Author: jhdljcsi-ca

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On every farm, a seed of opportunity is planted. Such is the story of Alabama Farmers Cooperative, a tale spanning nearly nine decades of resilience, adaptation and unwavering commitment to its members.

President and CEO Rivers Myres has led the way for the last ten years. The most recent ones may have been the hardest – ones with record-high interest rates, an increase in labor costs and shortages of workers. AFC has skillfully navigated through it all to successfully fulfill its top priority – serving the farmer.

At the 87th Annual Membership Meeting, Myres moved from behind the podium to center stage to speak directly with AFC’s members and guests.

He expressed his pride in the unwavering dedication demonstrated at every level in the organization.

“It is easy to perform well in good circumstances, but in difficult times it takes characteristics that many aspire to but few attain. These qualities make up AFC’s core values: family, integrity, perseverance, and stewardship.”

Myres referred to AFC’s strategic plan for success as the three P’s:

PEOPLE

“We’re not going to be successful if we don’t have the right people in the right places and give them the tools, coaching and mentoring they need to excel. They’re going to be what leads us through tough times,” Rivers said.

One way AFC remains focused on investing in people is through various projects including the Authentic Leadership Program (ALP). The inaugural ALP class graduated in June 2023 and has since expanded to include participants from AFC’s member Cooperatives in 2024. The lessons they are learning and the relationships they’re building through the ALP Program will continue to shape the success of AFC.

PARTNERSHIP

Throughout AFC’s history, leadership has invested in strategic partnerships, demonstrated by the success stories of Bonnie Plants and GreenPoint Ag.

Myres emphasized the importance of AFC’s joint venture’s success. He turned to Chief Financial Officer Brad Benson to explain the financial growth, return on investment and the power of collaboration of AFC’s partnerships. They not only bolster AFC’s financial health but also embody the cooperative spirit that drives it forward.

PROFIT

In spite of a tough year for ag, Myres assures members that AFC is thriving, thanks to 87 years of unwavering leadership and the hard work and dedication of Co-op members. Benson stepped in to shed light on the economic landscape, emphasizing the importance of sound financial management. With a focus on working capital and debt, he unveiled a balance sheet that reflects not just fiscal responsibility but a commitment to long-term stability.

Proving that commitment is the fact that 25 out of 27 participating Co-ops earned President’s Awards for having positive local earnings and a new margin to sales greater than 1.5%. Myres announced that AFC declared total patronage of $2.3 million, with $1 million to be paid in cash. Maintaining its 10-year revolving schedule, AFC will retire 2013 equity in the amount of $4.1 million. 

AFC’S NEW MISSION STATEMENT

The heart of AFC can be described by its new mission statement. That mission – “Cultivating meaningful life on and off the farm.”

“We’re the last line of defense to make this dirt we stand on a better place. Every person in this room has a responsibility to coach, mentor and lead in a way that makes a difference. That’s what we do at AFC every day, so I couldn’t be more proud of our mission statement. What gives me comfort at night is when I look around at all of the young people leading AFC forward, including the young man who has served as our Chairman for the last three years. It tells me we’re going to be around for another 87 years. We’ve got a lot of great things ahead of us,” exclaimed Myres.

Before concluding his report, Myres expressed appreciation to Ben Haynes whose three-year tenure s as Chairman of the AFC Board of Directors ended at the 87th Annual Membership Meeting.

Haynes smiled as he spoke of the privilege it was for him to serve as Chairman and the future of AFC under incoming Chairman Jeff Sims.

“I leave this role knowing that I am handing it off to one of the most thoughtful and capable men I know. Jeff Sims has been a dear friend and a trusted partner over the last three years. I am confident in Jeff’s leadership going forward and am eager to see what he accomplishes for AFC and the membership,” Haynes said.

Haynes then passed the gavel to incoming Chairman Jeff Sims, who previously served as AFC’s Board Vice-Chairman and on the local board of Talladega County Exchange.

AFC’s journey is one of challenges faced and conquered, partnerships forged and a commitment to serving the farmer that have sustained it for 87 years. Haynes ‘closing statement left the audience with a sense of unity and purpose: “Farming is challenging on the best of days. It is also incredibly rewarding. And you all do not just farm; you provide leadership and service to your communities. You are all a credit to the AFC family and it is an honor to serve alongside you.”

News

From behind the wheel of a spreader truck to General Manager of Blount Farmers Cooperative, the 2023 E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year is a man of few words.

But don’t let that fool you, Eric Sanders doesn’t need to speak a word to prove how driven he is.

According to Sanders’ wife, Amy, he truly loves to work. In addition to leading a successful Co-op, Sanders stays busy as co-owner of a construction company and farm. For the past 30 years, he’s been a church deacon and leads Bible study at his home every Sunday night.

He’s been skydiving, completed a marathon, triathlon and two long-distance bike races.

And while he doesn’t like to brag on himself, those around him sure will.

AFC’s CEO Rivers Myres spoke to what a genuine and courageous person Sanders is. “It’s not surprising to me that someone who has run marathons and jumped out of planes decided to go into the business of supporting tomato farmers.”

Blount County Farmers Co-op outside salesman Mel Wade echoed Myres’ sentiments. “Eric’s ability to handle pressure that comes from many aspects of being a manager, is in my opinion, his greatest managerial asset. He also has a work ethic that exceeds 99% of the people in the workplace.

“He’s a very hard worker, a very dedicated man of integrity and goes the extra mile to try to help his customers and his employees, too,” said Steve Amos, AFC North District Manager. “He’s very hands on. If they’re behind on spreading, he’ll get in a spreader truck and run it until dark to try to help get caught up.”

Sanders and Amos worked together at Southern States Cooperative before Amos recruited him to work for the Co-op in 2013.

He turned Amos down at first. Until his wife reminded him of the importance of a regular paycheck and insurance. Sanders began working at Blount County Farmers Cooperative in March 2014 and hasn’t looked back.

“I love agriculture and helping people be successful. I grew up on a farm, it is just in my blood. I love the land and improving it,” Sanders said.

Working at Blount County Farmers Co-op feels like home to Sanders. “I have a great board that gives me the freedom to run the place like it belongs to me. I think of my employees as family. They really are because we spend so much time with each other,” he explained.

“Eric has brought the best staff. They’re the best employees that we’ve ever had at the Co-op. A great leader is somebody who puts a great team together. It takes team effort to win Manager of the Year. But Eric’s leadership is what made all that happen,” said Blount Farmers Cooperative Board Chairman Jeff Hallmark.

Under Sanders’ leadership, Blount Farmers Cooperative has experienced tremendous sales growth. When he began his career at the Co-op, the location’s sales were $2 million. Now, they’re $10 million.

“He’s really brought in a lot of business. The reason that people want to do business there is because they trust Eric and they know that they’re going to put forth their best effort and try to service them,” Amos said.

Sanders said it’s always been a goal of his to earn the prestigious E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year award and is incredibly honored to receive the 2023 title.

“I like to be as successful as possible in anything I do, and I am very competitive. When Steve Amos called me about the job, he told me then that I would win this one year,” Sanders said.

2023 was his year. But he says the award belongs to his employees as much as it does to him.

“All of the credit goes to my employees. Without their constant hard work and dedication, we would not be successful,” Sanders said.

He couldn’t have done it without the support of his loving family who understands his drive to work harder than ever for his Co-op, its employees and its customers.

News

What started with a cookout turned into a new business venture for Paul Thompson and his family.

“We had friends over for a cookout in the spring of 2021 and several commented on how good the meat was.” After explaining that it was beef from Thompson’s farm, they had soon sold almost everything in their personal freezer. “We knew our beef was high-quality and now had proof of concept.”

Thompson grew up on a cow/calf operation and corn silage row crop farm just outside of Oneonta. In the 2000s, it was converted to stocker calves and the row crop to corn for grain production and soybeans.

His family is no stranger to the Co-op system. They have a close connection to the Co-op, not just as customers but also as employees.

After graduating from Auburn University, Paul began his career with Alabama Farmers Cooperative in January 2007 working at Taleecon Farmers Cooperative in Notasulga through what’s now called the Future Leaders Program. By that summer he became manager of the Blount County Cooperative in Oneonta. Four years later, he took a role in the Crop Nutrients division of Agri-AFC in Decatur, and now Greenpoint Ag. His wife, Joy-Catheryn currently works at Morgan Farmers Cooperative in Hartselle where their son Bryan has also been employed.

“We rely on the Co-op for all our agronomic needs, both product and application as well as feed. We believe AFC Feed produces some of the best feeds on the market,” Thompson said.

“For me, the Co-op represents great people with great purpose using our wonderful products to bless their families and those around them,” said Joy Catheryn.

The couple actually met through their careers with the Co-op.

“I worked as an Administrative Assistant position in Agri- AFC’s Seed Department for 10 wonderful years,” said Joy-Catheryn. “I was later promoted to the Product Manager of Seeds & Coatings where I was buying and selling seed to our Co-op stores all over the Southeast. One of my sweetest customers was Paul! That business relationship turned to a respected friendship as Paul taught me about the “Co-op side” of things all while introducing this city girl to the first rule of his farm, “SHUT THE GATE.” I was hooked when he let me name my first cow, #42 appropriately named Flo,” she laughed.

Thompson’s Farm Fresh Beef officially opened up in May of 2021. Since then, Paul and Joy-Catheryn have spent the majority of their weekends selling meat.

Their entire family plays a huge part in the business’s success. Paul’s parents, Gary and Billie Sue Thompson, work on the farm daily and oversee the meat calves. Joy-Catheryn and their daughter, Adeline, and son Bryan all help in various aspects with sales, marketing, meat pick up, and extra hands around the farm.

“The farm is to be respected as it brings as many highs as it does lows. There are good years and bad but working alongside Paul in life and Thompson’s Farm Fresh beef are two of my proudest accomplishments,” Joy-Catheryn said.

The demand for farm fresh products is huge. It’s a trend we hope sticks around! People want fresh, better-tasting, higher-quality agricultural products and they want to know how it’s produced and where it comes from. There’s also an incredible sense of pride knowing you are supporting a farmer in your area and in turn, supporting the local economy.

According to the USDA, in 2020, U.S. farms sold almost $10.7 billion of edible food commodities directly to consumer outlets and intermediary supply chains such as restaurant/grocery stores, regional distributors and local institutions.

In fact, almost 148,000 U.S. farms and ranches sold commodities directly to consumers.

“We believe buying local provides peace of mind. Our customers know their beef was born, raised, and processed in North Alabama. Many consumers are highly-focused on the quality of beef they provide to their families and comment to us routinely about the differences between farm direct vs store bought. A large percentage of our customer base is repeat business and it is gratifying getting to meet new people who enjoy our products,” Paul said.

News

Jeff Sims was elected Chairman of Alabama Farmers Cooperative at the 87th Annual Membership Meeting in February 2024. His leadership journey with AFC began in 2016 when he joined the Board of Directors.

Before earning his position as AFC’s Chairman, Sims served as Vice-Chairman from 2021 to 2024. He has served on the Board of Directors at Talladega County Exchange for the last 23 years. He became interested in agriculture in1996 when he started working for his grandfather on a cow-calf operation.

“While working for my grandfather, I would stop by our friendly neighborhood Co-op just about every day for supplies like bailing twine, salt blocks, horse feed, calf supplements and medicines for the livestock,” said Sims.

Soon after, Sims wanted something to call his own. With help from his grandfather, he began raising cattle. He then set his eyes on a new challenge: row cropping.

“The Lord really blessed me because I know I was able to do something that’s impossible to do, to start completely from scratch without any land, equipment or knowledge. I bought 30 acres to start and was blessed enough to retire with 3,170 acres of crop production,” said Sims.

Sims was a quick study and wasn’t afraid to ask for help from fellow farmers. After many trials and errors, Sims figured it out and successfully grew corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat. This allowed for his wife, Leigh Ann, to retire from being a registered nurse and raise their two sons, Taylor and Tyler.

Although Sims retired in 2023, farmers are still top of mind, along with the struggles they face daily. That includes price hikes, equipment and trucking scarcity and labor shortages, which Sims believes have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite the ever-growing challenges, farmers are resilient and I have faith in a bright and prosperous future ahead,” said Sims.

To Sims, the future of agriculture is in the hands of young people. A core part of Alabama Farmers Cooperative’s strategic plan is investing in people. AFC offers several opportunities to develop the next generation of agricultural leaders. In addition to scholarships and internships, AFC’s Future Leaders Program provides hands-on experience serving growers and producers in the Co-op footprint to develop skills under the direction of knowledgeable personnel.

“Even if you didn’t grow up on a farm, AFC welcomes you into their family. Your background doesn’t limit your opportunities – whether it’s farming, working for a Co-op or working in the corporate office, there’s a place for everyone,” Sims explained.

That’s where Sims’ mission as AFC Board Chairman comes in: Keep improving the Co-op system to continue helping the farmer.

“The Co-ops have been around almost 90 years and I want to see if stay for another 90. Our local Co-ops have such an important role in agriculture. Our farmers depend on them to provide services that are vital to their livelihood and I want to make sure that that doesn’t change. We always want to keep improving things at the stores, the relationships and the services.”