MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Eight young farm families were recognized for excellence in production agriculture, involvement in the Alabama Farmers Federation, and community service during the Young Farmers Conference on Feb. 15. The annual event celebrates the hard work and dedication of young farmers across the state, highlighting their achievements through the Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest.
The OYFF competition, open to farmers between the ages of 18 and 35, involves a rigorous application and interview process. This year, three finalist families were chosen and will compete for over $80,000 in prizes during on-farm judging this summer. The winner will be announced on Aug. 16 at the Farm & Land Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The finalists are:
- Drew and Lauren Wendland, Autauga County – Also winners of the Hay & Forage Division.
- Jacob and Misty Porter, Clay County – Also winners of the Poultry Division.
- Garrett and Robin Dixon, Lee County – Also winners of the Peanut Division.
Each finalist family received custom Adirondack chairs, courtesy of the Federation, as a token of recognition for their achievements.
Additionally, five more families were honored as winners in their respective commodity divisions. These winners will serve ex-officio terms on their respective state commodity committees and affiliated organization boards. Each family also received a $500 award from the Federation. The division winners are:
- Cade and Shelby Easterling, Barbour County – Sheep & Goat Division.
- Christopher and Hannah Langley, Chambers County – Forestry Division.
- Tommy and Lauren Murray, Franklin County – Fruit & Vegetable Division.
- Heath Clary, Hale County – Catfish Division.
- Mitchell and Rebecca Henry, Lawrence County – Beef Division.
Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer praised the competitors for their dedication to farming and their leadership potential within the organization.
“It’s always exciting to see young farm families work through the OYFF process,” McBrayer said. “While we’re blessed to give out an incredible slate of prizes thanks to generous sponsors, competing in the OYFF is about more than just ‘stuff.’ It encourages farmers to think about where they’ve come from, where they are now, and where they’re going. Many leaders in the Federation today got their start competing in contests just like this. With this caliber of contestants, I’m confident we are developing strong leaders of tomorrow. Alabama agriculture is in good hands.”
The Alabama Farmers Federation, the state’s largest farm organization with more than 360,000 members, continues to support young farmers through its Young Farmers program. The program seeks to encourage, educate, and empower the next generation of agricultural leaders.
For more information, visit AlfaYoungFarmers.org.
Autauga County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Finalists, Hay & Forage Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Drew and Lauren Wendland of Autauga County were named Top 3 finalists in the Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Wendlands were recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. The Wendlands farm in Autaugaville. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. The Wendlands were named finalists, and winners in the Hay & Forage Division, following an in-depth application and interview process. As OYFF finalists, they’ll compete for more than $80,000 in prizes during on-farm judging this summer. The winner will be announced during the Farm & Land Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Aug. 16. As Hay & Forage Division winners, they will serve an ex-officio term on the State Hay & Forage Committee. They also received $500, plus custom Adirondack chairs, from the Federation. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; the Wendlands with sons Mills, Smith and Rhett; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
Lee County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Finalists, Peanut Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Garrett and Robin Dixon of Lee County were named Top 3 finalists in the Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Dixons were recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. The Dixons farm in Salem. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. The Dixons were named finalists, and winners in the Peanut Division, following an in-depth application and interview process. As OYFF finalists, they’ll compete for more than $80,000 in prizes during on-farm judging this summer. The winner will be announced during the Farm & Land Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Aug. 16. As Peanut Division winners, they will serve an ex-officio term on the Alabama Peanut Producers Association board. They also received $500, plus custom Adirondack chairs, from the Federation. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; the Dixons with children Chandler Jane and Cash; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
Clay County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Finalists, Poultry Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Jacob and Misty Porter of Clay County were named Top 3 finalists in the Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Porters were recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. The Porters farm in Lineville. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. The Porters were named finalists, and winners in the Poultry Division, following an in-depth application and interview process. As OYFF finalists, they’ll compete for more than $80,000 in prizes during on-farm judging this summer. The winner will be announced during the Farm & Land Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Aug. 16. As Poultry Division winners, they will serve an ex-officio term on the State Poultry Committee. They also received $500, plus custom Adirondack chairs, from the Federation. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; the Porters and children; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
Barbour County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Sheep & Goat Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Cade and Shelby Easterling of Barbour County were named Sheep & Goat Division winners in the statewide Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Easterlings were recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. The Easterlings farm in Clio. As Sheep & Goat Division winners, they will serve an ex-officio term on the Federation’s State Sheep & Goat Committee. They also received $500 from the Federation. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. The Easterlings won the division following an in-depth application and interview process. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; Shelby and Cade Easterling with their daughter, Mary Jo; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
Franklin County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Specialty Crops Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Tommy and Lauren Murray of Franklin County were named Fruit & Vegetable Division winners in the statewide Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Murrays were recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. The Murrays farm in Russellville. As Fruit & Vegetable Division winners, they will serve an ex-officio term on the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association board. They also received $500 from the Federation. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. The Murrays won the division following an in-depth application and interview process. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; Lauren and Tommy Murray with their children; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
Hale County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Catfish Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Heath Clary of Hale County was named the Catfish Division winner in the statewide Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. Clary was recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. He farms in Newbern. As the Catfish Division winner, Clary will serve an ex-officio term on the Federation’s State Catfish Committee. He also received $500 from the Federation. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. Clary won the division following an in-depth application and interview process. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; Heath Clary and his wife, Christina and their five children; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
Chambers County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Forestry Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Christopher and Hannah Langley of Chambers County were named Forestry Division winners in the statewide Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Langleys were recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. The Langleys farm in Camp Hill. As Forestry Division winners, they will serve an ex-officio term on the Federation’s State Forestry Committee. They also received $500 from the Federation. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. The Langleys won the division following an in-depth application and interview process. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; Hannah and Christopher Langley with their four children; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
Lawrence County Young Farmers Honored As OYFF Beef Commodity Division Winners
CUTLINE: Mitchell and Rebecca Henry of Lawrence County were named Beef Division winners in the statewide Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest organized by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The Henrys were recognized during the Federation’s Young Farmers Conference Feb. 15 in Muscle Shoals in front of 450 of their peers. The Henrys farm in Moulton. As Beef Division winners, they will serve an ex-officio term on the Federation’s State Beef Committee. They also received $500 from the Federation. OYFF competitors are farmers ages 18 to 35 years old who earn most of their income from production agriculture and are judged based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community service. The Henrys won the division following an in-depth application and interview process. From left are Federation Executive Director Paul Pinyan; the Henrys with son Clint; and Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer.
