Ohatchee, AL — Millie Henderson of Ohatchee Elementary School brought statewide recognition home to Calhoun County after capturing sixth place in Alabama Farm‑City’s Fourth‑to‑Sixth Grade Poster Contest. Henderson received her award on April 17 at the program’s annual awards luncheon in Auburn, where more than 350 students, parents, and agricultural leaders gathered to celebrate creative interpretations of the 2024 theme, “Our Community Counts on Farmers.”
Henderson’s vivid illustration earned a $25 prize from Alabama Ag in the Classroom (AITC) and a congratulatory handshake from Alabama Farm‑City Committee Chair Jeff Helms and AITC Steering Committee Chair Kim Earwood. Though she finished just outside the top five statewide, Henderson’s placement highlighted Calhoun County’s growing involvement in Farm‑City outreach and marked the county’s first appearance on the elementary‑level winners’ list in four years.
Judges honored 18 students from 14 counties for standout posters, essays, and videos. In the Kindergarten‑to‑Third Grade poster division, Lincoln Moore of Southside Elementary in Etowah County claimed first place, followed by Savannah Salter of The Lakeside School in Barbour County and Jackson Belcher of Bagley Elementary in Jefferson County. Reasons Rutherford of Cullman County, Everlie Harrison of Chilton County, and Canaan Murphy of Cherokee County rounded out the top six.
In Henderson’s Fourth‑to‑Sixth Grade bracket, Addi Waldrop of Bagley Elementary (Jefferson County) earned top honors, with Ariana Sullivan Le of Autauga County and Corbitt Dyess of Geneva County placing second and third. MarLee Whitehead of Cullman County and Skylynn Smith of Lamar County finished fourth and fifth, respectively, ahead of Henderson in sixth.
Essay winners included Olivia Gregory of Pike Liberal Arts (Grades 7‑9) and Maeleigh Gray of Geneva High School (Grades 10‑12), while the video contest spotlighted Isabel Arriaga of Lawrence County High School as champion. All first‑ and second‑place schools collected matching cash awards courtesy of Alabama Ag in the Classroom and Alabama Farmers Cooperative, and winning entries will appear in the 2026 Alabama Farm‑City Calendar.
County Farm‑City committees also received accolades for innovative outreach. Dale County claimed Division I’s Best Farm‑City Committee title, edging runner‑up Lee County and capturing the Innovative Idea Award. Geneva County swept Division II, securing Best Committee, Scrapbook and Civic Club honors. Coffee County’s Dan and Pat Presley were named Volunteers of the Year, while Landon Marks of Cherokee County received the Service Award.
The luncheon concluded with the presentation of the 2025 Farm of Distinction award to Bar Neal Farms of Elmore County, operated by Nealy and Jennie Barrett and family. The Barretts will represent Alabama in the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest this fall.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of Alabama Farm‑City,” Helms told attendees. “Their creativity helps citizens of all ages understand how vital agriculture is to our state.” For Henderson — whose poster features local farmers feeding a colorful community marketplace — that lesson has already taken root, inspiring classmates to think about where food and fiber begin.
With winners from kindergarten through high school, the 2024 Farm‑City contests showcased Alabama students’ artistic talent and agricultural awareness, underscoring how, as Henderson’s poster reminds viewers, every community truly does count on farmers.
