Montgomery, AL – A steady stream of Alabama Farmers Federation members gathered at the Farm & Land Conference in Montgomery, held August 1-3, to admire the creativity of their peers in the annual sewing and wreath-making contests. The event, sponsored by the Federation’s Women’s Leadership Division, showcased a variety of quilts, table runners, and wreaths, with winning ribbons awarded to 13 standout seamstresses and crafters from across the state.
Among the top honorees was Pat Norred of Randolph County, who won first place in the hand-stitched quilt division. Her triumph was especially sweet after 13 years of perseverance in the competition.
“I’m still on cloud nine,” Norred said. “I’ve always said to keep trying. I’ve entered 13 years. I’ve won third place three times, and this is my first time winning first place.”
The sewing contests have become a cornerstone of the conference, celebrating the talent and dedication of Alabama’s farmers and homemakers. Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood emphasized the camaraderie that accompanies the event, noting how the exhibit hall buzzes with conversations about sewing successes and failures.
“These contests are always the heartbeat of our Women’s events,” Earwood said. “It’s great to see the creativity of our members, but the best thing is that the display of entries gives our people the chance to gather in the exhibit hall, swap stories, and celebrate the efforts of talented, like-minded folks.”
In order to promote Alabama agriculture, all fabric entries were required to be made of cotton, while table runners and wreaths had to incorporate a specific commodity.
The winners in each division received cash prizes, with first-place recipients taking home $150, second place $100, and third place $75.
The winners for each division are as follows:
Hand-Stitched Quilts
- First Place: Pat Norred, Randolph County
- Second Place: Martha Jordan, Monroe County
Machine-Stitched Quilts
- First Place: Tamara Rashleigh, St. Clair County
- Second Place: Janet Massey, Geneva County
- Third Place: Roberta McClellan, Cullman County
Commodity Table Runner
- First Place: Terri Brown, Wilcox County
- Second Place: Dawn East, Cherokee County
- Third Place: Twyla Smith, Crenshaw County
Commodity Table Runner, Youth Division
- First Place: Hannah Grace Aldridge, Fayette County
- Second Place: Trevor Wicks, St. Clair County
Commodity Wreath
- First Place: Pat Sexton, Crenshaw County
- Second Place: Phyllis Johnson, Calhoun County
- Third Place: Lydia Haynes, Cullman County
As the conference wrapped up, attendees left with renewed inspiration, eager to continue their creative endeavors and keep Alabama’s agricultural heritage alive.
