Griffin wins ALFA award
Published 11:00 pm Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Pike County Farmers Federation member Jewel Griffin was honored with an Individual Leadership Award for her work with the Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Division.
Griffin was recognized at the Alabama Farmers Federation 92nd annual December meeting in Montgomery.
Kimberly Ramsey, Women’s Leadership Director, Alabama Farmers Federation, said Griffin has been a longtime member of the Pike County Farm-City Committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.
“Mrs. Griffin has helped with the ALFA food price survey for many years,” Ramsey said. “She has also been responsible for delivering coloring books to all second graders in Pike County before Farm-City Week.
“But, she was recognized with the Individual Leadership Award for her hard work and attention to details with the Farm-City booth at the Pike County Fair and the Brundidge Peanut Butter Festival. We so greatly appreciate Mrs. Griffin’s dedication to this valuable program.”
Griffin said the she was honored and humbled by the award.
“It was a surprise,” Griffin said. “I had no idea that I would get anything like that. But, it’s nice to be recognized for what you do. I greatly appreciate the honor. It is humbling.”
Griffin has always been on the agriculture bandwagon.
“I know what all farmers have to go through and I appreciate them for their hard work and their dedication and commitment,” she said. “Many city children don’t even know that milk comes from a cow. I think it is important for young people to know where their food comes from. That’s why I do what I do.”
Randy Hale, chair of the Pike County Farm-City Committee, said Griffin has been a longstanding and dedicated member of the committee.
“You can depend on Jewel Griffin,” Hale said. “She comes to all the meetings and, if for some good reason she can’t make a meeting, she calls to let you know. Jewel is always willing to do whatever is asked of her. She had done everything from making snacks for the committee members to selling tickets for the annual Farm-City Banquet.
Hale said Griffin is a good organizer and she carries out plans to the letter.
“Jewel enjoys decorating and she’s good at it,” he said. “She brings relics and historic items every year to be used at the Committee’s booth at the Pike County Fair. She and June Flowers earn us a blue ribbon just about every year.”
Hale said Griffin and Flowers help keep agriculture at the forefront at the annual Peanut Butte Festival with an informative display.
“Jewel also distributes the Farm-City coloring books to all the schools and she goes to Montgomery to get the placemats that we use for the banquet. She does a lot that people don’t even know about and she likes it that way.”
Hale said Griffin has always lived on a farm.
“She has horses and chickens and goat and ponds,” he said. “She has an agricultural background that is evident in her interest in Farm-City activities and related activities. Jewel is a pleasure to work with and very deserving of this honor.”