Farmers Elect Peers to Commodity Committees

By Marlee Jackson
(334) 613-4219

Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, Alabama farmers gathered in the Capital City Dec. 7-8 to fine-tune commodity-specific leadership, charting the course for a productive new year.

Those Alabama Farmers Federation commodity committee elections were held during the organization's 104th annual meeting in Montgomery. They're a critical component of grassroots work, said Federation Governmental & Agricultural Programs Department Director Mitt Walker.

"Farmers who volunteer to serve on these committees have a huge impact on Alabama agriculture," said Walker, whose department works with commodity committees on policy and advocacy. "They're able to bring pressing issues to the forefront and work toward solutions for their farms and others."

Those efforts can directly impact farmers' bottom lines - and ability to farm - said Jaffe Paysinger. A poultry, cattle and hay farmer from Limestone County, Paysinger was elected to his second term on the State Poultry Committee during the meeting.

"We're in the fastest-growing county in this state," said Paysinger, who farms in Elkmont. "We have all kinds of challenges about urban sprawl and development. This gives us a voice."

He continued, "The Farmers Federation reaches far within this state. We like to be involved with a committee and organization that, when they speak, people listen. With Alfa's support, hopefully the next generation can keep doing what we're doing."

Commodity committees also organize workshops and farm tours; review policy recommendations; and, when applicable, administer checkoff dollars for research, education and promotion.

Farmers who served maximum terms on state committees were recognized during annual meeting General Session II. Those were:

• Cody Young, Barbour County, cotton
• Sammy Roney, Houston County, cotton
• Matt Green, Russell County, dairy
• Dr. Phil Hardee, Monroe County, forestry
• Heather Wright; Dallas County; greenhouse, nursery & sod
• Jack Robertson, Chambers County, hay & forage
• Jeff Lassiter, Choctaw County, hay & forage
• Jimmy Parker, Cullman County, sheep & goat
• John Tucker, Lawrence County, soybean
• David Ellis, Marshall County, soybean
• John Bevel, Marshall County, wheat & feed grain
• Leo Allen, Choctaw County, wildlife
• Bob Plaster, Lee County, wildlife

Farmers voted in elections for bee & honey; beef; cotton; dairy; equine; forestry; greenhouse, nursery & sod; hay & forage; pork; poultry; sheep & goat; soybean; wheat & feed grain; and wildlife.

Later elections will add leaders to the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, Alabama Peanut Producers Association and State Catfish Committee.

Click here for a list of elected and reelected commodity committee members.