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The top Young Farmers in the state were recognized from Dale, Marshall and Lowndes counties at the Alabama Farmers Federation 93rd annual meeting Dec. 8 in Montgomery.
Dale County farmers Paul and Vicki Morrison were named Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 93rd annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 8.
The Morrisons live in Ariton where they have 480 brood cows on 600 acres and farm about 1,800 acres of cotton, peanuts, hay, rye seed, wheat and corn.
Vicki said she and Paul are proud to be farmers, adding she couldn’t imagine them living life any other way.
“Something about planting a seed and watching it grow—you know there’s a higher power,” she said. “Being around agriculture, you witness miracles every day.”
As this year’s winners, the Morrisons will promote Alabama agriculture across the state. They received more than $60,000 in prizes, including $35,000 towards a new GM vehicle, sponsored by Alfa Insurance; an 825i John Deere Gator, courtesy of Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a lease on a John Deere tractor, provided by local John Deere dealers and John Deere. The winners will represent Alabama in San Diego at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Achievement Award competition during the organization’s 2015 annual convention in January.
Other winners chosen to represent Alabama in San Diego are Discussion Meet winner Josh Williams of Marshall County and Excellence in Ag winner Grace Smith Ellis of Lowndes County.
Williams received a Polaris Sportsman ETX ATV from First South Farm Credit and Ellis received a zero-turn John Deere Z445 mower from Dow AgroSciences and a computer package from Valcom/CCF Wireless.
The Young Farmers program provides opportunities for young farm families to become involved in the organization and offers leadership training and experience to expand the varied interests of young Alabamians.