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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 3 w w w . A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g

In This IssueA Publication of the Alabama Farmers Federation

JANUARY 2013

Jimmy Parnell of Chilton County was elected president of the Alabama Farmers Federation at the organization’s 91st annual meeting in Montgomery, Dec. 3.

Photo by Jeff Otto

26 Alabama Gardener

28 Country Kitchen

ON THE COVER DEPARTMENTS

Growing Forward Fifth-generation farmer Jimmy Parnell has plans

to grow Federation membership and increase business. His bottom-line? Saying ‘yes.’ • 16

Farming: The Way Of LifeNearly 1,400 members of the Alabama Farmers

Federation attended the organization’s 91st annual meeting in Montgomery, which included award

presentations, entertainment, guest speakers and leader elections. • 5

Leaders Gain New ResponsibilitiesRex Vaughn of Huntsville and George Jeffcoat of Gordon were elected vice presidents of their

regions during the Federation’s business session. • 12, 22

Outstanding Service To Farm-CityCaroline Batcheldor of Russell County received the Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award

from the National Farm-City Council. • 24

w w w . A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g 4 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3

V O L U M E 3 8 , N U M B E R 1_____________________________________

Debra Davis, EditorMike Moody, Graphic Designer

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

FEDERATION OFFICERSJimmy Parnell, President, StantonRex Vaughn, Vice President/North, HuntsvilleDean Wysner, Vice President/Central, WoodlandGeorge Jeffcoat, Vice President/Southeast, GordonJake Harper, Vice President/Southwest, CamdenSteve Dunn, Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen

DIRECTORSBrian Glenn, HillsboroTed Grantland, SomervilleWaymon Buttram, GeraldineDon Allison, ArleyJohn E. Walker III, BerryDell Hill, AlpineRichard Edgar, DeatsvilleDickie Odom, BoligeeGarry Henry, Hope HullCarl Sanders, BrundidgeDavid Bitto, ElbertaS. Steve Dunn, SamsonFaye Dial, LinevilleJon Hegeman, Anniston

Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 or (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]. 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

A L A B A M A FA R M E R S F E D E R AT I O N2 0 1 3 C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

JANUARY 13-16 AFBF Annual Meeting Nashville, TN31 Ag Hall of Honor Auburn

FEBRUARY5 Legislative Session Begins Montgomery6 Taste of Alabama Legislative Reception Montgomery7-9 AFBF National Leadership Conference Phoenix, AZ7-11 AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Conf. Phoenix, AZ12-14 Commodity Organization Conference Montgomery17 AFBF Commodity Advisory Meeting Washington, DC22-24 Young Farmers Leadership Conference Columbus, GA

MARCH5-7 A.L.F.A. Leaders Class III, State Legislature Montgomery12-15 Washington Legislative Conference Washington, DC

APRIL5-8 AFBF National Women’s Leadership Conf. Las Vegas, NV10-12 Women’s Leadership Conference Birmingham11 Farm-City Luncheon Birmingham18 Alfa Mutual Ins. Companies Policyholders Mtg. Montgomery MAYTBA Ag Classic Auburn

JUNE3-7 FFA Convention Montgomery4-6 Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute, Wynfrey Birmingham4-7 A.L.F.A. Leaders Class III Guntersville21-23 Youth Leadership Conference Columbiana

JULY11-14 County Presidents Conference Sandestin AUGUST1-4 Commodity Producers Conference Birmingham

SEPTEMBERTBA Policy Development Meeting Montgomery5 Heritage Cooking Contest Montgomery

OCTOBER15-17 Sunbelt Ag Expo Moultrie, GA22-24 A.L.F.A. Leaders Class III Auburn

NOVEMBERTBA Auburn University Ag Roundup Auburn

DECEMBER5-6 Federation Annual Meeting (Thursday & Friday) Montgomery5-7 A.L.F.A. Leaders Class III Montgomery


New Leadership Elected During Federation’s 91st Annual MeetingBy Debra Davis

Jimmy Parnell of Chilton Coun-ty, a fifth-generation farmer who raises timber and beef

cattle, was elected president of the Alabama Farmers Federation dur-ing the organization’s 91st annual meeting in Montgomery, Dec. 2-3.

Parnell, 48, served on the Feder-ation’s state board of directors from 1999-2008, was chairman of the Federation’s State Young Farmers Committee in 1997 and has served as president of the Chilton County Farmers Federation since 2006.

He said it’s an honor to repre-sent Alabama farm families as the Federation works to strengthen agriculture’s position as the state’s largest industry.

“I’m hum-bled by the sup-port I received from farmers across Ala-bama,” Parnell said following his election. “I look forward to represent-ing them as we work with elected officials, government agencies and other farm orga-nizations to pro-tect the families who grow our food and fiber. For 91 years, the Alabama Farmers Federation has worked to improve the way of life for all Alabamians. I’m excited about the opportunity to build on the founda-tion established by farmers who started this organization.”

Joining Parnell as new leaders of the state’s largest farm organization are Southeast Area Vice President George Jeffcoat of Houston County and North Area Vice President Rex Vaughn of Madison County. Parnell, Jeffcoat and Vaughn were elected during the Federation’s Dec. 3 business session, where 500 del-

egates from Alabama’s 67 coun-ties cast their votes.

Other elections held during the session included board of director seats for Districts 1, 4, 7 and 10, and chairmen positions for the state Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committees.

Brian Glenn of Lawrence County was elected to the District 1 board of directors seat, which includes Colbert, Franklin, Lauder-dale, Lawrence, Marion and Walker counties.

Don Allison of Winston County was elected to the District 4 seat, a rotating position in that district.

District 4 includes Blount, Cullman, Marshall and Winston counties.

Meanwhile, Elmore County row crop farmer Richard Edgar retained the District 7 seat representing Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.

Coffee County peanut producer Carl Sanders of Brundidge was re-elected to the District 10 board seat. That district includes Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Cren-shaw and Pike counties.

Elected to one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board were

Above: Newly elected and re-elected board members and officers of the Alabama Farmers Federation are, seated from left, District 7 Director Richard Edgar of Elmore County; State Young Farmers Committee Chairman Jon Hegeman of Calhoun County; State Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Faye Dial of Clay County; and District 1 Director Brian Glenn of Lawrence County; standing, District 10 Director Carl Sanders of Coffee County; Southeast Area Vice President George Jeffcoat of Houston County; Federation President Jimmy Parnell of Chilton County; District 4 Director Don Allison of Winston County; and North Area Vice President Rex Vaughn of Madison County. At Left: Outgoing Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby, left, passes the gavel to newly elected President Jimmy Parnell of Chilton County at the close of the business session, Dec. 3


Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Faye Dial of Clay Coun-ty and State Young Farmers Comm-ittee Chairman Jon Hegeman of Calhoun County.

In addition to election of leaders for the Young Farm-ers and Women’s Leadership committees, outstanding committees in both divi-sions were recognized.

During the Women’s Leadership Committee lun-cheon, Outstanding County Awards went to Division 1, Monroe County; Division 2, Talladega County; and Division 3, Calhoun County. The Most Improved County Award went to Marion County. Elmore County was recognized for collecting the most pop tabs (574 pounds) for the Ronald McDonald Houses in Birmingham and Mobile. Women’s Leadership Committees from Alabama collected 1,954 pounds of pop tabs this year. Money raised through the collec-tions benefit families who stay at the houses when their chil-dren are ill.

During the Young Farmers din-ner, three outstanding counties were recognized. Those counties

were Division 1, Dallas County; Division 2, Blount County; and Division 3, Montgomery County.

Nearly 1,400 members wel-comed Alabama Gov. Robert

Bentley during the opening general session of the meeting. Bentley expressed gratitude to those at the conference for working to feed Ala-bama, America and the world.

“We cannot live without our farmers and the products you grow, and we want to help your industry prosper,” Bentley said. “We need our farmers to be successful. Under-

stand you have my support, and I look forward to work-ing with you in the future.”

Bentley thanked Federa-tion members for success in last year’s legislative ses-sion, including passage of an irrigation incentives bill and a bill promoting the relation-ship between farmers and school food services.

Following Bentley’s remarks, winners were announced in two Young Farmers contests. Sarah Butterworth of Etowah County won the Excellence in Agriculture competition. Andrew Brock of Marshall County won the Discussion Meet, and Jon Hegeman of Calhoun County was named first alternate.

The opening day of the conference ended with a concert by Grammy award-

winning artist Dwight Yoakam at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre.

The second day of the session began with farmers attending a

Jim RoulaineBibb

Roger BrumbeloeBlount

Phil SlayChambers

Michael DickClay

Joe DickersonLauderdale

Allen PickensLawrence

Richard HolladayLowndes

Dicky FlowersMontgomery

Mark ByrdMorgan

Wallace BelcherPerry

Robert ByrdShelby

Rick SmithSt. Clair

Neal KellyTallapoosa

Dorman GraceWalker

Carl GodseyWinston

New County Presidents Recognized At Annual Meeting


breakfast that benefitted the Ala-bama Farmers Agriculture Founda-tion. The breakfast, along with a silent auction conducted by the Young Farmers Division, raised nearly $21,000 for the foundation.

The Geneva County Reaper was honored during the annual meeting with the Federation’s Communica-tions Award for print journalism. Newspaper Editor Jay Felsberg accepted the award, which is given annually to a media outlet that does an outstanding job of covering farm and agricultural news.

Ozark watercolor artist Jack DeLoney received a standing ova-tion from Federation members when the famous painter of farm scenes received the Federation’s Image of Agriculture Award.

The session also included individual and county awards for Federation members for work in various program areas. Nine county Federation presidents from across the state accepted the Award for Excellence, which is the highest recognition a county Federation can receive and recognizes its achieve-ment in organization, the Young Farmers and Women’s Leadership programs, commodity work and governmental affairs. Those awards were presented to David Bitto, Bald-win County; Russell Wiggins, Cov-ington County; Phillip Garrison, Cullman County; Jerry Byrd, Dale County; Richard Edgar, Elmore County; George Jeffcoat, Houston County; W.D. Flowers, Montgom-ery County; Jimmy Fetner, Ran-dolph County; and Rick Smith, St. Clair County.

Individual Leader awards were presented to Lamar Dewberry of Clay County, Sue Walters of Etowah County, Doug Sinquefield of Houston County and Karen Wyatt of Shelby County. Dewberry and Sinquefield received awards for local and community service, while Walters and Wyatt received awards for outstanding service to their county Women’s Leadership com-mittees.

Political strategist Karl Rove addressed a room full of farmers

during the closing session of the annual meeting. Rove focused on problems with the economy, including the short- and long-term effects of Congress and the admin-istration not reaching an agreement on several tax issues before Jan. 1.

“I’m not an optimist about us solving the fiscal cliff problem before we go over it,” said Rove.

“We’ll solve it, but it’s gonna hurt. It’s gonna hurt that we don’t get it done in the right way, and it’s gonna hurt that we don’t get it done at the right time. However, I’ll be honest... I’m concerned about the short term, I’m worried about the long term; but I’m fundamentally optimistic in the American people and their ability to deal with this.

Top: The Alabama Farmers Federation’s Women’s Leadership Division elected state officers and committee members during the annual meeting. They are, seated from left, Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Faye Dial, Clay County; Vice Chairman Sharon Byrd, Dale County; Secretary Cheryl Lassiter, Choctaw County; and Mary Helen Benford, Chambers County; standing, from left, Debbie Freeland, Mobile County; Nell Miller, Blount County; Regina Carnes, Marshall County; Debra Bowen, Randolph County; and Kathy Anderson, Jefferson County. Above: The Alabama Farmers Federation’s Young Farmers Division elected state committee members and officers during the annual meeting. They are, seated from left, Colin Wilson, Jackson County, District 2; Vice Chairman Allie Corcoran, Barbour County; Secretary Heather Wright, Dallas County; and Kevin Holland, Baldwin County, South Alabama At Large; standing, State Committee Chairman Jon Hegeman, Calhoun County; Jeremy Sessions, Mobile County, District 8; Lance Miller, Blount County, North Alabama At Large; Garrett Henry, Montgomery County, District 6; Stan Usery, Limestone County, District 1; and Hop Baker, Jefferson County, District 4.


We’re people who came from nothing and made something grand and beautiful.”

The final business session of the annual meet-ing ended when Jon and Amy Hegeman of Calhoun County were named Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family. The Hegemans manage eight acres of greenhouses and an equine farm near their home in Anniston.

Following the meeting, a reception was held to honor newly elected president Jimmy Parnell and his family.

The 92nd annual meeting will be Dec. 5-6, 2013 (Thursday and Friday) in Montgomery. n

Top photo: Federation county presidents from across the state accepted the Award for Excellence during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s annual meeting. From left are David Bitto, Baldwin County; Russell Wiggins, Covington County; Phillip Garrison, Cullman County; Jerry Byrd, Dale County; Richard Edgar, Elmore County; George Jeffcoat, Houston County; W.D. Flowers, Montgomery County; Jimmy Fetner, Randolph County; and Rick Smith, St. Clair County.Above: Lamar Dewberry of Clay County, Sue Walters of Etowah County, Doug Sinquefield of Houston County and Karen Wyatt of Shelby County each received Individual Leader Awards during the annual meeting.


Young Farmers Reap Big Prizes In Annual CompetitionsBy Melissa Martin

Jon and Amy Hegeman of Calhoun County

were named Ala-bama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 91st annual meeting in Montgomery, Dec. 3.

The Hegemans, who manage eight acres of greenhouses and established a horse training facil-ity near their home in Anniston, were selected to compete for the award earlier this year after being named the OYFF finalist in the Green-house, Nursery & Sod Division. They have a 10-month-old daughter, Ella Kate.

As this year’s winner, the Hege-mans received a 2013 Chevrolet or GM pickup truck valued at $35,000, courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator XUV, courtesy of Ala-bama Farm Credit and Alabama Ag Credit; lease of a John Deere trac-tor, courtesy of SunSouth, TriGreen

Equipment and Snead Ag dealers; a personal computer system from CCS Technol-ogy/Valcom Wireless; and an expense-paid trip to the Ameri-can Farm Bureau Federation’s 94th annual meeting in Nash-ville, courtesy of the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Other winners chosen to represent Alabama at the AFBF annual meeting

were Excellence in Agriculture Award winner Sarah Butterworth of Etowah County and Discussion Meet winner Andrew Brock of Marshall County. Jon Hegeman of Calhoun County was named first alternate in the Discus-sion Meet.

Butterworth and Brock each received $1,000 from First South Farm Credit, as well as a plaque and an expense-paid trip to the AFBF annual meeting in Nashville. Hege-man received $500 from First South Farm Credit and a plaque from the Federation.

Applications for the 2013 OYFF program are due Jan. 31 and can be downloaded from AlfaYoungFarmers.org. Contact Young Farmers Director Jennifer Himburg, [email protected], for details. n

Above: Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell, left, presents the Outstanding Young Farm Family, Jon and Amy Hegeman and their daughter, Ella Kate, of Calhoun County, with a GM pickup. At Right: Amy, Ella Kate and Jon Hegeman received a John Deere Gator from Wendy Tysinger of Alabama Farm Credit and Doug Thiessen of Alabama Ag Credit.

From left are Mike Pigg and Camp Powers, both of First South Farm Credit; Excellence in Agriculture winner Sarah Butterworth of Etowah County; Discussion Meet winner Andrew Brock of Marshall County and Discussion Meet first alternate Jon Hegeman of Calhoun County.

w w w . A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g 1 0 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3

Annual Meeting Events Benefit The Alabama Farmers Ag FoundationBy Mary Johnson

Agriculture education in Ala-bama will be stronger thanks to a meal and an auction held

at the Alabama Farmers Federa-tion’s 91st annual meeting in Mont-gomery, Dec. 2-3.

Through the generosity of Federation members, more than $20,000 was raised for the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation at the Young Farmers Silent Auction and the Agriculture Foundation Breakfast held during the meeting.

Money raised from the auction — where members bid on items from furniture and jewelry to tools and high-tech gadgets — totalled $10,448.

An iPad, donated by Wells Fargo, racked up the highest bid of the night at $590. Other high-earn-ing items were a Lincoln Electric Welder donated by the Montgomery County Young Farmers Committee, which brought in $430; two Yeti cool-ers, donated by First South Farm Credit and the Hale County Farmers Federation; and a Coach purse donated by the Baldwin County Farmers Federation.

“With the silent auction, our members know their money is going to a good cause, and they get to take home a nice item or two,” said Young Farmers Direc-tor Jennifer Himburg. “It really is a joint effort among Young Farmers committees, county Federations, Federation staff and vendors. It

even provides entertainment. It’s fun to watch the bidding wars as the auction comes to a close.”

A breakfast Monday morning also raised funds for the foundation. Nearly 700 Federation members enjoyed a buffet breakfast of eggs, bacon, biscuits, grits and other Southern staples. Ticket sales for the event garnered an additional $10,470 for the foundation.

Established in 2011, the founda-tion supports charitable, education-al and scientific endeavors related to agriculture in Alabama. Funds from the foundation have supported the Alabama Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute and the Alabama Spotlight State event at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga.

In the future, the foundation will work to increase awareness of agriculture in Alabama and improve upon agricultural services. n

Federation members supported the Alabama Farmers Ag Foundation with the Young Farmers Silent Auction, above, and the Agriculture Foundation Breakfast, left. Proceeds from the auction and ticket sales for the breakfast brought in more than $20,000 for the foundation.


N o r t h A r e a V i c e P r e s i d e n t

S o u t h e a s t A r e a V i c e P r e s i d e n t

Vaughn Elected Alabama Farmers Federation North Area Vice PresidentBy Debra Davis

Rex Vaughn, a 52-year-old Madison County row crop and beef cattle farmer, was elected

North Area vice president of the Alabama Farmers Federation at the organization’s 91st annual meeting in Montgomery, Dec. 3.

Vaughn, who is president of the Madison County Farmers Federa-tion, has a long history of service to the Farmers Federation. He is a former Federation state board member, served as chairman of the State Young Farmers Committee and served on numerous state and local committees for the organiza-tion. He is president of Jeff Gin Co. in Huntsville, has been a member of the Autauga Quality Cotton Association’s board of directors since 2002, served on the Alabama Farmers Market Authority Board of

Directors from 2001-2008 and was appointed by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley to the Tornado Recovery Action Council in 2011.

Vaughn, who lives in Hunts-ville, is a sixth-generation farmer whose family farm includes cotton and beef cattle as its primary focus. The farm also produces corn, wheat and soybeans at various times. He said he appreciates the Farmers Fed-eration because it allows farmers from throughout the state to draw strength from one another.

“I enjoy giving time and effort to the Alabama Farmers Federation because of its incredible success and ability in providing a favorable, big-picture impression of agricul-ture,” Vaughn said. “Our organiza-tion is unique in that it draws its strength from an immense variety of commodity producers across the state whose diversity enables

the Farmers Federation to work for, represent, promote and speak for agriculture like no one else can. Agriculture has long been the bedrock of our nation’s strength and security, and I feel privileged to participate in efforts to safeguard our country through farming.”

Vaughn holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in agri-business from Auburn University. He and his wife, Kim, have four children and are active members of the Providence Baptist Church in Huntsville.

The North Area vice president’s seat includes Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Law-rence, Limestone, Madison, Mari-on, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties. Vaughn was elected for a two-year term. n

From left are Hannah, Rex, Kim, Ellie and Walton Vaughn. Not pictured: Carmen Vaughn Bragg.


J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 1 3 w w w . A l f a F a r m e r s . o r g






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By Jeff Helms and Debra Davis

Jimmy Parnell loves to see things grow.

As a beef cattle and tim-ber farmer, the Chilton County native nurtured and grew his family’s business to employ 60 people. As a young couple, he and his wife, Robin, revitalized the Chilton County Young Farm-ers Committee, turning it into a training ground for future lead-ers. Now, Parnell is bringing that same passion for growth to his role as president of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance.

“I’ve faced a lot of challenges in life because we built a busi-ness,” Parnell said. “I didn’t inherit a business the size it is today. We grew it as a family. It’s taught me to build things. I love to see things get bigger and better. The Farmers Federation is at a point in time when we need to do that — get bigger and better.”



Parnell said, as a young man, he never dreamed of being presi-dent of the state’s largest farm organization. That was until former Federation Executive Director Doug Rigney made a prophetic statement to Parnell, who was the State Young Farmers Committee chair at the time.

“Jimmy, one of these days you are going to be president of this organization,” Parnell recalled Rigney saying.

Other predictions about Par-nell’s leadership potential would follow, but it was his love for Alfa and the Farmers Federation that eventually convinced him to seek the presidency.

“I wanted to be president of the Alabama Farmers Federation because I believe I can make a difference,” Parnell said. “It’s not that I’m so great, but I feel like I have some skills God gave me to bring people together for the bet-terment of our organization and Alfa.”

Parnell, who was driving a

tractor by age 5 and managing the farm’s payroll by 12, credits his parents, James and Sandra, for preparing him for leadership. The work ethic they taught him helped him earn enough credits to graduate from high school by his junior year and pushed him to graduate from Auburn University with a degree in agricultural busi-ness and economics by age 20.

As president of Alfa, Parnell said he is focused on taking care of agents, employees, members and policyholders. He consid-ers the organization’s people its “greatest asset,” and is challeng-ing them to work together to improve the corporate image.

“We’ve got to become the most respected insurance compa-ny in the state again. We’re going to have to earn that one step at a time,” Parnell said. “We are going to have to find ways to say ‘yes’ to our customers. There’s a way to do everything. Sometimes, you have to step back and refocus. We are at that point with the insur-

ance company.”As a farmer, Parnell under-

stands the challenges facing production agriculture, and he’s committed to using the Federa-tion’s strength to affect public policy and strengthen consumer confidence in the food and fiber system. He said farmers are fac-ing increased input costs, gov-ernment regulations and taxes. That’s one reason he is focused on growing membership.

“A larger membership equips us to do more of the things to protect the farmers of the state of Alabama and the citizens of the state of Alabama,” Parnell said.

Parnell farms in partnership with his father, James H., and his brothers, Jeff and Joseph. Their sister, Amy, is a CPA in Selma. The farm includes about 600 brood cows and a beef stocker operation of as many as 2,500 head per year, plus a large timber and logging business.

This year, the Parnells’ beef business is a little smaller

Robin, Jimmy, Anna Grace and James Robert Parnell.



because a tornado slashed through the farm in early 2012, demolishing their barn and cattle working facilities. Their tim-ber business, however, remains strong despite a sluggish econo-my.

“We work in about a 50-100 mile radius of the town of Maplesville,” Parnell said of the family logging company. “Our goal is to produce 100 loads of wood or logs each day. We cut somewhere between 40 and 80 acres of timber every day in cen-tral Alabama, and merchandise that timber to mills as needed.”

With such a large business to run — and now his added respon-sibility as president — Parnell relies heavily on his best friend and wife of nearly 25 years, Robin.

“We met as really young children,” Parnell recalled. “Her dad moved to this community as a preacher, and he started visiting my parents and got us to come to his church.”

Robin has a successful career of her own as an instructor at Troy University at Montgomery, where she teaches advanced nurs-ing. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pensacola Christian College, a master’s in nursing and adult health education from Troy University at Montgomery and a doctorate in nursing admin-istration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

When the Parnells started a family, Robin chose to stay home and be a full-time mom for sev-eral years.

“That’s a decision I’ve never regretted,” she said. “But as our kids got older, I wanted to use my skills as a nurse to make a differ-ence. I’m blessed to have a job I love.”

What does she admire most about her husband?

“That’s easy,” Robin said. “It’s the way he takes time for everyone he sees – not just at Alfa

events, but in our community or at church… everywhere we go. He’s not trying to prove anything; he genuinely loves people, espe-cially farmers, and he wants to know them and what’s going on in their lives.”

The Parnells have two chil-dren. James Robert is in his second year at Auburn University majoring in agricultural business and economics, and Anna Grace is a 10th-grader at Autauga Acad-emy. Parnell says for his family, farming isn’t just an occupation; it’s a way of life.

“Some families go play ball together or do other sports, but my kids show calves, and that’s something we all do together,” Parnell said. “There’s nothing like the time we spend together in the barn. It has kept us close.”

The Parnells say the Farmers Federation also has kept them close. From the moment former Federation Area Organization Director Tommy Martin pulled up in their front yard and asked them about restarting a Young

Farmers program in Chilton County, the organization has been part of their lives.

The couple led their county Young Farmers group, and Parnell went on to serve two years as vice chairman of the State Young Farmers Committee and one year as chairman. The Parnells were named the Federation’s Out-standing Young Farm Family in 1999, and he served nine years on the Federation board of direc-tors. Since 2006, he has served as president of the Chilton County Farmers Federation.

“I learned a lot in this orga-nization,” Parnell said. “I don’t think I could be an effective presi-dent if I didn’t understand and appreciate this organization.”

As for the future, Parnell aims to grow Alfa and the Farmers Fed-eration by building on the values that made the organization great.

“We’ve got to refocus on the principles that got us here,” Parnell said. “I think we need to inject common sense back into our decisions.” n

Robin and Jimmy Parnell at their home in Stanton.



S o u t h e a s t A r e a V i c e P r e s i d e n tN o r t h A r e a V i c e P r e s i d e n t





Jeffcoat Elected Alabama Farmers Federation Southeast Vice PresidentBy Miranda Mattheis

George Jeffcoat, a row crop farm-er from Gordon, was elected Southeast Area vice president

of the Alabama Farmers Federation at the organization’s 91st annual meeting in Montgomery, Dec. 3.

Jeffcoat, who is president of the Houston County Farmers Federa-tion, has a long history of service to the Farmers Federation. He was a Federation state board member from 2002-2005 and is a former chairman of the National Peanut Board.

The Southeast Area vice presi-dent’s seat includes Barbour, Bull-ock, Chambers, Coffee, Coosa, Cov-ington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Macon, Pike, Russell and Tallapoo-sa counties. Jeffcoat was elected for a two-year term.

The 63-year-old Jeffcoat farms

2,500 acres of row crops consisting of cotton, peanuts, corn and wheat. He said he is privileged to be part of an organization that helps give farmers strength.

“The Alabama Farmers Federa-tion allows farmers the opportunity to network with other farmers to collectively develop a strong voice for agriculture in the state,” Jeffcoat said. “Through educational opportunities such as commodity seminars and tours, the Federation has enhanced the profitability of Alabama farmers.”

Jeffcoat’s affiliation with farm organizations extends beyond the Alabama Farmers Federation. He is a former Alabama Cotton Com-mission board member, currently serves on the executive committee of the Alabama Peanut Producers board and is a board member of the Ashford Farmers Co-op . He is a former president of the National

Peanut Festival and served on the Houston County Farm-City Steer-ing Committee.

Jeffcoat is a fifth-generation farmer, and his success in agri-culture has not gone unnoticed. He was the Alabama Peanut Club winner for three consecutive years beginning in 1973. In 1991, his fam-ily was named the Houston County Outstanding Farm Family, and in 2002, they were named Ashford Farm Family of the Year.

Jeffcoat’s farm was the district winner for Alabama Farm of Dis-tinction in 2007.

Jeffcoat and his wife, Gloria, attend First United Methodist Church of Dothan. They have three children and five grandchildren.

Gloria formerly served as chair-man of the Alabama Farmers Fed-eration State Women’s Leadership Committee. n

George and Gloria Jeffcoat farm 2,500 acres of row crops consisting of cotton, peanuts, corn and wheat.


Batcheldor Wins 2012 National Farm-City Council Charles Eastin Award

Caroline Batcheldor of Phenix City was awarded the second annual Charles Eastin Out-

standing Service Award from the National Farm-City® Council Nov. 14 during Russell County’s Farm-City breakfast. The award is pre-sented to an outstanding individual who has contributed to Farm-City activities as an advocate for accu-rate communications between rural and urban audiences.

Batcheldor, a retired dairy farm-er from Russell County, has worked tirelessly for the local Farm-City Committee for more than 50 years.

For the past 25 years, she was directly responsible for arranging the annual Farm-City breakfast. Working with the local chamber of commerce, she helped build the event to nearly 180 participants, bringing local rural and urban citi-zens together.

Batcheldor also organizes the Farm-City Poster and Essay Con-tests for the annual breakfast, supervising student and teacher involvement and recognition.

Hugh Whaley, chairman of the National Farm-City Council, said Batcheldor’s selection is a testa-ment to her hard work and dedica-tion to the rural community.

“Caroline Batcheldor has worked quietly behind the scenes to make sure that the Farm-City Week concept is upheld in Russell County,” said Whaley. “This is exactly the sort of active effort the Farm-City Council wants to recog-nize and support.”

Alabama Farm-City Com-mittee Chairman Jeff Helms echoed Whaley’s remarks, adding he can’t think of someone more deserving of this award.

“Mrs. Batcheldor is the embodi-ment of the passion, service and dedication that have made Farm-City Week a success,” Helms said. “She and her late husband, Jimmie, understood the importance of shar-ing the story of farming long before there were programs that taught

agricultural advocacy. The Batchel-dors were true pioneers in educat-ing the public about the importance of agriculture, and their work has helped make the Russell County Farm-City Committee one of the most active and influential in the country.”

The Charles Eastin Outstand-ing Service Award is in honor of its namesake, Charles “Charlie” Eas-tin, DVM, who played a fundamen-tal role in Farm-City activities. A National Farm-City Council board member for many years, Eastin was especially active in planning and initiating Farm-City events in the Lexington, Ky., region.

To nominate candidates for the 2013 Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award, visit the National Farm-City Council website at FarmCity.org. Eligible nominees are persons over 25 who have actively

supported national, state or local Farm-City initiatives. Candidates can be nominated by anyone active in a Farm-City program. Those completing the nomination should describe how candidates have contributed to the success of Farm-City activities and pro-vide evidence of the impact of the individual’s actions in organizing Farm-City events. A three-member committee, including at least one member of the National Farm-City Council, will judge the applications and select the recipient.

The National Farm-City Coun-cil is a nonprofit organization dedi-cated to enhancing links between farm families and urban residents. Groups interested in organizing a local Farm-City event are encour-aged to visit the National Farm-City website at FarmCity.org, or call (202) 406-3706. n

Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms, left, presents the Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award to 2012 recipient Caroline Batcheldor of Phenix City during a breakfast hosted by the Russell County Farm-City Committee. Batcheldor, a retired dairy farmer, has worked tirelessly for the local Farm-City Committee for more than 50 years.


Federation’s Commodity Organizational Conference Moves To Montgomery

Nearly 700 farmers representing 16 commodities are expected to attend the Alabama Farm-

ers Federation’s 2013 Commodity Organizational Conference, Feb. 12-14 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery.

The three-day event has a three-fold purpose: To elect state commodity committee members, set goals and priorities among commodity leaders for 2013 and share concerns and ideas on current issues, said Federation Govern-mental and Agricultural Programs Director Jimmy Carlisle.

“It’s important we have broad-based representation of active commodity leaders so we can effectively represent Alabama farm-ers,” said Carlisle. “County chair-men and vice chairmen elected at this event represent the concerns and issues relative to other farmers in their county, as well as farmers within each respective commodity division. These leaders are the core of our grassroots organization and through their efforts, we are able to help develop policy that protects the interests of farmers across the state.”

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. each morning, and commodity sessions are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude by 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is $25 per day and must be received by Jan. 11. After this date, registrants should expect a $25 late fee. On-site registration will be $65 per day.

The state’s peanut farmers will convene in Dothan Feb. 7 for

the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA) meeting. The APPA is a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation and holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds. Registra-

tion for that meeting opens at 8:30 a.m. There is no cost to attend the event, and lunch will be provided.

To register for the conference or view the agenda, visit http://events.SignUp4.com/commodityorg. For details on APPA’s annual meeting, visit AlPeanuts.com. n

Commodity MeetingsFeb. 12 Beef, Catfish, Cotton,

Pork and Bee & Honey

Feb. 13 Dairy, Forestry, Hay & Forage, Horticulture and Meat Goat & Sheep

Feb. 14 Equine, Greenhouse, Nursery & Sod, Poultry, Soybeans, Wheat & Feed Grains and Wildlife


By Lois Chaplin

Even though winter is short in Alabama, it is still long enough and cold enough to kill the warm weather annuals and subtropical plants enjoyed

during a long summer. A solution that comes and goes with the cold weather is a portable, 6-x 8-foot green-house to overwinter half-hardy, high-value plants.

Although not heated, just the warmth that builds up during the day, coupled with the protection at night, lets it overwinter items that would certainly freeze if left in the garden. This provides a head start to many plants each spring because they are large, and it saves the expense of buying them again.

Right now, our greenhouse holds a dracaena, cit-rus tree, bay tree, olive tree, European fan palm and assorted succulents. In addition, rosemary, thyme, and mint grow in the extra warmth, providing harvests through winter. Spinach and arugula in self-watering grow boxes provide greens for a salad each week.

The Tinker Toy-like frame of the greenhouse assembles quickly. The pre-stitched, reinforced clear polyethylene cover fits snugly to the frame. There are doors on both ends that open and close with a heavy-duty zipper. It took about three hours to assemble it the first time, but now it takes about 30 minutes.

When warm weather arrives in spring, the plastic of the greenhouse slips off the frame and can be folded and tightly rolled to fit inside a 55-gallon contrac-tor trash bag. The frame breaks down and stores flat against a wall. The entire thing sits neatly in a corner until the next winter. Taking it out of the weather when not in use extends the life of the structure.

Since we bought our greenhouse in 2009, pop-up styles have become popular. Like camping tent tech-nology but made with greenhouse materials, this style goes up instantly and collapses flat for storage. Pop-up structures come with stakes and tie-downs to keep them in place. Many are stored in zip bags. An Internet search for “pop-up greenhouse” will turn up many dif-ferent sizes and styles – from the size of a laundry tote to walk-ins ranging from $30 to more than $300.

Rigid cold frame styles also are available. They provide an extra layer of protection on freezing nights to plants that are hardy enough to stand some cold. It’s a cold, unheated greenhouse, so only folks in south Alabama can expect success with the most tender tropical plants. We figure our greenhouse gives us at least 10 degrees of protection, depending on how much sunshine we’ve had.

In a vegetable garden, a house without a floor can be placed right on the garden bed to cultivate collards, turnip greens, lettuce and other greens, and to root crops through winter in north and central Alabama. The trick here is to open the doors for ventilation on mild, sunny days so the plants don’t overheat or develop disease problems. n_________________________________Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.

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Columbus To Host 2013 Young Farmers Leadership ConferenceBy Melissa Martin

Organizational leadership profes-sor, author and business strate-gist David Horsager will kick

off the Alabama Farmers Federa-tion’s 2013 Young Farmers Leader-ship Conference Feb. 22-24 at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center in Columbus, Ga.

A native Minnesotan, Horsager will share his secrets of using trust to impact the bottom line when he addresses more than 300 young farm families from Alabama. His signature speech and book, The Trust Edge, have inspired leaders and motivated teams toward greater results on four continents and across the United States.

“David was raised on the farm, and he chose to raise his four children on the farm as well,” said Federation Young Farmers Direc-tor Jennifer Himburg. “His ability to relate trust and how it impacts

the business we do in agriculture will be valuable for our young farmers.”

The conference includes a series of workshops Feb. 23, which expand on Horsager’s trust-building techniques and educate county

chairmen on how to build success-ful Young Farmers programs. A workshop highlighting the Young Farmers’ Excellence in Agriculture and Discussion Meet competitions are also on the agenda.

During Saturday’s evening ban-quet, attendees will watch as com-modity division finalists are named in the Federation’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) compe-tition.

Alabama’s 2013 Outstanding Young Farm Family will receive a prize package worth more than

$50,000, including a new GM-mod-el truck valued at $35,000, courtesy of Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator 825i, courtesy of Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; a computer package, courtesy of CCS Technology/Valcom Wireless; a lease of a John Deere Tractor, courtesy of TriGreen, SunSouth and Snead Ag; and an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting.

The deadline to apply for the OYFF competition is Jan. 31. See page 19 of this issue for details.

Registration for the Young Farmers Leadership Conference is due by Jan. 28. Cost for registra-tion is $230.50 per adult and $35 per child, and all children must be registered. To register, visit http://events.SignUp4.com/2013YoungFarmersConference.

For more information, contact Himburg at (334) 612-5159 or [email protected]. n

Horsager


By Kellie Henderson

Doris McGuire of Limestone County says she enjoys mak-ing things with her hands.

“I think of it as part of my heritage to make things people can wear, eat or enjoy,” she said.

Doris and her husband, Arvid, have been married 58 years. They raised cattle, goats, horses and vari-ous breeds of dogs during their time as active farmers, but Doris says the fields that mark their route to church are a joy to her every week.

“The congregation is near the Madison and Limestone County line, and it is some of the best farm-land in this region. Whether it’s planted in wheat, corn or cotton, when we drive the road to church that goes through those fields, I always think it must be some of the finest crops grown,” she says.

Doris continues to compete in both the Alabama Farmers Federa-tion Heritage Cooking and Quilting contests annually, and she says she was first inspired to participate by her aunt, Mildred Pack.

“I still check with her on my quilting projects, and she and I look

forward every spring to finding out what the category will be for the Heritage Cooking Contest,” Doris said.

A retired second-grade teacher, Doris said she enjoys returning to the classroom as a substitute teacher when needed.

“I retired in 1997 after 27 years of teaching second grade, and the first year I didn’t do any work with the school, but I missed the kids and having the opportunity to help them,” she said.

Despite sharing recipes for Ger-man Pancakes with The Country Kitchen, Doris says she doesn’t have any German “roots.”

“The recipes just happened that way. The Eggs Goldenrod recipe goes all the way back to my high school home economics class, and the Glorified Potatoes was my mother’s recipe,” said Doris.

Doris also shares the Orange Marmalade Layer Cake she entered in the Federation’s State Heritage Cooking Contest several years ago, and the Marshmallow Cheese Toast is a great recipe for letting little hands help in the kitchen, she said.

GERMAN PANCAkES3 eggs, separated

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

Lightly grease a large iron skillet and place into a 425 F oven to pre-heat while preparing batter.

In a mixing bowl beat egg whites until soft peaks form and set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine egg yolks, milk and melted butter. Mix on low speed until frothy. Add flour, sugar and salt and mix to combine. Fold in beaten egg whites. Pour into hot skillet and bake 15 minutes, or until golden and puffed. Pancake will fall when it begins to cool, so have family or guests gathered around the table as the pancake is ready to be served. Slice into wedges and pass warmed syrup and butter around the table with pancake wedges.


Editor’s Note: Recipes published in the “Country Kitchen” are not kitchen-tested prior to publication. Visit www.AlfaFarmers.org for more recipes.

EGGS GOLDENROD2 tablespoons butter2 tablespoons flour½ teaspoon salt1 cup milk6 hard-boiled eggs, cooled and peeled6 slices hot buttered toastSalt and pepper to taste

In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and salt and stir until smooth. Slowly add milk to pan and bring to a gentle boil. Cook over medium heat, stir-ring constantly, until white sauce has thickened.

Cut each egg in half. Remove yolks and set aside. Chop egg whites and stir into prepared sauce. Set aside.

Press reserved yolks through a sieve. Spoon white sauce over hot toast, sprinkle with pressed egg yolks and top with salt and pepper as desired.

GLORIFIED POTATOES5 medium potatoes, peeled, chopped and

cooked2 medium diced onions3 bell peppers, diced¼ cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine¼ cup flour1 ½ cups milk1 (4-ounce) can mushroom pieces, drained1 (4- to 6-ounce) jar pimentos, drained½ cup grated cheese

Heat oven to 350 F. In a skil-let, lightly sauté onions and pep-per in butter. Add flour to mixture and stir to combine. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Add mushrooms and pimentos.

Lightly coat an 8-x10-inch bak-ing dish with non-stick spray. Place potatoes in dish and top with pre-pared sauce. Sprinkle on cheese and bake 20 to 30 minutes until bubbly.

MARSHMALLOW CHEESE TOASTPlace a slice of cheese (cheddar

is best, but American or any other cheese may be used) on top of a slice of bread. Top with two marshmal-lows (or a single layer of miniature marshmallows) and bake at 375 F until marshmallows are toasted.

ORANGE MARMALADE LAYER CAkE3 cups cake flour½ teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon salt1 cup unsalted butter, softened2 cups sugar3 large eggs1 tablespoon grated orange zest1 ½ teaspoons vanilla1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 F. But-ter two 9-inch round cake pans, line with parchment paper, butter and flour the paper and shake out excess flour.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, orange zest and vanilla. Beat 1/3 of the dry ingredients into butter and sugar mixture, followed by ½ cup buttermilk. When well combined, add another third of the dry ingredients, then remaining buttermilk, beating until mixture is combined thoroughly. Finally, beat in remaining dry ingredients until mixture is smooth. Evenly divide the batter between the two pans, smooth the surface, then rap each pan on counter to expel any air bubbles trapped in batter, then place in oven. Bake 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into center comes out clean. Transfer to cooling racks.

Orange Syrup: 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice¼ cup sugar

In a bowl, stir together juice and sugar until sugar is completely dis-solved.

With a toothpick or wooden skewer, poke holes at half-inch intervals in the cake layers fresh from the oven and spoon the syrup over each layer, allowing the syrup to be completely absorbed before adding remaining syrup. Let layers cool completely.

Filling: In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup

orange marmalade over medium heat until melted.

Frosting: 3/4 cup well chilled heavy cream¾ cup well chilled sour cream3 tablespoons sugar

In a bowl, whisk the heavy cream with the sugar until stiff peaks form. Add sour cream a little at a time and whisk until mixture reaches spreading consistency.

To assemble cake: Arrange 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Care-fully peel off the parchment paper, then spread 2/3 of marmalade into a smooth even layer over the cake. Invert remaining cake layer onto the first layer, peel off parchment and spoon remaining marmalade over cake, leaving a 1 ¼-inch border around the edge. Frost the sides and border of cake top with the frosting, leaving the marmalade exposed on the cake’s top. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

kING RANCH CHICkEN2 small (8 or 10 count) packages corn

tortillas2 small fryers or 1 hen, boiled and cut into

bite-sized pieces, broth reserved1 large onion, chopped1 large bell pepper, chopped (optional)½ to 2/3 pound cheddar cheese, grated1 ½ teaspoons chili powderGarlic salt to taste1 (10 ¾-ounce) can cream of mushroom

soup1 (10 ¾-ounce) can cream of chicken soup1 (10-ounce) can Rotel tomatoes and green

chiliesPreheat oven to 325 F. Bring

reserved chicken broth to a boil in a stock pot. Dip tortillas in boiling broth until they begin to wilt; do not overcook or tortillas will fall apart. Layer a 9-x13-inch baking dish coated with nonstick spray with the softened tortillas, then layer in remaining ingredients in the order listed. Bake for 30 min-utes. Serves 10.

Recommend a favorite cook who is a member of the Alabama Farmers Federation, by emailing [email protected].


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Public Notice By Alabama Pork Producers And

National Pork BoardThe election of pork producer delegate

candidates for the 2014 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place Feb. 12, 2013 at 1 p.m., in conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting of the Alabama Pork Producers Association in the State Boardroom of the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center at 300 Tallapoosa Street in Montgomery, Alabama during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Commodity Organization Meeting. All Alabama pork producers are invited to attend.

Any producer who is a resident of the state, at least 18 years old, is a producer of porcine animals or its representative, and has paid all assessments due, may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participant in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more information contact: Alabama Pork Producers, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191-0001; telephone (334) 612-5181; email [email protected].

january 2013 neighbors

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