Auburn University’s College of Agriculture and Agricultural Alumni Association celebrated five Alabamians for significant contributions during the 2019 Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor banquet Feb. 7 in Opelika.

Ben Gore of Albertville, John Jensen of Auburn and Dan Smalley of Arab were inducted into the Hall of Honor. The late William Ethridge Jr. of Bessemer and the late Roy Hereford Jr. of Faunsdale were Pioneer Award recipients.

Gore, the agribusiness inductee, is the retired CEO of Alabama Farm Credit. Education/government honoree Jensen was a longtime College of Agriculture faculty member, administrator and extension fisheries and aquaculture specialist. Smalley, a retired poultry farmer who was a leader in and advocate for the poultry industry, is the production awardee.

Ethridge was a successful dairy farmer and enthusiastic promoter of dairy and agriculture. Hereford was an auctioneer committed to improving public perception of the auction business.