Alabama Farmers Federation

ATFA Executive Director Visits Local TREASURE Forest Owner

Alabama TREASURE Forest Assoication (ATFA) President BJ Johnson and ATFA Executive Director William Green talked timber June 6 at Johnson's Cherokee County TREASURE Forest.

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Going Hog Wild For Project Pig Squeal

The Northeast Alabama 4-H Pig Squeal Project livestock show and auction was April 29 in Sand Rock. The project, where participants raised two hogs, lasted 105 days.

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Federation President Stops In Jacksonville To Visit Calhoun, Cherokee County Farmers

Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell met with farmers from Calhoun and Cherokee counties, including the county Farmers Federations, Women's Leadership Committees and Young Farmers. The March 30 meeting included a meal and a talk given by Parnell at the Calhoun County Farmers Federation building in Jacksonville.

Top left photo: From left are Federation Central Area Vice President Dean Wysner, Cherokee County Farmers Federation President John Bert East, Parnell, Calhoun County Farmers Federation President Wendell Wilson, Federation District 3 Director Phillip Thompson of Jackson County and Federation District 6 Director Dell Hill of Talladega County.

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County Young Farmers Attend District 2 Meeting

Seventy-three young farmers attended the District 2 Young Farmers Meeting Feb. 21 at Wintzell's Restaurant in Guntersville. State Young Farmers Chairman Jerry Allen Newby of Limestone County was the guest speaker. Pictured above are Cherokee County Young Farmers members.

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December Cherokee County Farmers Federation Events

Above: The Women's Leadership Committee of the Cherokee County Farmers Federation recently collected toys and food for the Cherokee County Crisis Center. Some of the WLC members are pictured with the goods collected.

Below: Cherokee County Farmers Federation President John Bert East presents a plaque to outgoing President Robert Earl Acker for years of service to the Federation.
 

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Cherokee County Farmers Federation Members Enjoy Annual Meeting

Members of the Cherokee County Farmers Federation attended the Alabama Farmers Federation's 95th annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 4-5. During the two-day meeting, farmers elect Federation leaders, vote on new or revised policies, receive awards and enjoy entertainment and fellowship with 1,200 farmers from across the state.

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Outgoing, Incoming County Presidents Honored

Incoming Cherokee County Farmers Federation President John Bert East and outgoing Robert Earl Acker were recognized during the Presidents Luncheon at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 95th annual meeting Dec. 5 in Montgomery. Acker, center, received a plaque for his seven years of service, and East, right, received a pin to commemorate his election. The two are pictured with Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell.

 

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Editorial from Cherokee County Farmers Federation Reporter Randy Jones

The wholesomeness of farm foods has been known by most of us all our lives. Every once in a while some nutritional expert comes along and tells us that something is not good for you.

For instance, these experts told us that lard and butter were going to kill us with heart disease. It finally killed grandpa and grandma when they reached about 95 years old. So they told us we needed to use shortening and margarine and we would live heart disease free. Well, it turns out after years of health studies that well, they were wrong. Shortening and margarine has to be hydrogenated to turn it into a solid. Shortening and margarine were full of trans fats which was associated with heart disease. Shortening and margarine are a type of synthetic substitute and processed many times with emulsifiers, colorants, and other artificial ingredients.

On the other hand lard and butter may be higher in calories and have fats that actually fuel the body and help it absorb nutrients. Lard and butter are loaded with saturated fat which helps HDL, the good cholesterol. Moderation is the key when using lard or butter. There, I said it, lard and butter are better for you. I said it without a Ph.D., but even though the cow might not like it at milking time and the hog may give his all, it just tastes better too.

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Local School Agriculture Departments Receive Donations

The Cherokee County Farmers Federation donated $300 to the agriculture departments at Sand Rock, Gaylesville and Cedar Bluff schools. The money will be used for the classroom or to help fund agriculture events. Standing with county President John Bert East, right, are Adam Smith of Sand Rock, Curt Hendon of Gaylesville and David Holden of Cedar Bluff.

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New Signs Promotes Farming At Cherokee County Farmers Federation Building

The Cherokee County Farmers Federation Board of Directors and the Cherokee County Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Committee sponsored this banner to promote farming and help people know and appreciate where their food comes from. Front row: Dawn East, Shelia Richardson and Jill Bailey. Back row: Stanley Free, Richard Lindsey, Women's Leadership Committee Chairman Charlotte Grimes, County President John Bert East, James Grimes, Barry Bailey, Hank Richardson and County Reporter Randy Jones.

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Cherokee County Student Studying Agriculture Receives College Scholarship

Auburn University student and scholarship recipient Darbie Rosser of Centre was recognized during the Alabama Farmers Federation 2016 Scholarship Recipients Luncheon Aug. 27 at the Ham Wilson Arena in Auburn. Rosser graduated from Cherokee County High School and studies animal sciences, pre-vet track.The $1,750 scholarship was funded by the Cherokee County Farmers Federation and the Federation’s Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation. From left are State Board of Education Member Dr. Cynthia McCarty, Federation President Jimmy Parnell, Rosser, Federation State Board Member Phillip Thompson and Federation North Region Vice President Rex Vaughn.

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Editorial from Cherkoee County Farmers Federation Reporter Randy Jones

 

Out driving by a farm there is still the chance to see the occasional scarecrow standing in the cornfield. People still have trouble with crows and starlings pulling up their corn.

Crows are believed to be the most intelligent of all birds, because they adapt to change. Crows have been known to purposely place nuts in the roadway so cars can crack them open. Crows thrive on corn, pulling up the tender corn sprouts and eating the kernel off the root. Crows and ravens are in the same family but ravens tend to be larger.

Crows male and female stay together for life and generally lay four to six eggs in their nest. Young crows leave the nest after about two months. Crows also tend to live ten or more years and can become 21 inches long from beak to end of tail. Crows are found all over the world and here in the States, sometimes they migrate from the northern states heading south up to 1,500 miles because of the colder temperatures. Crows are very territorial and range close to their nesting area, and owls and hawks are their main enemies.

On top of the damage they do to corn fields, they also have been known to damage buildings, airports, and travel trailers.

There are several methods to control crows as follows:

1. Moving plastic owls
2. Terror eye balls
3. Scarecrows, but they must be moved around every five to seven days
4. Effigies — hang dead crows upside down about three feet off the ground and move them every five to seven days
5. Bait corn — put bait corn on top of the ground so they eat it and don’t pull up the corn plants
6. Encourage hunting of crows
7. Pyrotechnics — shooting guns or CO2 cannons or loud pops

On the other side, crows also are beneficial for eating bugs, grasshoppers, weevils, worms, mice, spiders, millipedes, snails, salamanders, lizards, small mammals, garbage and road kill. Crows can be controlled down on the farm, but they also might even make a good pet.

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Federation Helps Students Learn About Ag Job Opportunities

The Cherokee County Farmers Federation recently purchased booklets produced by the Alabama Farmers Federation that were distributed to all the schools in Cherokee County.

The booklets, called Agriculture Growing Opportunities, were given to FFA advisers and school counselors to be distributed to students going out into the job market and to college.

Each booklet contains information about career opportunities in agriculture in areas such as education, Extension, ag business, animal science, food science, plant science, environmental science and natural resources. The information discussed salaries, gave job market stats and has young farmer interviews.

The booklets show educational opportunities at all of the two-year colleges and Auburn, Alabama A&M, and Tuskegee universities. Agriculture is the #1 employer in Alabama.

From left are Marilyn Williams, Cherokee County High School (CCHS) librarian and Cherokee County Farmers Federation Women's Leadership Committee (WLC) member; Charlotte Grimes, county WLC chairman; and Seth Neyman, CCHS principal.