Mobile, Ala. (Dec. 5, 2005) – Voting delegates to the Alabama Farmers Federation annual meeting in Mobile today voted to apply for membership in the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Alabama group’s application will be considered by the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors at its meeting Dec. 11-12 in Washington, D.C.

“The voting delegates clearly agreed that affiliating with the American Farm Bureau Federation would be good for Alabama farmers,” said Jerry A. Newby, president of the Alabama Farmers Federation. “It would greatly increase our voice in Washington, strengthen our position internationally and provide more opportunities for Alabama farmers. It ultimately would increase our ability to fulfill our mission to ensure unlimited opportunities for Alabama’s rural and agricultural community.”

Today’s action was unanimously recommended by the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Long Range Planning Committee, led by Ricky Wiggins of Covington County. Wiggins is the Federation’s southeast vice president.

“Alabama Farmers Federation members have enjoyed the benefits of belonging to the state’s largest farmers’ organization,” Wiggins said. “These benefits will be greatly enhanced by our affiliation with the nation’s largest farmers’ organization.”

More than 460,000 Alabama families are members of the Alabama Farmers Federation. The American Farm Bureau Federation has more than 5.5 million members nationwide.

Also at the Annual Meeting, voting delegates re-elected Steve Dunn from Conecuh County as the Federation’s secretary/treasurer, Dean Wysner of Randolph County as central region vice president and Jake Harper of Wilcox County as southwest region vice president. Elections were also held for four district board positions for the statewide organization. Etowah County farmer Earl Saxon was elected to represent District 3, which includes Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah and Jackson counties. Clay County farmer Doyle Phillips was elected to represent District 6, which includes Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, St. Clair, Shelby and Talladega counties. Chilton County farmer Jimmy Parnell was re-elected to represent District 9, which includes Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Lowndes, Montgomery and Wilcox counties. Dale County farmer Jerry Byrd was elected to represent District 12, which includes Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties. Each board member will serve a three-year term.

Elected to one year, ex-officio terms on the state board were Women’s Committee Chairman Ronnie Mobley of Winston County and State Young Farmers Chairman Townsend Kyser of Hale County.