By Marlee Jackson

Mark Byrd rarely meets a stranger.

“I love talking to people,” said Byrd, who farms in Morgan County. “I love meeting people; I love sharing my story; and I love to hear other people’s stories.”

That warm disposition has helped Byrd cultivate a network of farmer-friends nearly as deep as the gospel singer’s low, bass voice.

Those connections will grow during his tenure as Alabama Farmers Federation North Area vice president. The poultry, cattle and row crop farmer was elected in December by delegates from Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties.

Byrd and his wife, Sandy, have farmed full time since 1993 when they purchased poultry houses in Danville. Byrd was pivoting from a career driving trucks for Walmart, a job that honed skills maneuvering machinery but left him yearning for freedom and family time. 

“I wanted to be there for our sons and be a dad and husband,” he said. “I wanted to enjoy the life I felt called to. It’s been a blessing to us over these years. I’ve had opportunities I never would have had if we had not made that move.”

Today, he and Sandy farm with their sons, Perry and Rodney. They’ve expanded into seven chicken houses, hay, cattle, corn, soybeans and wheat. Their family has grown, too. Rodney and his wife, Scarlett, have a 1-year-old daughter, Ava Sue. 

Byrd credits his blessings to the Lord, giving special thanks for the Federation. He joined Young Farmers early on after encouragement from Morgan County Farmers Federation (MCFF) then-President Hal Lee. Those fledgling roots of leadership soon grew deep. Byrd served on the State Poultry Committee from 2009-2018, was elected MCFF president in 2012 and served on the state board as District 2 director from 2020-2023. His operation was named Alabama’s Farm of Distinction in 2022.

Grassroots advocacy is critical for farm country, Byrd said. He and Sandy share their farm struggles and successes when meeting with local legislators, elected officials and national decision-makers.

“Farming is mental,” he said. “A lot of people look at farming as a 12-hour per day, hard-labor job. That’s the easy stuff. You have to be prepared to handle the bad years.”

He continued, “That falls right into place with Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation. It’s so important we go to Washington, D.C., and Montgomery and tell our stories and what our needs are. Hopefully, that won’t fall on deaf ears. We must stay in business on the farm.”

As vice president, Byrd will crisscross the North Area visiting county board members. The hum of road noise is familiar for Byrd, whose truck sports an Ag Tag that reads SNGFMR.

A singing farmer, Byrd’s rich bass voice rounds out Living Faith Quartet, a Cullman-based group that travels throughout the Southeast harmonizing to hymns and worship songs.

It’s ministry — and another avenue to connect with others.

“We get to meet a lot of people, and you realize they’re all the same,” Byrd said. “Everybody’s got hurts, but everyone’s got strong faith, too. We try to be that encourager — reminding people God can handle anything you’re going through.”