Pike County Farmers Federation wins Excellence Award

Published 3:00 am Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The Pike County Farmers Federation received the Award for Excellence at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 96th meeting this month in Montgomery.

The award recognizes counties that excel in five sections of the Federation: Organization, agricultural programs, governmental affairs and the county’s Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committees.

Pike County Farmers Federation President Steve Stroud said the local Farmers Federation is honored to be recognized with the Award of Excellence.

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“We are a group of Pike County farmers, about 20 of us, that make up the Pike County Farmers Federation board,” Stroud said. “We promote agriculture in Pike County by supporting our youth programs, including 4-H Clubs, FFA and agriculture related events.”
Stroud said the Pike County Farmers Federation also has an active Women’s program and Young Farmers program.

“Our Young Farmers host the Day on the Farm program for all Pike County third graders at Cattleman Park each year,” Stroud said. “The students spend the day learning about life on the farm.”

Although Pike County is a rural area, many young children don’t have opportunities to experience what it’s like to live on a farm and actively participate in the daily chores and responsibilities of farm life.

The Pike County Farmers Federation is a service organization that is a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation and ALFA Insurance.

“The Pike County Farmers Federation budget comes from the ALFA insurance dues that members pay,” Stroud said. “The Federation gets a portion of those dues and that makes up our budget. With those funds, we award scholarships to students who are going into a field that is tied to agriculture. The scholarships are in the amount of $1,000 and we award six.”

Stroud said the Pike County Farmers Federation also uses those funds to send FFA students to the National Future Farmers of American convention.

“We spend our money wisely,” he said. “And, we spend it in support of agriculture. We know the important role that agriculture plays in our daily lives — on the farm and in the city.”

More than 1,300 farmers and guests attended the Alabama Farmers Federation annual meeting at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center and the Montgomery Convention Center.

Governor Kay Ivey was the keynote speaker. She reflected on the rural roots she shares in common with those who make up the state’s agricultural community.