Alabama Farmers Federation Poultry and Catfish Director Jimmy Carlisle was promoted to department director for Commodity Producer Services effective Feb. 21. Carlisle filled the office vacated by Jim Cravey, who retired Feb. 18 after more than 34 years with the Federation.”While we will miss Jim’s enthusiasm and leadership, our members can have confidence that the Commodity Department is in good hands,” said Federation Executive Director Mike Kilgore. “During his 26 years with the Federation, Jimmy Carlisle has earned the admiration and respect of catfish and poultry producers by being a tireless advocate for farmers. He also served as director of our International Trade Division and has a good knowledge of all commodity areas. We know Jimmy will bring to his new duties the same dedication and leadership that have been his trademarks as a commodity division director.”Carlisle, 56, is a native of Montgomery and grew up on a dairy farm. After graduating from Troy State University, he worked for Sanderson Farms Inc., an integrated poultry company based in Laurel, Miss., and in a family-owned real estate business in Montgomery.Carlisle joined the Federation staff in 1978. During the next two decades, he worked with farmers and allied organizations to nurture the growth of Alabama’s catfish industry into a $300-million-a-year business. He also provided leadership for the Federation’s Poultry Division and represented the state’s largest farm organization on various trade committees.”It has been an honor and pleasure to work with our state’s poultry and catfish producers, and I look forward to representing all Alabama farmers as director of the Commodity Department,” Carlisle said. “Jim Cravey is a good friend, and I value the leadership he’s provided our organization. My goal is to build on the foundation he established as we work to cultivate relationships among farmers, researchers, government officials and other organizations.”Carlisle will continue to oversee the catfish and poultry programs until a new division director can be hired. Meanwhile, he said the commodity staff is working to expand member participation on county and state commodity committees.In addition to his duties with the Federation, Carlisle serves on the Auburn University President’s Commission on Agriculture and is the Alabama delegate to the national Council for Agriculture Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET). He is the Alabama caucus chairman for the Catfish Farmers of America and serves on the board of directors of the Alabama Clean Water Partnership. Carlisle was a past member of the governor’s Alabama Water Resource Study Commission and is a member of Auburn University’s Ag 21 (Dean’s) Club. He is vice president of the National Association of State Aquaculture Coordinators and has served as a member in numerous state and national agriculture and trade organizations.Carlisle and his wife Marsha have three grown children and live in Montgomery. They are members of Eastern Hills Baptist Church.