Women Plow The Way For Organization Growth

By Debra Davis

Policy, politics, promotion and education. Those are the building blocks of the Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Division.

As the Federation celebrates its centennial, it’s also a time to reflect on the role females played in parlaying the organization into a political powerhouse with grassroots members as its core strength.

In 1924, Mrs. John S. Morris of Alpine in Talladega County became the first woman to hold statewide office in what was then known as Alabama Farm Bureau. Two years later, she was elected the first president of the State Women’s Council, a forerunner to the State Women’s Committee.

The group’s name was changed in 2010 and became the Women’s Leadership Division. The new name reflects the women’s contributions and is more closely aligned to its American Farm Bureau counterparts.

The headline in the Alabama Farm Bureau News on Sept. 6, 1965, read: “On Their Way! Farm Bureau Women Organized To Carry On Important Duties.” Formal organization of the Women’s Committee was completed during the group’s first meeting at the state headquarters Aug. 26-27 that year. That was in accordance with recommendations made by the 1963-64 Study Committee and approved by the Special Delegates’ Session in February 1965.

The late J.D. Hays, state president at the time, was quoted in the article saying, “Farm Bureau from this day is going to be a better organization.”

His prediction was spot-on.

Women’s Leadership Committees across the state continue to organize county events to educate a growing urban population about the importance of Alabama agriculture. County leaders also help with statewide projects like Alabama Ag In The Classroom and Farm-City. County committees frequently organize meetings where local politicians communicate with members about pending legislation.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System played a significant role in the early years of the Women’s Division. Extension workers helped educate homemakers about gardening, food safety and preservation, and sewing.

Today, many women are decision-makers on their family farms. It’s not uncommon to see women driving a tractor, combining grain, running a multi-million-dollar poultry farm or working cattle.

While their roles have evolved, their mission has remained the same — making certain Alabama agriculture has a seat at the table when decisions are made about its future.