The Alabama Farmers Federation Organization Department welcomed two area directors this summer — 10-year Federation veteran Mac Higginbotham and new hire Steven Blackmon.

Higginbotham serves Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties. He was formerly the Governmental & Agricultural Programs Department Bee & Honey; Horticulture; and Greenhouse, Nursery & Sod divisions director. He was also Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) executive director.

“I look forward to building more relationships, working with the counties in Area 6 and helping their programs develop and grow,” said the 40-year-old.

Higginbotham will assist his former divisions through the Federation’s Commodity Producers Conference in August or until his replacement is named. 

The Auburn University (AU) agronomy and soils graduate lives on a cattle and timber operation in Orrville with his wife, Janie, and three children.

Across the state, Blackmon will serve members in Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, St. Clair, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties.

“I love the fact that I get to work with farmers every day,” said Blackmon, 28. “Farmers are the backbone of America.”

The Area 4 director graduated from AU in agricultural business and economics in 2014. Before joining the Federation, Blackmon was assistant manager at Taleecon Farmers Cooperative in Notasulga and Wetumpka.

He and wife Whitney live in Auburn.