News

Federation in Action

Meet the people and programs helping agriculture grow in Jefferson County. Here you’ll find updates from our classrooms, farms, and community, along with opportunities to get involved.

Farm-City Student Contests: October 31 Deadline

2026 contest reminder

Jefferson County students can share agriculture’s story through this year’s poster, essay, and video contests. The 2026 theme is America’s 250: Founded by Farmers, and the county submission deadline is October 31, 2026.

Visit our Events page for grade divisions, prizes, entry forms, contest rules, and requirements for disclosing AI use.

View contest details and student resources | Read the Facebook announcement

Jefferson County Agriculture Featured in Neighbors

October 2026

Our Facebook page highlighted an October Neighbors magazine story featuring Jefferson County’s Tucker Ross and board member Sammie Lee Stone. The article shares how a youth swine project helped provide pork for Birmingham feeding programs and supported plans for Barn Buddies, a program introducing youth with special needs to showing livestock.

Read the full Alabama Farmers Federation story | View our Facebook post

Bringing Agriculture into the Classroom

Fall 2026

Chick Checkout brings the life cycle of a chicken into local classrooms, while our expanding classroom hydroponics program connects plant science with food production. Through Ag in the Classroom, we also support teachers with educational opportunities, classroom equipment mini grants, and program assistance.

Teachers can contact jcfarmfed48@bellsouth.net to request Chick Checkout or classroom hydroponics and discuss scheduling.

Explore youth programs and teacher opportunities

Young Farmers Complete School Service Project

2026 community service

Jefferson County Young Farmers completed an elementary school service project, improving chicken coops and garden beds used for student learning. The project supports practical agricultural education and gives students more opportunities to learn through caring for animals and growing plants.

Learn more about Jefferson County Young Farmers

Warrior Elementary Students Visit Baker Farm

Fall 2026

Warrior Elementary’s prekindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade students enjoyed a fall hayride at Baker Farm in Warrior. Photos shared by the school and the Federation show students visiting with farm animals, seeing cattle, and exploring the farm with volunteers.

Learn about farm visits and classroom programs

Robert Burke Receives John Morris Memorial Scholarship

September 2026

Jefferson County native and Auburn University student Robert Burke received the John Morris Memorial Scholarship at the Alabama Farmers Federation scholarship reception on September 21 at Lazenby Farms in Auburn. Burke is a freshman studying biosystems engineering.

The John Morris Memorial Endowed Scholarship is a separate fund designated for Auburn University College of Agriculture students.

Classroom Mini Grant Supports Greystone Elementary

September 11, 2026

Kim Carnes, a kindergarten teacher at Greystone Elementary, received a $500 mini grant to help purchase a classroom incubator. The equipment will give her class and future students opportunities to observe chicks hatching and learn about agriculture.

Jefferson County educators interested in Chick Checkout or classroom mini grants can email jcfarmfed48@bellsouth.net to ask about opportunities as they become available.