The Alabama Farmers Federation welcomed summer intern Lakin Whatley to its Montgomery office May 17.

Whatley, a Montgomery County native, will assist the Communications Department with stories and photos for Neighbors magazine, the Federation website and its social media channels. She also will work with the Alabama Ag In The Classroom Summer Institute and the Federation’s Farm and Land Expo.

“I am honored to intern at the Federation this summer,” Whatley said. “I have a passion for agriculture and look forward to spending my summer with some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry at the state’s largest farm organization.”

Whatley is a senior at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, Georgia, where she is studying Agricultural Communication. She is involved in ABAC’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and the Horticulture Club. She also serves as an admissions recruiter for the college where she specializes in social media and new student outreach.

“We are excited to have Lakin on our communications team this summer,” said Publications Director Debra Davis. “To work here during the Federation’s centennial celebration is an especially exciting time. Lakin will not only see how we use the latest technology to help tell farmers’ stories, but she’ll have a unique opportunity to learn more about the organization’s prestigious past.”

Whatley is no stranger to the Federation. She spent her childhood and early adulthood exhibiting cattle across the Southeast and was involved with youth agricultural events for many years. Her experiences included 10 years as an Alabama Junior Beef Expo competitor.

Whatley is a first-generation cattle farmer from Grady. She owns and operates a small cow-calf production operation where she focuses on producing quality show cattle for Alabama youth.

“Communications and agriculture go hand in hand,” Whatley said. “The opportunities to learn more about each of those will be extensive during my internship. I am proud to be an Alfa intern and look forward to connecting with farmers and Federation families across the state.”

Whatley, 21, is the daughter of Jeff and Stacey Whatley of Grady.