From the Alabama Farmers Federation:
The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance celebrated their roots as they commemorated National Ag Day today with numerous events, including a pizza party.
The celebration started March 17 with a food drive at the home office, where employees donated 1,502 pounds of food and almost $4,000 to the Montgomery Area Food Bank (MAFB). The monetary donations alone will provide almost 24,000 meals for people in the 35 counties served by MAFB. That’s enough meals to feed one person for almost 22 years.
“We are very lucky in Alabama to have farmers who raise a great variety of crops and livestock to feed others, and the Montgomery Area Food Bank plays an important role in delivering the abundance of our fields to those who need it most,” said Jimmy Parnell, president of the Federation and Alfa Insurance. “Our employees really showed their generous spirits with this food drive for National Ag Day.”
Fifty lucky employees who donated during the food drive were selected to enjoy a pizza party lunch today with the Federation Executive Committee, who are farmers representing various commodities and areas of the state.
“I don’t have a direct link to a farm, but I understand and appreciate the importance of farmers in Alabama and across the nation,” said Alfa Life Claims Examiner Kim Patterson, one of the 50 winners. “Farmers work tirelessly to ensure we have what we need to survive and thrive.”
Patterson said working for Alfa has given her a greater appreciation for agriculture.
“It’s important to know where our food comes from, but I’ve never contemplated the flip-side of that coin,” she said. “We – the general, non-farming public – provide the goods and services like insurance and banking that farmers need to do their jobs. In turn, they provide us with freedom to enjoy the simple things, like swinging buying our food at the grocery store on the way home. Being able to fellowship with coworkers and celebrate farmers makes me even prouder to work for Alfa, a company that goes above the call to honor and protect this extraordinary group.”
The Little Alfa Day Care also participated in the food drive, and the children received stickers, stencils, pens and bracelets for helping.
The National Ag Day celebration even extended to the Alabama State House. State Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, and State Rep. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, sponsored a joint resolution recognizing March 18 as National Ag Day in Alabama.
Agriculture and forestry are the state’s largest industries, with more than $70 billion in economic impact. More than 580,000 Alabamians are employed in agriculture, forestry or related fields.
The 2015 theme for National Ag Day is “Agriculture: Sustaining Future Generations.” For more information, visit AgDay.org.
For additional photos from Alfa and Federation events, click here.