A slate of families and individuals who've made a significant impact on Franklin County were honored at Monday's Farm-City Awards Luncheon, held at the A.W. Todd Centre.
As with other years, the honorees were well-deserving. The only difference this year was they were honored at a lunch, rather than an evening event during the week of Thanksgiving.
This year's Farm-City Week carries the theme, Our Community Counts on Farmers. The featured speaker was Kristen Nunley, Agricultural Education Specialist. Nunley, a 2002 Red Bay High School graduate, serves as a liaison between the State of Alabama and agricultural education classrooms. She accepted that position after a 15-year agricultural education teaching career that saw her Hamilton High School Envirothon team win a state championship.
Nunley and her husband Gannon own a family farm and their two children take active roles in farming and caring for the animals.
“Farming has taught them both the values of hard work, versatility and resilience. Our farm is not just a business. It's a family legacy,” Nunley said.
Farm-City Week is designed to deepen understanding of the relationship between rural farmers and urban workers. Since 1955, Farm-City committees have hosted educational events and invited city folk to visit local farms for a first-hand look at how their food is raised.
Three Franklin County men received Lifetime Agricultural Achievement Awards, including Jimmy Byars, Gary Oliver and John W. Thorn.
Stephen Hall was named Franklin County Farmer of the Year and Franklin County Farm Family of the Year went to Youngblood Ranch.
Jimmy Byars: A farmer for more than 60 years, Byars owns Angus cattle on his 400-acre farm and has nearly four decades' experience in poultry farming. He operated Byars Feed Mill in the 1960s and 70s and founded the Northwest Alabama Feeder Pig Association, where he served as president for 25 years. He served as Franklin County Probate Judge from 1977-1983 and was company commander of the Russellville Alabama National Guard unit. Jimmy and his late wife Sue Francis have two children, five grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Gary Oliver: Gary owns and operates Hillside Farms, started by his father 70 years ago. In addition to its beef cattle operation, Hillside Farms produces row crops including corn, wheat, soybeans and hay. He was an early innovator of no-till farming practices, showing a commitment to protecting the land's valuable resources and preserving soil health. He and his wife Joyce have two daughters, who grew up on the farm. And today, their granddaughters are learning to carry on the family's farming legacy.
John W. Thorn: A lifetime farmer, John bought his first calf for $6 in 1946. A veteran of the United States Army, John retired from TVA in 1988. His 500-acre cattle farm is in the Waco community. With support from NRCS, he installed a solar water pumping system at a spring that supplies water to a freeze-proof watering system throughout his farm. He also owns and operates a 154-acre cattle farm in Colbert County. A member of Cherry Hill Baptist Church and Franklin County Church Builders, John received a 50-year pin from Russellville Masonic Lodge 310. He and his wife Sarah have been married nearly 48 years and between them have four children, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
Stephen Hall: His annual investments in purchasing bulls with superior genetics ensures the herd quality and continued success of his cattle farm. His use of energy-efficient upgrades to his commercial poultry farm show his forward-thinking farming practices, as does his active role in land management. His operation includes a herd of 125 of Angus cattle and four commercial broiler houses. Stephen is a proud multi-generational farmer and he credits his late grandfather, Ollie McGuire, for teaching him to respect and sustain his land.
Youngblood Ranch: A woman-owned cattle ranch that began in 1995 as a small garden, Youngblood Ranch is truly a family operation including Dane, Kirsten, Emlyn, Abbi, Marissa and Sydney. Youngblood Ranch runs a herd of 45-70 premium Wagyu cattle, with some Angus. Their beef is all-natural, hormone and steroid-free. And the family's 'Everybody Eats' initiative allows Youngblood Ranch to offer reduced-price or free beef to qualifying families.
Franklin County Extension Service Executive Director Katernia Cole-Coffey presented special recognition awards to the Franklin County Cattlemen's Association, Madden Brangus Farms and the Miller Family Dairy.
Ali and Will Gotcher received the Excellence in Agriculture Award.
The 2024 Farm-City Contest winners were also announced Monday. They included:
Poster Contest (Kindergarten-Third Grade): First Place, Jonathan Tzep, Third Grade, Tharptown Elementary, Keslie Scott teacher. Second Place, Armando Tellez, Third Grade, Tharptown Elementary, Keslie Scott, teacher, and Third Place, Aubrey Fuller, Third Grade, Russellville Elementary, Chastity West teacher.
Poster Contest (Fourth-Sixth Grade): First Place, Megan Gissell Alvarado Amador, Sixth Grade Tharptown Elementary, Kristy Smith teacher, MaKenna Garrison, Sixth Grade Tharptown Elementary Kristy Smith teacher, and Third Place, Catarina Esteban, Sixth Grade, Tharptown Elementary, Kristy Smith teacher. Honorable mentions went to Elsie Greenhill, sixth grader at Belgreen and Emily Diego, sixth grader at Tharptown.
Essay Contest (10th-12th Grade): First Place, Emma Rambo, 11th Grade, Phil Campbell High School, Caleb Beason teacher, Second Place, Sadie Hill, 11th Grade, Phil Campbell, Caleb Beason teacher, and Third Place, Roxana Molina, 11th Grade, Phil Campbell, Caleb Beason teacher.
Cole-Coffey also recognized several organizations, businesses and individuals for their support of this year's Farm-City Awards Luncheon, including CB&S Bank, Community Spirit Bank, the Franklin County Commission, the Franklin County Cattlemen's Association, the Franklin County Farmers' Federation, Commissioner Michael Murray, Phil Campbell FFA and the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department and the A.W. Todd Centre staff.
