Young Farmers Honored for Victories in Statewide Contests

By Marlee Jackson
(334) 613-4219

After a fierce final round of competition where conversation focused on energy production, Levi Noles of Randolph County clinched victory in the statewide Discussion Meet.

The event Dec. 9 wrapped up a stellar contest season for Alabama Young Farmers. Competitors in Discussion Meet, Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) and Excellence in Agriculture are ages 18 to 35.

Statewide winners, plus runners-up, received prizes during the during the Alabama Farmers Federation's 103rd annual meeting in Montgomery.

As the Discussion Meet winner, Noles, an agriscience teacher, received a four-wheeler from First South Farm Credit. His Final Four competitors included Will Meadows of Houston County, Erin Tolleson of Marshall County and Chase Hammock of Talladega County.

OYFF winners Whit and Amanda Lovelady of Talladega County were presented a prize package worth more than $70,000. This included $40,000 toward a Ford vehicle courtesy of the Federation and Alfa Insurance; a John Deere Gator from Alabama Ag Credit and Alabama Farm Credit; and a year's lease on a John Deere tractor from John Deere, SunSouth and TriGreen.

Whit and Amanda Lovelady of Talladega County received a prize package worth more than $70,000 as Alabama's 2024 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest winner. The Loveladys were honored during the Alabama Farmers Federation's 103rd annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 9.

From left are Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer; Federation and Alfa President Jimmy Parnell; the Loveladys; Alabama Ag Credit's Doug Thiessen; and Alabama Farm Credit's Mel Koller.

OYFF applicants receive more than half their income from production agriculture and are scored based on farm growth, Federation involvement and community work.

The Loveladys own a diversified farm in Alpine, which includes Angus, Charolais and commercial cattle herds; hay production; custom farming; forestry mulching; freezer pork and beef sales; and more. They have two children, Annagrace and John Luke.

OYFF first runners-up Garrett and Robin Dixon of Lee County received a 250-hour lease on a Kubota tractor from Kubota. The Dixons raise row crops and cattle in Salem and have two children, Chandler Jane and Cash.

Garrett and Robin Dixon of Lee County were recognized as first runner-up in Alabama's 2024 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest during the Alabama Farmers Federation's 103rd annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 9.

Drew and Lauren Wendland of Autauga County received a custom chemical package from Corteva Agriscience as second runners-up. The Wendlands raise row crops, cattle and hay - along with sons Mills, Smith and Rhett - in Autaugaville.

Drew and Lauren Wendland of Autauga County were recognized as second runner-up in Alabama's 2024 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) contest during the Alabama Farmers Federation's 103rd annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 9.

Corteva Agriscience also presented a zero-turn mower to Excellence in Agriculture champions Will and Ali Gotcher of Colbert County. Excellence in Agriculture participants receive less than half their income from production agriculture and are scored through an application and presentation.

Will and Ali Gotcher of Colbert County were honored as 2024 Excellence in Agriculture contest winners during the Alabama Farmers Federation's 103rd annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 9. From left are Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer; Federation President Jimmy Parnell; the Gotchers; and Corteva Agriscience's David Rich.

The Gotchers run a cattle and hay farm in Muscle Shoals. Will is chief financial officer at Spruell Farms, while Ali is a regional Extension agent for animal sciences and forages.

OYFF and Excellence in Agriculture winners, plus the Discussion Meet Final Four, were announced during the Farm & Land Conference in August and received a Yeti cooler from the Federation and Alfa. All three winners will compete for national titles during American Farm Bureau Federation's Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, in January.

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