Farm-City Grows Alabama Through Service, Student Success

By Maggie Gaddy
(334) 613-4219

Service and community involvement took center stage as farmers, leaders and students came together for the Farm-City Banquet April 9 in Auburn, recognizing achievements and embracing this year's theme, "Grow Alabama."

The theme was a callback to "Agriculture & Forestry Grow Alabama: An Economic Contribution Study" released last year by Alabama Agribusiness Council, Auburn University and Alabama Extension.

Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms said the committee hoped "Grow Alabama" would help students and volunteers understand the importance of agriculture while learning what kinds of farmers and forest landowners are in their local areas.

"We were amazed at the talent this year," said Helms, the Alabama Farmers Federation communications director. "From brightly detailed posters and carefully crafted essays to top-notch Farm-City tours and banquets, 2025 was a big year for county participation. The theme was wonderfully incorporated in so many unique ways. Grow Alabama is a great reminder of the role farmers play in the state and national economy."

Top-Performing Students

Eighteen kindergarten through 12^th-grade students were honored for their displays of ways agriculture grows Alabama in poster, essay and video formats.

Winners and runners-up in poster and essay contests received cash prizes from Alabama Ag in the Classroom, while Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC) sponsored the video contest. Schools of first- and second-place scorers received matching cash prizes.

Winning works will be featured in the 2027 Alabama Farm-City Calendar.

Poster Contest, Kindergarten-Third Grade

• First and $200: Maxston Blankenship, Ariton School, Dale County
• Second and $100: Adah Morris, The Lakeside School, Barbour County
• Third and $75: Blakely Johnson, Woodland Elementary School, Randolph County
• Fourth and $60: Ian Romero, Sacred Heart School, Cullman County
• Fifth and $40: Laelah Cottingham, Ashville Elementary School, St. Clair County
• Sixth and $25: Avery Langley, Chambers Academy, Chambers County

Poster Contest, Fourth-Sixth Grade

• First and $200: Frasier Johnson, Pathways Academy, Etowah County
• Second and $100: Elyse Williams, homeschool, Marshall County
• Third and $75: Eliana Countryman, Ashville Elementary School, St. Clair County
• Fourth and $60: Eli Humphries, Red Bay Elementary School, Franklin County
• Fifth and $40: Jazmine Perry, West Point Intermediate, Cullman County
• Sixth and $25: Kase Riley, Bagley Elementary School, Jefferson County

Essay Contest, Seventh-Ninth Grade

• First and $300: Timber Cunningham, Vernon Intermediate, Lamar County
• Second and $200: Kathryn Moore, G.W. Long High School, Dale County

Essay Contest, 10th-12th Grade

• First and $300: Emma Rambo, Phil Campbell High School, Franklin County
• Second and $200: Shelemiah Kelly, Central High School, Coosa County

Video Contest, Ninth-12th Grade

• First and $300: Emily McDaniel, Corner High School, Jefferson County
• Second and $200: Ella Hicks, G.W. Long High School, Dale County

Top-Performing Counties

In addition to selecting student winners, judges pored over exceptional entries from county Farm-City committees.

Division winners scored $300 from the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation, while runners-up received $200. Each category win netted committees $100.

Division I

• Lee County: Best Farm-City Committee, Best Farm-City Tour
• Cullman County: Runner-Up Best Farm City Committee
• St. Clair County: Scrapbook Award
• DeKalb County: Innovative Idea Award, Best Special Activities
• Jefferson County: Best Farm-City Dinner
• Marshall County: Best Media Coverage/Proclamation
• Houston County: Best Civic Club Programs
• Montgomery County: Target Award

Division II

• Geneva County: Best Farm-City Committee, Best Farm-City Dinner
• Dale County: Runner-Up Best Farm City Committee, Scrapbook Award, Target Award
• Cherokee County: Best Farm-City Tour
• Henry County: Innovative Idea Award
• Clay County: Best Media Coverage/Proclamation
• Franklin County: Best Civic Club Activities
• Fayette County: Best Special Activities

Additionally, Debbie Dunn and Sharon Turner of Geneva County were honored as the Volunteers of the Year, while Zandi Foss of Dale County received the Farm-City Service Award.

Lee and Geneva counties were named the Best Overall Farm-City Committees for Divisions I and II, respectively. Geneva County's Debbie Dunn and Sharon Turner were named Farm-City Volunteers of the Year during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Luncheon in Auburn April 9. ommunity. Dale County's Zandi Foss received the Farm-City Service Award during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Luncheon in Auburn April 9.

Farm of Distinction

During the program, CK Cattle of Lowndes County was named the 2026 Farm of Distinction for its commitment to stewardship, support of young farmers and community impact.

Chuck and Katie Madaris manage the three-generation cattle operation in Hope Hull alongside family. CK Cattle produces Angus, Chiangus and SimAngus seedstock cattle and commercial cattle.

As Farm of Distinction winners, the Madaris family will receive an engraved farm sign from Alfa Insurance and the Federation; a zero-turn Grasshopper mower from Alfa Farmers Member Perks; a John Deere Gator from John Deere, SunSouth and TriGreen; $1,000 from First South Farm Credit; and a $1,000 gift card from AFC.

Additionally, Chuck will represent Alabama during the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest this fall.

CK Cattle in Lowndes County was named Alabama's 2026 Farm of Distinction during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Luncheon in Auburn April 9 for its commitment to stewardship, support of young farmers and community impact.

From left are Joseph Fureigh and Doug Thompson of First South, Tiffany Lester of Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Katie and Chuck Madaris of CK Cattle, Neal Stanford of SunSouth, Federation and Alfa President Jimmy Parnell, and Paul Brown of Member Perks.