By Tanner Hood

Russell Hendrix laces up his boots and tugs on a dusty hat as he steps outside of his Fruitdale home and heads toward the barn.

Most farmers start their day similarly. At 91 years young, Hendrix’s day veers from there. 

As Washington County Farmers Federation (WCFF) president and the oldest county president in Alabama, Hendrix will field calls from farmers, politicians and general inquirers asking about the state of agriculture. 

“I started with Alabama Farm Bureau (now Alabama Farmers Federation) in 1965,” Hendrix said. “I was young, and I took a trip to the Midwest when J.D. Hays was the state president. I got back, and they voted me county president.” 

It’s a position he has held on-and-off since then. It’s also a role he cherishes.  

“It’s just a blessing — that’s about all I can say,” Hendrix said. “Watching the political involvement grow has been a highlight, and without Alfa, we probably wouldn’t have insurance out here. I would tell someone wanting to get involved with the Federation there’s nothing better. It was important to me and my family because it is a Christian organization and for what it has to offer its members.”

While Hendrix said the Federation’s role in politics and the business of Alfa Insurance is vital, he also believes the most important goal is helping the next generation. 

“I just enjoyed farming,” Hendrix said. “Whenever you put something in the ground and it comes up, you’ve got growth; you’ve got good seed. That good seed can be a human being. You want to see it grow and make it better. We’ve got great leadership programs and activities like Farm-City that are about making it better for the future.” 

Hendrix said he understands the difficulty farmers face today, having encountered similar situations since putting his first crop in the ground in 1958. 

“I started with 200 acres of farm land, and back then, that was a lot,” Hendrix said. “But today, if you don’t get bigger every year, you’re backing up. Equipment goes up; inputs go up; and if you don’t grow, you back up.” 

Even though he’s scaled back his operation, Hendrix works closely with WCFF Vice President Mark Platt, who farms some of his acreage. Hendrix said two troubling years stand out for being the worst out of 67 crops. One was 1974 when corn blight affected harvests. The other was last year. 

Federation Area 9 Organization Director Cameron Smith said Hendrix sets the standard for persevering when the going gets tough. 

“Russell amazes me every time I’m with him because of his grit and determination to work hard,” Smith said. “He always gets back up after getting knocked down and stays sharp as a tack to provide top-notch leadership for Washington County.” 

As Hendrix tinkers around his shop, he reflects on the obstacles and opportunities he’s faced over 91 years. He raised breeder flocks until Hurricane Frederic destroyed his chicken houses.  He’s served on the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation Committee for 45 years and helped in numerous other initiatives. Most importantly, he raised a family alongside his late wife, Anne. 

Appreciation for his bountiful blessings will fuel Hendrix again tomorrow. As the sun rises, he’ll slip on his boots, pull down the time-worn cap and go to work because “the good Lord has been looking out for me.”