By Maggie Edwards 

Eighty Auburn University (AU) students reaped the benefits of the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) during the Alabama Farmers Federation annual scholarship reception Sept. 25 at Lazenby Farms in Auburn. 

On behalf of her peers, AU junior Faith Lane thanked the Federation for its investment in the future of the country. 

“For decades, the Federation has provided scholarships to individuals preparing for careers in agriculture and forestry,” said Lane, who was raised on a multigenerational farm in Lowndes County. “These scholarships are not just money received to earn a degree. These scholarships are the gateway for the next generation of leaders.” 

As the cost of tuition continues to increase, scholarships help fill in the gaps, Lane said. 

“I always dreamed of attending AU and majoring in agriculture so that, one day, I could give back to my community,” said Lane, who is studying agricultural business & economics. “The Federation has helped make my dream a reality.” 

During the program, over $150,000 was awarded through a special partnership between AFAF and county Farmers Federations. The program provides $1,750 scholarships to land-grant university students.

“Any time your child receives money for school, it is a blessing,” said Blount County’s Amy Burgess, whose daughter Abby was honored during the event. “My daughter has worked hard to master her 4-H, FFA and Jr. Cattlemen’s Association projects. This award comes full circle for her and the goals she set for herself.” 

Burgess expressed her gratitude to the Federation and AFAF for pouring into generations of “movers and shakers” in the agricultural industry. 

The current generation includes students who were awarded special scholarships honoring key leaders in agriculture. Poultry science sophomore William Bradberry of Cullman County received the Donaldson Memorial Scholarship; horticulture graduate student Savannah Busby of Jefferson County received the Jimmy Witt Memorial Scholarship; and the Mike Henry Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Blount County’s Corley Williams, a junior studying agricultural communications. Additionally, Will Cowan of Lee County received the Alabama Catfish Producers Scholarship. He is a senior studying fisheries, aquaculture & aquatic sciences. 

Federation President Jimmy Parnell encouraged recipients to focus on the importance of hard work, critical thinking and strong networks. 

“I want to challenge each of you to stretch — think outside the box and try new things,” said Parnell, an alumnus of the AU College of Agriculture. “You are the next generation of agriculture, and you have tremendous opportunities in front of you.”

Scholarships from the Federation have been awarded to AU students since 1983. AFAF was founded in 2009 as a platform to support agricultural education and is funded, in part, through Ag Tag sales. 

2024-2025 scholarship applications open at AlfaFarmers.org/scholarships Nov. 1. They close Feb. 1. 

Scholarship Recipients: