Local student honored in statewide Farm-City contest
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Shelemiah Kelly of Central High School in Coosa County was honored for earning second place in the Alabama Farm-City essay contest for students in tenth through twelfth grade during the Alabama Farm-City Awards Luncheon in Auburn April 9. Kelly and her teacher received $200 each from Alabama Ag in the Classroom (AITC) for the essay, which was written around the theme “Grow Alabama.” From left are Alabama Farm-City Committee Chair Jeff Helms, Kelly and Alabama AITC Steering Committee Chair Kim Earwood.
Special to the News
By Maggie Gaddy
Service and community involvement took center stage as farmers, leaders and students came together for the Farm-City Banquet April 9 in Auburn, recognizing achievements and embracing this year’s theme, “Grow Alabama.”
The theme was a callback to “Agriculture and Forestry Grow Alabama: An Economic Contribution Study” released last year by Alabama Agribusiness Council, Auburn University and Alabama Extension.
Alabama Farm-City Committee Chair Jeff Helms said the committee hoped “Grow Alabama” would help students and volunteers understand the importance of agriculture while learning what kinds of farmers and forest landowners are in their local areas.
“We were amazed at the talent this year,” said Helms, the Alabama Farmers Federation communications director. “From brightly detailed posters and carefully crafted essays to top-notch Farm-City tours and banquets, 2025 was a big year for county participation. The theme was wonderfully incorporated in so many unique ways. Grow Alabama is a great reminder of the role farmers play in the state and national economy.”
Central Coosa senior Shelemiah Kelly won second place in the state in the Farm-City essay contest.
Earlier in the school year, the local Coosa County Farmers Federation’s Women’s Committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) sponsored a local essay contest for this year’s Farm-City celebration.
Students studied and discussed the importance of the role of farmers and then submitted a 500-word essay on the “Grow Alabama” topic in which Kelly won first place locally.
Kelly’s essay then progressed to the state level. Kelly recently attended the ALFA Farm-City banquet in which she was recognized for winning second place in the state for her essay. She was awarded a trophy, as well as $200 for her winning essay.
Kelly’s essay was about how “Grow Alabama” is more than just money or businesses; it is about improving our communities, education and opportunities as a whole. Her belief is that real growth starts at the local level, where people support each other such as small businesses and schools.
She also included how important it is to protect Alabama’s environment and to learn from our history to treat everyone equally. She also wrote about how technology can help connect people and create new opportunities across the state.
Her overall essay theme was that “growing” Alabama takes teamwork, responsibility and pride from each and every one who lives here.
Coosa County is so proud of Kelly for achieving this accomplishment among all the entries across the state.
Special thank you to Central Coosa Science Coach Shelley Wood for serving as a liaison between the Farmers Federation and our teachers who inspire our students.
Those recognized in the statewide Farm-City contest are noted below.
Top-Performing Students
Eighteen kindergarten through twelfth-grade students were honored for their displays of ways agriculture grows Alabama in poster, essay and video formats.
Winners and runners-up in poster and essay contests received cash prizes from Alabama Ag in the Classroom, while Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC) sponsored the video contest. Schools of first- and second-place scorers received matching cash prizes.
Winning works will be featured in the 2027 Alabama Farm-City Calendar.
Poster Contest, Kindergarten-Third Grade
- First and $200: Maxston Blankenship, Ariton School, Dale County
- Second and $100: Adah Morris, The Lakeside School, Barbour County
- Third and $75: Blakely Johnson, Woodland Elementary School, Randolph County
- Fourth and $60: Ian Romero, Sacred Heart School, Cullman County
- Fifth and $40: Laelah Cottingham, Ashville Elementary School, St. Clair County
- Sixth and $25: Avery Langley, Chambers Academy, Chambers County
Poster Contest, Fourth-Sixth Grade
- First and $200: Frasier Johnson, Pathways Academy, Etowah County
- Second and $100: Elyse Williams, homeschool, Marshall County
- Third and $75: Eliana Countryman, Ashville Elementary School, St. Clair County
- Fourth and $60: Eli Humphries, Red Bay Elementary School, Franklin County
- Fifth and $40: Jazmine Perry, West Point Intermediate, Cullman County
- Sixth and $25: Kase Riley, Bagley Elementary School, Jefferson County
Essay Contest, Seventh-Ninth Grade
- First and $300: Timber Cunningham, Vernon Intermediate, Lamar County
- Second and $200: Kathryn Moore, G.W. Long High School, Dale County
Essay Contest, 10th-12th Grade
- First and $300: Emma Rambo, Phil Campbell High School, Franklin County
- Second and $200: Shelemiah Kelly, Central High School, Coosa County
Video Contest, Ninth-12th Grade
- First and $300: Emily McDaniel, Corner High School, Jefferson County
- Second and $200: Ella Hicks, G.W. Long High School, Dale County
Top-Performing Counties
In addition to selecting student winners, judges pored over exceptional entries from county Farm-City committees.
Division winners scored $300 from the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation, while runners-up received $200. Each category win netted committees $100.
Division I
- Lee County: Best Farm-City Committee, Best Farm-City Tour
- Cullman County: Runner-Up Best Farm City Committee
- St. Clair County: Scrapbook Award
- DeKalb County: Innovative Idea Award, Best Special Activities
- Jefferson County: Best Farm-City Dinner
- Marshall County: Best Media Coverage/Proclamation
- Houston County: Best Civic Club Programs
- Montgomery County: Target Award
Division II
- Geneva County: Best Farm-City Committee, Best Farm-City Dinner
- Dale County: Runner-Up Best Farm City Committee, Scrapbook Award, Target Award
- Cherokee County: Best Farm-City Tour
- Henry County: Innovative Idea Award
- Clay County: Best Media Coverage/Proclamation
- Franklin County: Best Civic Club Activities
- Fayette County: Best Special Activities
Additionally, Debbie Dunn and Sharon Turner of Geneva County were honored as the Volunteers of the Year, while Zandi Foss of Dale County received the Farm-City Service Award.
Farm of Distinction
During the program, CK Cattle of Lowndes County was named the 2026 Farm of Distinction for its commitment to stewardship, support of young farmers and community impact.
Chuck and Katie Madaris manage the three-generation cattle operation in Hope Hull alongside family. CK Cattle produces Angus, Chiangus and SimAngus seedstock cattle and commercial cattle.
As Farm of Distinction winners, the Madaris family will receive an engraved farm sign from Alfa Insurance and the Federation; a zero-turn Grasshopper mower from Alfa Farmers Member Perks; a John Deere Gator from John Deere, SunSouth and TriGreen; $1,000 from First South Farm Credit; and a $1,000 gift card from AFC.
Additionally, Chuck will represent Alabama during the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest this fall.
