September 22, 2021
Ranking Minority Leader Visits Alabama Farms
U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, is Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture and got a firsthand look at Alabama ag Sept. 14.

He visited Hale County catfish farmers Bubba and Wallace Drury and Macon County row crop farmer Shep Morris. Click here to read more about his visit.
Leaders Inducted Into Ag Hall Of Honor
The Federation joined Alabama’s agriculture community in Auburn Sept. 16 to induct five leaders into the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor.

From left are Bill Gilley, former Conagra poultry manager; Madison County farmer Homer Tate; and Alabama Extension Entomologist Dr. Ron Smith.

Honored posthumously with Pioneer Awards were Autauga County farmer and former legislator James Jordan Plaster Sr. and Dallas County farmer and catfish industry leader David Pearce.
Biensch Named Commodity Director
The Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed Graysen Biensch as commodity director for Beef, Equine, Hay & Forage, and Sheep & Goat divisions Sept. 20. She will also provide leadership for the Federation’s youth livestock activities. 

Biensch is an Arizona native, where her family raises Hereford cattle in Sonoita. She attended Blinn College before graduating from Texas Tech University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science.

Biensch and her husband Jonah live in Auburn, where he is Auburn University’s new livestock judging program coach.
Food Bloggers, Teachers Dig Peanut Tour
Two educators and five food bloggers/influencers attended the Alabama Peanut Harvest Tour Sept. 19-22.

They toured the Wiregrass Research & Extension Center, visited farmers Curry Parker, Ed White and Fred Helms; and toured Thompson Peanut Co.

Sponsored by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, the tour gives influencers hands-on experience with peanuts and encourages creating recipes that use the legume.
Federation, AU Leaders Collaborate
Alabama Farmers Federation and Auburn University (AU) leaders met at the Montgomery home office Sept. 14 for their biannual communications meeting.

The groups routinely meet to discuss staffing updates, research, programming and better ways to collaborate and serve Alabama farmers.

From left are AU College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Paul Patterson, Federation President Jimmy Parnell, Alabama Peanut Producers Association Executive Director Jacob Davis and Federation Commodity Director Carla Hornady.
Quick Clicks
Upcoming Events
  • Sept. 25 — Ag Roundup at Auburn University. Click here to buy tickets.

  • Sept. 25 — Alabama Goat & Sheep Summit in Hazel Green. Register by clicking here.

  • Sept. 27 — Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation Scholarship Reception at Lazenby Farms

  • Sept. 28 — Policy Development Meeting / FarmPAC Meeting in Montgomery

  • Nov. 6 — Horse U educational program for youth and adults at Auburn University. Visit the Facebook Event to register.
Simply Southern TV Wraps Up Season 7
It’s the final new episodes of season 7! Tune into Simply Southern TV on RFD-TV Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Central for these shows:

  • Sept. 22 - Bama’s Best Chicken Tenders at Bobby’s Restaurant in Eva; celebrating the Federation’s Centennial with the history of the Women’s Leadership Committee featuring Faye Dial of Clay County and Betty Barrett of Elmore County; Ask A Farmer with Mobile County beekeeper Troy Latham; and Weeknight Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya from SouthernBite.com, thanks to the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association

  • Sept. 29 - Special Centennial episode featuring the Family Farm Fun Day at the Farm and Land Expo, plus interviews with Richard Edgar of Elmore County, L.O. Bishop of Colbert County, Gloria Jeffcoat of Houston County, Mark Byrd of Morgan County, Jonathan Sanders of Coffee County and Grace Ellis of Autauga County. The episode wraps up with a recipe for Homemade Sloppy Joes from SouthernBite.com

Visit www.simplysoutherntv.net for more details on how to watch!