Annual luncheon spotlights ag leaders and students

RUSSELLVILLE — The economic contribution of agriculture in Region 10, which includes Franklin County, totals nearly $13 million annually and produces more than 40,000 jobs.

Alicia Swann, 4-H Extension agent used the data during this year’s Farm-City banquet to illustrate the impact that agriculture still has in the region.

The luncheon was held at the A.W. Todd Centre.

“In 2022, the economic contribution of Alabama’s food, fiber and forestry sector was $77.3 billion,” Swann said. “Agriculture and forestry account for 10% of Alabama’s workforce.”

Farm-City Week began in 1955 to strengthen understanding between rural and urban communities and highlight the cooperation required to move food from farms to homes.

“This year’s theme, ‘Grow Alabama,’ highlights the influence agriculture has on the prosperity and sustainability of Alabama’s economy,” County Extension Director Katernia Cole Coffey said. “It reminds us that when agriculture grows, Alabama grows. Franklin County grows economically, environmentally and socially.”

Agricultural award recipients included:

• Farmer of the Year — Jamie Harris;

• Farm Family of the Year — M5 Farms: Blaine McDuffa, Kendra McDuffa, Dacey McDuffa, Brandon McDuffa and Brody McDuffa;

• Agricultural Lifetime Achievement Award — J.C. Blackburn

• Agricultural Lifetime Achievement Award — James Harold Bohannon, Sr.

•Commercial Horticulture Award — The Nursery at Hurricane Creek;

• Agricultural Tourism and Education Award — Overton Farm.

Those receiving special recognitions were:

• Caleb Beason — first runner up in the Excellence in Agriculture Contest with the Alabama Farmers Federation Young Farmers Division;

• Jackson Posey — first place Safe Tractor Driving in Alabama;

• Derek Mays — State FFA degree for wildlife production; • Red Bay High School FFA Conduct of Chapter Meetings Team — third place in state;

• Red Bay High School FFA String Band — second place in state;

• Kayson Johnston — second place in state for beef production;

• State FFA degrees — Reagan Gordon, Anna Richardson, Melee Weaver, Khloe James and Jackson Miller;

• FranklinCountyJunior Cattlemen — Hackleburg High School FFA: Blaine McDuffa, first place in state Beef Production Entrepreneurship.

Student contest winners included:

• Pre-K coloring contest — first, Abe-Mazing McArthur; second, Lilly Lawson; third (tie), Leland Gray and Noah Tidwell;

• Kindergarten through third grade poster — first, Bryar King;

• Fourth through sixth grade poster — first, Eli Humphries; second, Jonathan Tapp; third, Sam Barton; honorable mention, Brenton Tyde Greenhill and Addison Frederick;

• Seventh through ninth grade essay — first, Saxton Oliver;

• Tenth through 12th grade essay — first, Emma Rambo; second, Sadie Hill; third, Kye Baker.

Shown are Phil Campbell High School essay winners Kye Baker, Sadie Hill, Emma Rambo and Jackson Posey. On far left is Alicia Swann, county 4-H agent, and far right is Katernia Cole Coffey, Franklin County Extension coordinator.
PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP