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June 27, 2008

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Teachers learn about farming first hand

Madison County farmer Dennis Bragg, right, talks to teachers about this year’s wheat harvest during the annual Alabama Ag in the Classroom summer conference in Huntsville June 17-19. The conference included workshops, seminars and farm tours.

A group of Alabama teachers who recently walked through Mike Moore’s wheat field in Madison County may never look at a loaf of bread the same again. Seventy-three educators from throughout the state attended the annual Alabama Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Summer Institute June 17-19 which included workshops, tours and educational seminars.

Moore, who was busy harvesting this year’s wheat crop, said he was impressed with the questions the teachers asked and how interested they were in his farm. He thanked the participants for attending the conference.

“As the number of farmers declines, we need help telling our story,” Moore said. “You can help us to do that.” He added that he would encourage teachers to invite farmers to visit with students in their classrooms.

AITC helps teachers incorporate agriculture into an array of course studies, including reading, science, mathematics and history. Nettie Edwards of Summerdale School in Baldwin County said the AITC summer institute is the best teacher program she has ever attended. “This isn’t a workshop where you listen to someone talk for 90 minutes. It’s really hands-on,” she said. “The highlight of the meeting for me was going to the fields and actually watching the farmers work. We take for granted what farmers do for us. I can incorporate so much of what I’ve learned here into the curriculum for my classroom for reading, language arts, science and social studies.

“I won’t complain about the price of food any more. I appreciate farmers for everything they do. I just didn’t realize all that they do to help us.”

Kim Earwood is chairman of the AITC state steering committee. She said in addition to the summer institute, the program also provides county workshops throughout the year, distributes literature and classroom materials and provides information to state teachers about the National AITC program.

During the summer institute, Alabama’s AITC Teacher of the Year was named. She is Kerra Middleton of Tanner Williams Elementary School in Mobile County where she works as a media specialist.

“Kerra has attended three of our summer institutes and has served as a presenter during national AITC conferences,” Earwood said. “She will represent Alabama in St. Louis, Mo., next year as Alabama’s candidate for National AITC Teacher of the Year.”

Youth challenged to become leaders

Attorney General Troy King, right, visits with students during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Youth Leadership Conference. From left are Emily Nestor of Montgomery County, Andrea Grace Pulaski of Morgan County, Hannah Wilson of Greene County and King.

Alabama Attorney General Troy King challenged high school students from across the state to realize their power and responsibility as future leaders during the opening session of the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Youth Leadership Conference June 20 in Columbiana.

“You’ve got a responsibility to our state to become leaders,” King told the group of 100 teenagers gathered for the weekend at the Alabama 4-H Center. “Don’t believe it when people tell you, ‘You can’t succeed.’ You can succeed by doing the right thing.”

King, who appealed to the group as a father whose children will grow up in a state led by the teens’ generation, said the most important lesson he could share with young people is one he learned while working for former Gov. Fob James.

“There are some fights worth fighting, even if you are going to lose,” King said. “Being a leader doesn’t mean doing what is easy. It means standing up and doing the right thing.”

The three-day conference included workshops, teamwork activities and seminars on agriculture and government. Featured speakers included State Treasurer Kay Ivey, who spoke to the young leaders about networking and consensus building.

The annual conference is sponsored by the Federation’s Young Farmers Division. Brandon Moore, director of the program, said the event encourages up-and-coming leaders to get involved in associations and organizations that share their beliefs.

“Our message is that, regardless of what career path you choose, there are trade and industry associations that rely on well-spoken leaders to take the helm and influence their industry and government to bring about positive change,” Moore said. The conference is geared toward high school sophomores and juniors. Students from 28 counties were selected by their county Young Farmers committees to attend this year’s event based on previous academic and extracurricular achievements. Moore said recent Youth Leadership Conference graduates have gone on to leadership roles in collegiate clubs, and several returned to the conference this year as chaperons and presenters. Highlighting the conference agenda was a series of workshops that gave students an opportunity to hone their skills through hands-on activities.

A ropes-style obstacle course forced the attendees to rely on one another to achieve goals, while “Operation Midas” gave the students a chance to develop a marketing plan for a new value-added product. Students also learned about common misconceptions in agriculture, and attended seminars conducted by Alabama’s state FFA officers and the Auburn University College of Agriculture.

The Young Farmers program is aimed at helping farmers and other agricultural professionals ages 17-35 achieve success in their businesses and to become leaders in their communities and the Farmers Federation. For information, visit www.AlfaYoungFarmers.com.

Workshops to help with proper grain storage

Nearly 40 people attended a grain storage workshop recently at the Black Belt Research and Extension Center in Marion Junction that was coordinated by the Extension System. Among those attending the meeting were, from left, Federation Wheat & Feed Grains Director Buddy Adamson, Perry County farmer David Wallace, Regional Extension Agent Rudy Yates and Dallas County farmer Owen Yoder. The State Wheat & Feed Grains checkoff program several years ago paid for grain monitoring equipment located in five strategic places around the state for farmers to use to monitor on-farm stored grain. For more information, contact Buddy Adamson by email at BAdamson@AlfaFarmers.org.

The Alabama Wheat & Feed Grains Checkoff will sponsor stored grain workshops July 8 and 22. The July 8 meeting will be in Collinsville at Dennis Myers’ farm. The July 22 meeting will begin at Henderson Farms in Mooresville. Both workshops will include grain storage preparation, drying and treating stored grain, grain handling equipment, products and precautions in preparing grain for storage and monitoring of stored grain. Contact Buddy Adamson at BAdamson@AlfaFarmers.org for information or call (334) 613-4216.

Auburn to host Triennial stocker conference

Nutrition Programs for Southeastern Stocker Cattle and Forage Options for Deep South Stocker Cattle are among the educational sessions that will be presented Aug. 15 at the Triennial Stocker Conference at Auburn University.

The program, which begins with registration at 7:30 a.m. and concludes with a discussion session from 4-5 p.m., will include producers and researchers.

D.J. Edwards will offer “Perspectives from a Kansas Stocker Operator” from 8:30-9:30 a.m., followed by a session on making vaccination decisions by Dr. Soren Rodning, Extension veterinarian. Another veterinarian, Dr. Ken Blue of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., will discuss receiving programs from 10:15-11:15 a.m., followed by a panel discussion featuring producers Clint Hardin, Keith Glover and Calvin Freeland.

Following lunch, Dr. Matt Poore, an Extension animal scientist from North Carolina State University, will discuss nutrition programs for Southeastern stocker cattle, followed by a session on “Getting the Most for Your Dollar” by Dr. Charles Mitchell, Extension soil scientist. Dr. John Andrae, an Extension forage agronomist with Clemson University, will address forage options.

For information, contact Darrell Rankins at Auburn University’s Department of Animal Sciences at drankins@acesag.auburn.edu or (334) 844-1546.

New program offers Alabama produce on line

The Alabama Farmers Market Authority (FMA) has launched a new Web-based program that provides Alabama farmers another outlet to sell locally grown produce. The program, titled Farmer Connect, is part of the FMA’s Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign that encourages Alabamians to support local farmers.

“With more people aware of the benefits of purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables, Farmer Connect is another outlet for farmers and consumers to link up,” said FMA Director Don Wambles.

Farmer Connect also creates a venue for specialty chefs and caterers to purchase certain specific varieties of fruits and vegetables grown in Alabama.

The program is similar to on-line classified ads, but users of the site must register. Farmers can list fruits and vegetables, and potential customers are able to contact the farmer directly. “We believe in the Buy Fresh, Buy Local principal and Farmer Connect allows local farmers to use global technology so consumers can act locally,” says Wambles. “We hope to see this program grow with an increase in farmers using it to sell goods and consumers looking to purchase the freshest and best tasting produce.”

Visit Farmer Connect at www.BuyLocalAlabama.com and click on the green Farmer Connect icon and register to use the site.

Users must register as a seller, buyer or both. All participants are subject to approval and/or inspection. All products listed for sale shall be grown/produced by the registrant.

OBITUARY

Gay Bussey Langley of Munford in Talladega County, a former State Women’s Committee Chairman of the Alabama Farmers Federation (1979-1980), died June 16. She was the first woman ever elected to the Alabama Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

In addition to her work with the Federation, Mrs. Langley was the first woman to serve on the Talladega County Board of Education, and went on to serve for 20 consecutive years.

She had five children with Howard E. Turner: Howard Jr., Helen, L.J., Lawrence Hughes and Johnny Frank. She was later wed to Cecil Langley of Munford. She had 11 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the Talladega County Farmers Federation Women’s Committee Scholarship Fund.

Tuskegee to host Master Goat Producer’s program

Tuskegee University will host a Master Goat Producer’s Certification program Aug. 4-6 at the Caprine Research and Education Unit at Tuskegee University.

The Master Goat Producer’s Certification Program is a training program that offers classes on herd health, marketing, nutrition and pasture management, bio-security, bio-terrorism awareness, quality assurance, disaster preparedness and reproductive management. The program includes hands-on training in hoof trimming, assessing body condition scores, artificial insemination, judging livestock, FAMACHA and microscopic fecal examinations and pasture management.

Early registration is $50 and should be remitted with the required form before July 14. Late registration will be accepted for an additional fee.

For information about the program or to register, contact Olga Bolden-Tiller at (334) 421-1277 or email her at obtiller@tuskegee.edu or contact Federation Meat Goat & Sheep Director Mitt Walker at (334) 613-4757 or email him at MWalker@AlfaFarmers.org.

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