Nearly 700 farmers representing every major commodity grown in Alabama elected state committee members during the Alabama Farmers Federation three-day Commodity Organizational Meeting February 7-9 at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery. The elected state committee members help chart the course for the state’s largest farm organization.

Pike County farmers, Joe Murphy, Billy Hixon and Steve Stroud were elected to state committees.

Murphy was elected first vice chairman of the Alabama Farmers Federation State Poultry Committee. Hixon was elected to the Alabama Farmers Federation State Beef Committee and Stroud was elected first vice chairman of the Alabama Farmers Federation State Hay & Forage Committee.

Brian Hardin, the Federation’s Governmental and Agricultural Programs director, said the farmers that are elected to state committees determine goals for the respective commodities, help set the organization’s policy and elect state committee members.

“The committee structure is a great way for our farmers to choose what organization they will work on,” Hardin said. “In addition to elections for the 17 commodities our organization represents, farmers can learn about research and discuss governmental regulations and production practices.”