A native of Madison County and former Alabama Cooperative Extension System agent, Kimberly (Kim) Earwood, has been named women’s director of the Alabama Farmers Federation.Earwood, 36, grew up in Huntsville, but in ninth-grade she moved to rural Cullman County where her parents, Dale and Ione, raise beef cattle. After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics from the University of North Alabama and master’s degree in education from the University of Montevallo.Following college, Earwood worked with the Extension System for 12 years, first in Colbert County and later in Cullman County. She was primarily responsible for 4-H and youth development programs, but she also served on the Cullman County Farm-City Committee and was a member of the Federation’s Young Farmers program in that county. Most recently, Earwood was employed as the child nutrition director for Cullman County Schools.Federation Department of Organization Director Mike Tidwell said Earwood’s farm background and familiarity with Federation programs will help her transition smoothly into her new role as women’s director.”Kim’s work with the Extension System as well as her involvement with our organization and the Farm-City Committee will make her a valuable addition to the Federation staff,” he said. “She already is familiar with many of our programs, and her connections throughout the state will be tremendous assets as we work to expand our women’s programs and Ag in the Classroom activities.”Earwood said she is excited about working with farmers throughout the state as well as consumers who may not fully appreciate the importance of agriculture.”I want to be able to work with all of our members to help promote agriculture,” she said. “Agriculture is extremely important to Alabama, and I look forward to working with our women’s committees, young farmers and county boards to do what’s best for our state and to educate the public about what the Farmers Federation has to offer.”As Federation women’s director, Earwood will seek to provide an opportunity for women to actively participate in the policy making and policy execution activities of the state’s largest farm organization. Major projects of the Federation’s Women’s Committee include providing support and coordination for Ag in the Classroom activities, conducting cooking and cotton sewing competitions, supporting the legislative goals of the organization and conducting a monthly food price survey.Earwood said one of her goals is to encourage more women to be involved in Federation programs and activities and to establish active women’s committees in counties that don’t already have one.In addition to her involvement with the Cullman County Young Farmers, Earwood’s father also serves on the Cullman County Farmers Federation’s Board of Directors and her mother is a member of the women’s committee. Her sister and brother-in-law, Sherry and Keith Dunn, live in Birmingham and have three children. Earwood, who began her duties with the Federation in January, recently moved to Montgomery.