After 37 years of service to the Alabama Farmers Federation, Millie Hawes is retiring July 31. While she may be best known for her work with Federation policy development and state and national legislative issues, her career spanned numerous departments.Hawes began work for the Federation in 1974 in word processing and later transferred to the Alfa Service Co., where she worked for the general manager. She also worked in the Federation’s former Grain Division and Rural Health Division before taking a short break in 1979 to be home with her children.After returning to work in early 1980, again with the Federation’s word processing department, she transferred to the Grain Division. Later, she became the administrative assistant to the organization’s National Affairs Department and her duties expanded to include administrative tasks for the Public Affairs Department. Those departments later merged with the Commodity Department to become the Governmental and Agricultural Programs Department.Working for the Federation offered opportunities she otherwise would have never had, Hawes said.“I’ve met governors, senators, congressmen, legislators, actors, presidential candidates and countless others during my time here,” she said. “But my favorite people of all are our members. I am most thankful for all the people we work for – the farmers. They are definitely some of the finest people I have ever met. Alfa Farmers is definitely a family organization, and the employees here are a wonderful family away from home. For all of this, I have been truly blessed. “Jimmy Carlisle, director of Governmental and Agricultural Programs, said Hawes is revered for her knowledge of Federation policy and political history.“Millie has been an integral part of our organization for a long time,” Carlisle said. “Her expertise and wisdom shared with employees and members alike will be sorely missed. We wish her the very best in her retirement.”Hawes said she has no specific plans after retirement.“I want to spend more fun time with my family – my husband of 42 years (Lloyd); my daughters, Jennifer (Mike) and Kathryn (Don); and my three granddaughters, Hannah (20), Haiden (16), and Anniston (14),” Hawes said. “I guess I will wake up every day and do just what I feel like doing. I’ve never had that luxury. I have lots of things to do and places to see.”