The state’s largest farm organization expects investments of more than $150,000 in scholarships to return high yields for 87 Auburn University students pursuing agricultural and forestry degrees – including one Red Bay native.

Students were honored at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 2017 Scholarship Recipients Luncheon Aug. 19 at Ham Wilson Arena in Auburn. Scholarships were funded by the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation and county Farmers Federations.

Among recipients were Red Bay High School alum Ethan Mobley, a Biosystems engineering student.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell said as agriculture and technology evolve, the organization’s most important task is investing in the future.

“These young people have answers to questions producers haven’t even thought of yet,” said Parnell, an Auburn ag graduate. “These days, it takes an education to be able to farm and do it correctly.”

Fifty-nine $1,750 scholarships were awarded through a county Federation match of $500. The AFAF contributed $1,250, along with support from the Federation and Alfa Insurance.

The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization with nearly 360,000 members in 67 counties.