Federation celebrates strengths, reflects at 103rd annual meeting

Halls of the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel erupted with laughter, hugs, and excitement on December 8-9 as 1,300 Alabama farmers shared stories of successes and struggles with each other.

The 103rd Alabama Farmers Federation annual meeting comes after a year filled with drought and depressed commodity markets.

The theme, Strengthening Our Roots, honored the grassroots organization’s mission while encouraging farmers to cultivate connections during adversity, said Federation President Jimmy Parnell.

“It’s been a hard year for agriculture,” Parnell said. “Seeing so many farmers here reminds us that, together, we can overcome tough times.”

Fox & Friends Weekend Co-Host Will Cain shared a message of hope during General Session III.

“I think there is joy, happiness, and for the first time in a long time, unity,” said Cain, referencing the 2024 election. “It tells us we (conservatives) are mainstream and are not alone. This is our chance. This is our moment in America.”

A devotion led by Pastor David Phillips during the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) Tribute Breakfast encouraged attendees to value the power of influence. The breakfast honored 35 leaders who died in the last year.

“Our influence always makes a difference in someone’s life,” said Phillips, a past Federation State Young Farmers Committee chair. “The Bible says, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’”

*Will Cain was the Alabama Farmers Federation’s keynote speaker during the organization’s annual meeting closing banquet.*

Rewarding outstanding agriculturalists was a common theme throughout the two-day meeting.

The Federation presented Service to Agriculture awards to Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Rick Pate, Auburn University College of Agriculture Dean Paul Patterson, and Talladega County farmer Dell Hill, while Spencer Ryan of Alabama People Against a Littered State received the Cultivator Award. Montgomery County’s Laslie Hall received a Senior Leader Award, which recognizes members over the age of 70. Individual Leader Awards were presented to Linda Loveless of Calhoun County, Charlotte Grimes of Cherokee County, Raymond Hale of DeKalb County, Jackie Lloyd of Jackson County, and Linda Seymore of Winston County.

*Rick Pate, right, of Lowndes County received the Service to Agriculture Award. He’s pictured with Federation President Jimmy Parnell.*

Additionally, 45 counties were honored for excellent programming in 2024. They were Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Choctaw, Clay, Coffee, Colbert, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston counties.

Awards of Excellence were presented to select county Federation Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committees, while Young Farmers were honored for statewide contest victories.

Whit and Amanda Lovelady of Talladega County were honored as Alabama’s 2024 Outstanding Young Farm Family. From left are Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer; Federation and Alfa President Jimmy Parnell; the Loveladys; Alabama Ag Credit’s Doug Thiessen; and Alabama Farm Credit’s Mel Koller.

The State Women’s Leadership Committee, the State Young Farmers Committee, and commodity committees elected members and leaders, while 478 farmer delegates voted in nine state board members.

Fun and fellowship were on the agenda, too. Attendees visited sponsor exhibits and placed bids at the AFAF silent auction, which raised over $10,000 for ag literacy projects, scholarships, and youth livestock shows.

Parnell closed out the annual meeting thanking Federation members for their service and commitment to agriculture.

“It’s my hope that 2025 is better than 2024 was for farmers,” said Parnell before adjourning the annual meeting. “I’ve got all of you in my prayers and look forward to working with you to strengthen agriculture in the new year.”

Courtesy of Alabama Farmers Federation