salt spray. Although the most common oleanders are not cold hardy in north Alabama without special care, varieties that are can be found. These include Hardy Pink, Hardy Red, Double Yellow (also sold as Matilde Ferrier) and White Ole-ander (also sold as Sister Agnes). A word of caution: oleander is toxic. Do not burn the leaves or plant it where children or pets might be tempted to chew on any part of it.

When the sun beats down and only the air condi-tioner will do, enjoy all of these plants from a win-dow. No kidding. They are all striking enough in their own way so as not to disappear into the background. Instead, they will make a garden look fresh and vivid at a time when it could be the other way around. n__________________________________________Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

Alabama Gardener

Improved selections of Vitex have bigger, more showy flowers. Clip them back as they fade to keep them blooming longer.


Country KitchenBy Kellie Henderson

Debbie Roberts of Fayette County says she didn’t grow up farming, but since she married Joe 35

years ago, Debbie has been a full-time farm wife.

“My dad was a mechanic, so I saw him work on a few tractors, but I’d never been on a tractor until Joe put me on one and told me to start disking,” she explains.

She and Joe gave up row crop production several years ago in a move she calls semi-retirement, but the couple still operates eight broiler houses.

“Joe’s great-granddaddy once farmed this property. Joe was lying in the feeder pan from the time he was a month old, and our kids were raised in the chicken houses, too,” Debbie says with a laugh.

And Debbie embraced farm life from the very beginning of their marriage.

“Before Joe and I built our house, we lived in a little block house right next to the chicken houses for seven years. It was free, and we didn’t have to walk far to go to work,” she jokes.

She adds that her first days as a farm wife also marked the beginning of her cooking.

“I learned on my own out of necessity, finding a recipe I wanted to try and tweaking on it to suit us. Growing up, my sister was the one cooking and I was always outside. She’s actually quite amazed I cook now,” says Debbie.

Debbie says when she isn’t busy with farm work she and Joe enjoy spending time with their five grand-children, all of who are under the age of 5.

“My daughter, Jill, has three kids, and they live about a half-mile from us, so we spend a lot of time with them. Our son, Jeff, and his fam-ily live in Georgia, but we stay in touch through Skype and Facebook. The Internet allows us to be a part of their daily lives, a blessing we couldn’t enjoy otherwise,” explains Debbie.

“We’re also very active in our church, Calvary Baptist, and Joe and I keep the nursery babies during Sun-day school. We also enjoy spending time at our house on Lake Smith, and we love taking the grandchildren there,” she says.

Debbie and Joe also have given long-time service to the Farmers Federation. Joe is the current presi-dent of the Fayette County Federa-tion, and Debbie has served as their county secretary since she and Joe married.

Because Debbie’s days have always been filled with her work on the farm, she says her cooking focuses on items that don’t require a lot of preparation.

“I look for short-cuts, food that I can cook quickly or something I can prepare ahead of time, put it in the oven, and let it cook while I’m gone,” she describes.

Debbie offers two decadent bread recipes that begin with the con-venience of frounceen dough, and refreshing desserts that assemble quickly. Debbie also includes the recipe for her Mama’s Sunday Roast, which she often prepares Saturday evenings and sticks back in the oven Sunday morning before leaving for church.

PULL APART BACON BREAD12 bacon strips, diced1 loaf (1 pound) frounceen bread dough,

thawed2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim

mozzarella cheese1 envelope (1 ounce) ranch salad dressing

mixIn a large skillet, cook bacon

over medium heat for 5 minutes or until partially cooked; drain on paper towels. Roll out dough to ½-inch thickness; brush with 1 tablespoon of oil. Cut into 1-inch pieces; place in a large bowl. Add the bacon, cheese, dressing mix and remaining oil; toss to coat.

Arrange pieces in a 9 by 5-inch oval on a greased baking sheet, lay-ering as needed. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cover with foil; bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Debbie Roberts enjoys family, farming and cooking at her home in Fayette County.


SIMPLE STICkY BUNS2 (1 pound) loaves frounceen bread dough,

thawed, dividedGround cinnamon to taste1 (6 ounce) or 2 (3 ounce) packages cook

and serve (not instant) vanilla pudding mix

2 Tablespoons milk1 ½ sticks (3/4 cup) butter 1 cup packed brown sugar1 cup chopped pecans½ cup raisins1 apple, peeled and chopped

Cut each loaf of dough into 18 pieces. Arrange 2/3 in a greased 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon. In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Remove from the heat; stir in brown sugar, pudding mix, and milk until smooth. Pour over dough. Sprinkle with pecans, raisins, and apples. Arrange remaining dough over top. Cover and refrigerate overnight or let stand at room temperature for 3 hours. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until center sounds hollow when tapped with fingers. Invert onto a serving platter or another casserole dish. Note: 36-count frounceen din-ner rolls may be substituted for 2 loaves frounceen bread dough. Cut into pieces.

CHEESY CHICkEN BAkE½ stick (1/4 cup) butter1 small onion, diced 2 cups cooked, diced chickenSalt and pepper1 (28 ounce) can diced potatoes, drained 1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Saute onion in butter until softened. Place chicken in a greased casserole dish and salt and pep-per to taste. Stir onions into soup and spoon over chicken. Top with potatoes, sprinkle with salt and pep-per and top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake in 350 degree oven 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve with a tossed salad and butter Texas toast. Note: To feed a larger crowd, Debbie recommends increasing chicken to 4 cups and adding an additional can of condensed soup.

CHEESE DIP IN A BREAD BOWL 1 (1 pound) round bread loaf8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed2 cups sour cream1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened1 cup diced fully-cooked ham½ cup chopped green onions1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce2 Tablespoons vegetable oil1 Tablespoon butter, meltedAssorted fresh vegetables

Cut away the top fourth of the bread round; set aside. Care-fully hollow out remainder of loaf, leaving intact a ½-inch shell. Cube removed bread; set aside.

In a bowl, combine the Velveeta, sour cream, and cream cheese. Stir in the ham, green onions, chilies and Worcestershire. Spoon into bread shell; replace top. Wrap tight-ly in heavy-duty aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes or until the filling is heated through.

Meanwhile, toss reserved bread cubes with oil and butter. Place in a 15 X 10 X 1-inch baking pan. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Unwrap loaf and remove bread top; stir filling. Serve with vegetables and toasted bread cubes.

FRUIT SALAD1 (3 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding1 (8 ounce) sour cream1 (16 ounce) can peaches, drained and

chopped, juice reserved1 (16 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained,

juice reserved1 (15 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained1 granny smith apple, chopped

Mix pudding with pineapple juice and sour cream (if mixture seems too thick, add some of the peach juice). Add fruit. Chill and serve.

kEY LIME PIE2 (12 ounce) cans sweetened condensed

milk1 cup lime juice½ cup sour cream1 crumb crust

Mix all ingredients and pour into pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool and chill.

MAMMA’S SUNDAY ROAST 3-to 5-pound beef eye of round roast½ teaspoon salt1 teaspoon garlic powder¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1 package (2 cup recipe) gravy mix

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place roast in a roasting pan, and season with salt, garlic powder and pepper, adjusting to personal taste. Place 1 to 2 cups of water in pan and cover tightly with foil.

Bake for 2 hours for 3 pound roast (longer for larger cuts). Remove from oven and place roast on a cutting board; slice with an electric knife. Whisk together package of gravy mix with the roast drippings, adding additional water if necessary as gravy will thicken as it cooks. Return sliced roast to pan, making sure all meat is covered in gravy. Cover with foil and return to oven for another hour at 200, or refrigerate overnight and place in oven at 300 degrees for 2 hours. Note: Debbie says she usually refrigerates roast after slicing and places in oven before leaving for church Sunday morning.

RITzY CHICkEN4 skinless chicken breasts2 beaten eggsSeasoned bread crumbsOlive oil8 ounces mozzarella cheese1 pint sour cream1 cup Parmesan cheese2 Tablespoons parsley flakesSalt and pepper

Dip chicken into egg then into seasoned bread crumbs. Heat olive oil in a skillet and brown chicken lightly. Place chicken in a 9 X 9-inch baking dish and sprinkle mozzarella over chicken.

In a saucepan combine sour cream, Parmesan, parsley and salt and pepper. Stir together over low heat just until heated through. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. n____________________________________Editor’s Note: Recipes published in the “Country Kitchen” are not kitchen-tested prior to publication. Look for more “Country Kitchen” recipes online at www.AlfaFarmers.org.


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