By Debra Davis

Steve Dunn, a Conecuh County row crop and cattle farmer, was re-elected secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Farmers Federation at the organization’s 96th annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 4.

Elections were held during the Federation’s business session where 463 farmer delegates from all 67 counties chose officers and directors for the state’s largest farm organization. Officers serve two-year terms.

Dunn, Conecuh County Farmers Federation president and former state Young Farmers chairman, was re-elected to his 10th term.

Central Area Vice President Dean Wysner of Randolph County and Southwest Area Vice President Jake Harper of Wilcox County also were re-elected.

Wysner is a cattle and hay producer. The Central Area includes Autauga, Bibb, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Lamar, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties. He was first elected vice president in December 1999.

Harper, who is Wilcox County Farmers Federation president, is a cattle and timber farmer. The Southwest Area includes Baldwin, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties. Harper, who served as a district director from 1988-1996, was first elected Southwest Area vice president in December 2003.

Elections also were held for four district board positions, which have three-year terms.

Donald Sewell of Etowah County was elected District 3 director, which includes Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah and Jackson counties. Sewell is a row crop and cattle farmer.

Shelby County’s Phillip Hunter, a nursery owner, was elected District 6 director. The district includes Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties.

Greenhouse operator Bill Cook of Montgomery County was elected as District 9 representative, which covers Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Lowndes, Montgomery and Wilcox counties.

Dale County’s Chris Carroll was elected to the District 12 board seat. He represents Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties and raises row crops, cattle and poultry.

Elected to one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board were Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Debbie Roberts of Fayette County and State Young Farmers Committee Chairman Ben Maples of Limestone County.