Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

FROM STAFF REPORTS

AUBURN – Eighty-three college students from 61 Alabama counties received scholarships from the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) on Sept. 29 in Auburn.

The annual scholarship banquet at Lazenby Farms honored recipients from Auburn University (AU). The partnership between the AFAF and county Farmers Federations awarded over $150,000 to undergraduates pursuing degrees in agriculture, forestry and related fields.

One of those students included Dallas County native and Auburn University student Delaney McHugh, who received a $2,000 scholarship from the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation and the Dallas County Farmers Federation.

McHugh was recognized during the reception. McHugh is a freshman studying agricultural science at Auburn University.

Chris Carroll chairs the AFAF Scholarship Committee. Also, the Federation Southeast Area vice president, Carroll expressed his appreciation for the recipient.

“This organization puts effort into serving the future of agriculture,” Carroll said. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to the recipients for pursuing a degree in agriculture. Agriculture is facing some tough times, but through tough times, innovation and efficiency are born. Food security is national security. A nation that cannot feed itself cannot defend itself. With that, I truly thank each student for what they do.”

During the scholarship banquet, four special scholarships honored past and present leaders who left a legacy on Alabama agriculture.

Limestone County’s Jessa Usery received the inaugural Jerry and Dianne Newby Scholarship. This scholarship was established to honor Limestone County farmer and former Federation President Jerry Newby and his wife, Dianne. Usery is a sophomore studying agricultural communications.

The Mike Henry Memorial Scholarship was presented to Montgomery County’s Ashbee Norman, a freshman studying pre-vet and animal biosciences. Cullman County’s Harper Lafon, a junior majoring in pre-vet and animal biosciences received the R.W. Donaldson Memorial Scholarship. Lee County’s Nate Payne was awarded the Jimmy Witt Memorial Scholarship. Payne is a junior studying horticulture.

Additionally, Lawrence County’s Karen Hood, mother of scholarship recipient Taylor Hood, addressed the crowd on behalf of all parents.

2026-2027 scholarship applications open Nov. 1 at AlfaFarmers.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2026.