Federation Plants Seeds of Success Through Scholarships

By Maggie Edwards

Eighty-three college students from 61 Alabama counties received scholarships from the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) Sept. 29 in Auburn.

The annual scholarship banquet at Lazenby Farms honored recipients from Auburn University (AU). The partnership between the AFAF and county Farmers Federations awarded over $150,000 to undergraduates pursuing degrees in agriculture, forestry and related fields.

Those students include Autauga County's Madison Thrailkill.

"My journey to AU has been one I worked toward for a long time. This scholarship made the dream a reality," said Thrailkill, a junior studying agricultural business and economics with a poultry sciences minor. "When I began looking at options for college, I realized the expense associated with a college education. This scholarship helps ease the burden for me, my family and the other students among me."

Thrailkill said this scholarship is more than financial support.

"We know there is an organization standing being us, believing in us and caring for our success," said Thraillkill, who interned with Alabama Farmers Federation partner entity Alfa Insurance last summer. "It's not just a check into the account. It's a personal investment in our growth and future."

Chris Carroll chairs the AFAF Scholarship Committee. Also the Federation Southeast Area vice president, Carroll expressed his appreciation for Thrailkill and other recipients.

"This organization puts effort into serving the future of agriculture," said Carroll, the Dale County Farmers Federation president. "I want to say 'thank you' to the recipients for pursuing a degree in agriculture. Agriculture is facing some tough times, but through tough times, innovation and efficiency are born. Food security is national security. A nation that cannot feed itself cannot defend itself. With that, I truly thank each student for what they do."

During the scholarship banquet, four special scholarships honored past and present leaders who left a legacy on Alabama agriculture.

Limestone County's Jessa Usery received the inaugural Jerry and Dianne Newby Scholarship. This scholarship was established to honor Limestone County farmer and former Federation President Jerry Newby and his wife, Dianne. Usery is a sophomore studying agricultural communications.

The Mike Henry Memorial Scholarship was presented to Montgomery County's Ashbee Norman, a freshman studying pre-vet and animal biosciences. Cullman County's Harper Lafon, a junior majoring in pre-vet and animal biosciences received the R.W. Donaldson Memorial Scholarship. Lee County's Nate Payne was awarded the Jimmy Witt Memorial Scholarship. Payne is a junior studying horticulture.

Additionally, Lawrence County's Karen Hood, mother of scholarship recipient Taylor Hood, addressed the crowd on behalf of all parents.

"This scholarship is a tremendous support," said Hood, who lives on her family's cattle farm in Moulton. "We express our heartfelt gratitude to the county Federations for these scholarships and the ones given in the past. We've been blessed both our children, Tanner and Taylor, have pursued degrees from AU and stayed in agriculture. The Federation cares for our children's success, education and dreams. This foundation is planting seeds that will bear fruit for decades to come."

2026-2027 scholarship applications open Nov. 1 at AlfaFarmers.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2026.