Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance are helping Auburn University (AU) serve and honor farmers with the dedication July 21 of the Alfa Agricultural Services Building and groundbreaking for the Alabama Farmers Pavilion at Ag Heritage Park.Alabama Farmers Federation President Jerry Newby said the 24,000-square-foot Agricultural Services Building was made possible through a $5 million gift that was approved by the Federation’s board of directors in 1996.”Eight years ago, when the Alabama Farmers Federation was celebrating its 75th anniversary, we wanted to do something to commemorate that event–something that would benefit agriculture today and for years to come. This building is the result of that vision by our county leaders,” Newby said. “This facility is something that will serve all Alabamians, from livestock producers and row crop farmers to homeowners and weekend gardeners.”The new building houses Auburn University’s soil testing, plant diagnostic and water testing laboratories, which were previously located in cramped, outdated facilities scattered across the AU campus. Together, these labs process about 55,000 samples a year for farmers and homeowners. AU Interim President Ed Richardson praised Alfa for its support of Auburn University and agriculture.”The leaders of Alfa Insurance Companies and the Alabama Farmers Federation recognized the importance of these services and the need for a centralized, high-tech facility,” Richardson said. “Centralizing these services in this building, which is in a high-profile, easy-to-find location, allows our clients better access to the facilities. This new building also provides our dedicated employees with much-needed, modern, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.”Although it took eight years for the new building to be constructed, that lag time had a positive outcome. The initial $5 million has gained another $646,000 in interest, which will be used to purchase equipment for the new building.IN AN EARLIER CEREMONY, Newby joined Richardson, College of Agriculture Interim Dean John Jensen and Golda McDaniel of the AU Board of Trustees in breaking ground for the new Alabama Farmers Pavilion at Auburn’s Ag Heritage Park. The pavilion was made possible through a $500,000 gift from Alfa and the Farmers Federation.”When Alfa and the Farmers Federation decided to make a donation to Ag Heritage Park, we wanted to contribute to a section of the park that would truly open the doors of agriculture to the whole state and open the whole state’s eyes to agriculture,” Newby said. “The open-air building that will soon be erected in this spot–the Alabama Farmers Pavilion–is the perfect way to do just that.”The 167-seat pavilion will provide nearly 4,000 square feet of space that can be used for meetings, dinners, social events and educational programs.Jensen said the pavilion, which will be constructed this fall, will be a focal point of the 40-acre Ag Heritage Park located in the heart of the AU campus.”The dream of a pavilion began several years ago when various College of Ag alumni, faculty, staff and friends began envisioning the Ag Heritage Park concept,” Jensen said. “Early in those planning stages, the idea of making this pavilion the hub of activity at Ag Heritage Park was first imagined, and it has remained a primary component in the Ag Heritage Park design. Thanks to the generosity of Alfa Insurance Companies and the Alabama Farmers Federation, we are realizing that dream.”