Jimmy Parnell of Chilton County, a fifth-generation farmer who raises timber and beef cattle, was elected president of the Alabama Farmers Federation during the organization's 91st annual meeting in Montgomery.



Joining Parnell as new leaders of the state's largest farm organization will be Southeast Area Vice-President George Jeffcoat of Houston County and North Area Vice-President Rex Vaughan of Madison County.

All three were elected during the Federation’s business session, where 500 voting delegates from Alabama’s 67 counties cast their votes.



Parnell, 48, served on the Federation’s State Board of Directors from 1999-2008, was chairman of the Federation’s State Young Farmers Committee in 1997 and has served as president of the Chilton County Farmers Federation since 2006.



Vaughn, 52, is a row crop and beef cattle farmer.

The North Area covers Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties.



Jeffcoat, 63, is a row crop and cattle farmer.

The Southeast Area includes Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Macon, Pike, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.



Parnell said it’s an honor to represent Alabama farm families as the Federation works to strengthen agriculture’s position as the state’s largest industry.



“I’m humbled by the support I received from farmers across Alabama,” Parnell said following his election. “I look forward to representing them as we work with elected officials, government agencies and other farm organizations to protect the families who grow our food and fiber.

“Alabama is blessed with a rich agricultural history and abundant natural resources that allow us to grow everything from cotton and cattle to poultry and peanuts.

“But its greatest strength is our people. For 91 years, the Alabama Farmers Federation has worked to improve the way of life for all Alabamians. I’m excited about the opportunity to build on the foundation established by farmers who started this organization.”



Jeffcoat, who is president of the Houston County Farmers Federation, has a long history of service to the Farmers Federation. He was a Federation state board member from 2002- 2005 and is a former chairman of the National Peanut Board.



Vaughn, who is president of the Madison County Farmers Federation, also has a history of service to the Farmers Federation. He is a former Federation state board member, served as chairman of the State Young Farmers Committee and served on numerous state and local committees for the organization.



Several other elections were held during the Federation's business session.

Brian Glenn of Lawrence County was elected to the District 1 board of directors seat, which includes Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Walker counties.



Don Allison of Winston County was elected to the District 4 seat, a rotating position in that district. District 4 includes Blount, Cullman, Marshall and Winston counties.



Elmore County row crop farmer Richard Edgar retained the District 7 seat representing Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa counties.



Coffee County peanut producer Carl Sanders of Brundidge was re-elected to the District 10 board seat. That district includes Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw and Pike counties.



Elected to one-year, ex-officio terms on the state board were Women's Leadership Committee Chairman Faye Dial of Clay County and State Young Farmers Chairman Jon Hegeman of Calhoun County.



The Alabama Farmers Federation, with 385,000 members, is Alabama's largest farm organization and a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation.