Some students grow up dreaming of becoming astronauts. Others discover a new favorite career every day. For Sgt. Jeremy Burkett, there was never any question about what he would do with his life.

“There were two things I wanted to do growing up. One was to be in the military, and the other was to be an Alabama State Trooper,” he says. “Today, I’ve been in the National Guard for almost 20 years and a trooper for 15 years.”

Burkett is part of what’s become a tradition for Pike County High School. He’s one of six graduates who have become state troopers and gone on to reach high levels in law enforcement. This spring, another Pike County graduate is set to join the fold.

“I think it’s very unusual for a school to have six graduates that hold very senior-level positions in the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency,” says Pike County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell. “We’re certainly proud of the men they’ve grown up to be and the way they’ve represented the state of Alabama.”

Bazzell credits the successful ROTC program at Pike County High School, as well as participation in team sports, with instilling discipline and a sense of service in each of those graduates.

“A number of these were cadets in our ROTC programs, and many were student-athletes,” he says. “They were always good citizens when they were in school. So it doesn’t surprise me that they chose that career path, and it doesn’t surprise me that they’ve all been successful.”

A Helping Hand

For Burkett, the appeal of the troopers was clear from the beginning. He recalls that even as a child he would see them out in the community helping people and wanted to be a part of that.

“There are times I can remember being in a small town and broken down on the side of the road with my mother and twin brother. They stopped, helped us out and gave us a ride,” he says. “I’m not trying to be cheesy, but when you’re a little kid you think, ‘Hey, that’s something I want to do.’”

That desire to be a positive force in his community was only encouraged during his time at Pike County High School, where he felt like everyone was expected to find a way to serve those around them.

“Brundidge was one of those places where service was just built into it,” Burkett says. “I think a lot of us who went there were very engaged in our time at the school. And I think that was particularly true for people who played ball.”

As a member of the class of 2003, Burkett played football and baseball for the Bulldogs. The discipline and physical conditioning he picked up during that time, he believes, helped guide him toward his careers in the military and law enforcement.

“Once you get used to that lifestyle you really want to continue it,” he says. “There was a standard, just as I have now. If you said you were going to do something there was an expectation that you were going to follow through with it.”

Head of the Class

Today, following that standard has led Burkett to his role as recruiting/public affairs coordinator for ALEA’s Office of the Secretary. It’s something he doesn’t think he could’ve achieved without first getting his college degree in criminology from Troy University, an accomplishment he shares with fellow Pike County graduates Col. Jimmy Helms and Senior Special Agent Jackie Hornsby.

“You don’t ever know what you don’t know until it’s too late. And getting into law enforcement at 21 made me realize there were a lot of things I needed to know,” Burkett says. “I felt like getting a college degree would make me more well-rounded, and it did.”

While he is especially proud of his time as a highway patrol trooper and with the state SWAT team, Burkett says the work he does now is the highlight of his career. It gives him the opportunity to craft the agency’s public message and shed more light on the positive role the troopers play in their communities.

“One thing I realized in my time in law enforcement is that our officers do a lot of really good work that doesn’t get out there,” he says. “They try to be humble and want to do the right thing just because that’s our job and what we took an oath to do. But I think it’s imperative that we begin to share more information about the really good job these officers do.”

Bazzell hopes current and future students at Pike County High School will pick up on some of that good work, as well as continue to see these alumni as role models for everything they can achieve.

“They serve as outstanding examples for our students that if you make good decisions, you can choose whatever career path you want,” he says. “Whether it’s in medicine, law enforcement or teaching, if you attend our schools and apply yourself you can succeed at the highest level.”

Senior Special Agent Jackie Hornsby

Hornsby began his career in law enforcement in 1997 as a highway patrol trooper, field training officer and a member of the Special Operations Unit for the Dothan Highway Patrol. In 2014 he became the detail leader for the Alabama Attorney General’s Protection Detail, and he currently serves as Attorney General Steve Marshall’s protection detail leader.

Col. Jimmy Helms

A 30-year veteran of law enforcement, Helms joined the Montgomery Police Department in 1990. He joined the state troopers in 1997, where he served with the Highway Patrol Division and as a staff instructor and unit commander of the Capitol Police. Last year, he was appointed director of the ALEA Department of Safety.

CPL. Phillip Faulkner

Faulkner joined ALEA in 2003 as a state trooper. He recently completed 18 years of service in positions that include training center instructor and traffic homicide investigator. He is also a certified crash reconstructionist. He is currently assigned to the Troy Highway Patrol Post, where he serves as field supervisor for troopers in Pike and Crenshaw counties.

Lt. Drew Brooks

Brooks started his law enforcement career with the Montgomery Police Department and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office before joining the state troopers in 2007. While there, he served as leader of Gov. Kay Ivey’s protection detail in her time as lieutenant governor. He is currently troop commander responsible for the Dothan and Troy Highway Patrol posts.

Sgt. Jeremy J. Burkett

Burkett joined ALEA as a state trooper in 2006. He recently completed 15 years of service, during which he has served as an operator on the state tactical team, a member of the Special Operations Unit and a field training officer. He is currently assigned to the Office of the Secretary, where he coordinates and manages statewide recruiting and public affairs efforts.

Senior Trooper James (Ed) Williams

Williams served as a correctional officer for nine years before joining ALEA in 2007. He recently completed 14 years of service with the agency, and he’s currently assigned as a field training officer with the Dothan Highway Patrol Post. He is also a member of the ALEA Special Operations Platoon, which responds to natural disasters and civil unrest.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that space heaters cause more than 1,700 house fires every year. When used incorrectly, space heaters can be a fire hazard and also result in energy bills that send a chill down your spine. If you are planning to use a space heater to warm up your home this winter, consider the following safety and efficiency tips:

• Purchase a heater that has the seal of a qualified testing laboratory and comes with safety features such as auto shut-off, which turns off the heater if it tips over.
• Never use an extension cord. Space heaters should be plugged in directly to a wall outlet, as most extension cords cannot handle the high currents a space heater draws and could cause a fire. Do not leave a space heater unattended. Always turn off the space heater when you leave the room or go to bed, and do not put a space heater in a child's room.
• Vintage is not a good thing when it comes to space heaters. Think twice before plugging in an older heater and consider upgrading to a newer model with better safety features.
• Never set up a space heater on a table. They are designed to be placed on the floor, on a hard, level and nonflammable surface. Keep the space heater at least 3 feet away from curtains, drapes, blankets and anything else that could catch fire.

Are Space Heaters Energy Efficient?

When shopping for a space heater, you may notice several manufacturers advertising their model as being 100% energy efficient. While that is technically true — a space heater converts 100% of the electricity it uses into heat — that does not necessarily mean that using one will lower your winter energy bills. It may, in fact, cost you more money.

Space heaters still draw electricity to produce heat. If you are relying on space heaters as your main source of heat for the winter months, your winter energy bills are probably much higher than they would be if you invested in making your home more energy efficient. Installing an HVAC system or a heat pump, along with insulation and weatherstripping, will give you better results, helping you stay warm and reducing your energy bills in the long run. The bottom line is space heaters work best as a temporary heat source. Use them wisely to avoid fire risks and sky-high energy bills. Stay warm!

Wes Allen has always taken pride in the rural communities that defined him. But over the last year, the Troy resident’s campaign for secretary of state has taken him across Alabama to small towns, large cities and everywhere in between. No matter the size size of the community, he noticed residents share a sense of civic pride.

“That’s one thing I really appreciated and enjoyed about the campaign trail,” says Allen. “No matter where I went across the state it was good to see how much people care about their communities.”

It’s no surprise that Alabamians’ local pride resonates with Allen. After all, it’s his own upbringing in Cottondale and his service representing District 89 that he credits with instilling the values that have guided him throughout his career.

“A lot of life lessons come from growing up on a dirt road,” he says. “Growing up on the family farm, being around cows and hanging out with my Grandad and Dad. Those two men imparted on me life lessons like what it means to get up early and go to work, to see a job through when you start it, the value of hard work, doing what you say you’re going to do and being a man of your word.”

Now that he has been elected Alabama’s secretary of state, Allen hopes to bring those same rural values to the state capitol building.

Change of Plans

The son of a lawmaker — his father, Gerald Allen, served in both the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives — Allen didn’t necessarily plan to follow in his dad’s footsteps. As a student at the University of Alabama’s New College, he earned a degree in athletics administration with hope to work in college athletics.

He was also an athlete himself as part of the Crimson Tide football team under coaches Dabo Swinney and Gene Stallings. While more of a fixture on the scout team than an everydown player, the experience was valuable as he learned important lessons and forged lasting friendships.

“A lot of little boys don’t get to realize that dream. It was about getting up every day, stacking days on top of each other, getting there early and being the last to leave,” he says. “Football taught me a lot about life. It teaches you how to handle losses, how to handle disappointments, how to get up when you get knocked down and to keep on keeping on. That was a really special experience.”

After completing his degree, Allen received a graduate scholarship to Troy University where he studied sports management. The Troy community felt similar to his roots in Cottondale.

“The small town really appealed to me,” he says. “I enjoyed the people of Troy, made a lot of friends during grad school, and my wife and I started our married life together while we were in Troy. So it was just a great community for us to raise our kids in and we are so appreciative of how Pike County and our community has embraced us since we moved to Troy. It’s our home.”

Following graduation, Allen put his degree to work in Troy University’s athletics department. He and his wife, Cae, were happy, and it wasn’t until the office of Pike County probate judge became available that they began to consider a new direction into public office.

“My wife and I had prayed about it and really given it considerable thought before we decided to seek the appointment,” says Allen. “There were three years remaining on that term and fortunately God opened up a door there. We just took those values that I was raised with and worked extremely hard day in and day out there in the courthouse.”

Following the Path

Despite seeing his father serve in public office for years, Allen’s own experience in office was illuminating. The opportunity to help those who appeared in his court was invaluable and would shape his philosophy throughout his political career.

“It's all about taking care of people. It doesn’t matter what level of government you’re in, whether you’re elected or appointed, it’s really about taking care of the needs of the people and remembering why you’re there,” he says.

That sense of responsibility didn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knew Allen around Troy. After all, he had been a presence in the community for years — as a rec league coach for Little League Baseball, soccer and basketball. He was also a fixture in his church, where he continues to lead a men’s Sunday school class.

Allen was elected to his first full term as probate judge in 2012. As his time in the court started to wind down he set his eyes on a new office. As judge, he had been able to have a meaningful impact but was frustrated by some of the rules coming from unelected officials in Montgomery. So in 2018, he ran for and won a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives representing District 89. Four years later, another opportunity presented itself.

“I believe the good Lord has a path for each and every one of us if we’re attuned to His will,” Allen says. “We enjoyed that time as a probate judge and then there was an opportunity to run for the House, and we did that. Then when we saw another opportunity for secretary of state and we decided to seek that role.”

The Road Ahead

Like many recent secretary of state races, much of the focus in Allen’s campaign was on election security. Since winning, he has reiterated his intent to withdraw Alabama from the Electronic Registration Information Center, in which partnered states share registered voter and drivers license records to flag voters who have moved, died or are registered to vote in multiple states.

In his new role, Allen will also be responsible for maintaining governmental transparency and managing the registration of new businesses.

“We don’t plan to have any drastic changes when it comes to business services because we think it’s operating pretty good now,” he says. "We’re going to get in there and see where we can stretch a nickel into a dime and take care of taxpayer dollars. That’s one thing I learned being a local elected official in the courthouse, and we’ll have those same values in the state capitol.”

More than anything, Allen is thankful for the path his career has taken and eager to take on the responsibilities his fellow Alabamians have placed on his shoulders.

“It’s a very humbling experience to know that the people of Alabama have put their trust in you,” he says. “But we’re excited, and I think my track record and the way I’ve operated shows we’re not going to change. We’re going to get up every day and work as hard as we can for the people of Alabama.”

1 of the 7 Cooperative Principles is Concern for Community, and at South Alabama Electric improving the community where we live and serve is a top priority.

SAEC was recently recognized for its efforts as the 2022 Pike County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

This award, which has been presented to outstanding businesses over the last 20 years, recognizes a business that has a resounding presence in the community and generously gives back to the community where it operates.

“SAEC has been a generous member of the chamber and the community,” Pike County Chamber of Commerce President Dana Sanders says. “They have recently completed a new building with the community room, and they are gracious to allow a number of different entities to utilize the space for programs and services that impact our county.”

Chamber members vote to select the recipient each year. Other awards presented annually celebrate excellence in human services, excellence in customer service, a top emerging business and top minority business enterprise, among many others.

“We are deeply humbled to be awarded this great honor,” SAEC General Manager David Bailey says. “This is a direct reflection of the efforts by all SAEC employees. All of our employees, from linemen to member service representatives, are fully committed to serving our members and providing an essential service to our communities. I am extremely proud of the work they do and honored to work alongside them.”

Establishing relationships with partners in the community is essential to nurture a growing and thriving economy. “Any utility service is important, but SAEC plays a major role in economic development when new industries are being recruited. They are vital to bring to the table,” Sanders says.

SAEC has been part of multiple efforts to attract new businesses and industries to Pike County. The cooperative also works to ensure existing businesses have the infrastructure they need for success.

“At South Alabama Electric we work to foster growth and sustainability in the communities we serve so that our members can thrive now and in the future,” Bailey says.

Sanders says SAEC is always ready and willing to help support the community in any way possible.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and support SAEC has shown us. They are always very generous to sponsor chamber events like the annual banquet,” Sanders says. “They are always supportive of any event the chamber does to better our community.”

In early October, Hurricane Ian made landfall on the western coast of Florida and left almost 3 million people in the dark. The Category 4 storm obliterated homes and businesses, causing more than $60 billion in private insured losses. At least 119 people died in Florida, mostly due to drowning.

When a major storm like this hits, it causes extensive damage to the electric system that the affected cooperative’s crews can’t repair on their own. How do they quickly and safely restore power to that many homes and businesses? With help from their fellow cooperatives.

One of the Seven Cooperative Principles is Cooperation Among Cooperatives, and that principle is often on full display following a major storm. The post-Ian cleanup is no exception. SAEC lineman crews joined their counterparts from over 30 states across the country in responding to the destruction left in Hurricane Ian’s wake.

“As co-ops, we all try to help our sister systems who are in need when we can,” SAEC Manager of Engineering and Oper-ations Ronald Wade says. One of Wade’s duties is to help coordinate a crew to help with storm restoration.

A crew of eight SAEC linemen volunteered to go to Fort Meyers, Florida, and assist Lee County Electric Cooperative with restoration efforts. The crew stayed in the area for 10 days, offering expertise and equipment resources. The crew was originally scheduled to stay in the area for just 7 days but stayed another three days to help restore power to as many people as they could.

Often, when crews report to work after a storm has hit, many of them work 15 hours a day and stay in mobile sleep trailers.

“The conditions aren’t ideal, but we see it as paying back the gratitude that was shown to us in times of need,” Wade says.

This type of cooperation from sister cooperatives throughout the state was demonstrated when an unexpected storm producing high-speed winds rolled through the SAEC service area in April 2020, leaving 12,000 members without power. The winds caused extensive damage to the system, including downed lines with trees on top of them.

Within a couple of days, lineman crews from around the state were reporting to SAEC to help get members’ power turned back on.

That’s all part of the cooperative spirit.

“At some point, we are all going to need help from outside sources,” Wade says.

When Shanna Taylor began retrieving her Christmas decor from storage in 2017, she was devastated. Everything was ruined.

After years acquiring elements of the elaborate outdoor displays she loved putting in her yard, the humidity had damaged them.

Decorating for Christmas is Shanna’s favorite thing to do. She decorates her house, yard and hair salon for clients to enjoy. The lights and scenes in the Taylors’ yard — now known as Christmas in Ansley — have been a favorite tradition for many in the area.

Shanna was already upset about the decorations, and then she got a knock on her door from a little girl who lives down the road. The child wanted to know why there were no Christmas lights up that year.

“It just broke my heart,” Shanna says.

Seeing how much all of this upset Shanna, her husband, Aaron Taylor, made a decision right then and there. He had never really gotten excited about helping his wife put up the lights and displays, but suddenly everything changed.

“My grinch heart grew three sizes that year,” he says.

“He made up his mind that he would help me, and it became bigger than I ever thought it could,” Shanna says.

Lights All Aglow

This will be the Taylors’ third year inviting people to drive through their 9-acre property to view the Christmas in Ansley light displays, though Shanna has been decorating for as long as anyone can remember. The Taylors decorate their entire 9 acres, creating Christmas-themed patriotic displays, a farm scene, gingerbread men and snow people, and finally, the nativity scene.

Different characters visit each weekend. They include the Grinch and Santa Claus, who takes photos with visitors in his custom-built sleigh.

Christmas in Ansley is donation-based because the Taylors believe the true spirit of Christmas is giving back. A concession stand does offer treats for sale. It is anchored by Shanna’s parents. Aaron’s mother is also known for making sure it is stocked with cornflake candy.

The Taylors’ 13-year-old son, Colt, runs the donation area and hands out candy canes to all of the visitors.

Although the donations help keep things running, the family also sells advertising spots to local businesses.

Light displays are customized with special characters to represent each sponsor. For instance, Mater from the Pixar movie “Cars” might represent a body shop, or snowmen made from tires could represent a tire business.

“People come through and love to see the local business displays,” Aaron says.

The Taylors estimate that in 2021 around 7,000 vehicles came through their property to see the lights.

Always in the Christmas Spirit

Setting up the lights and displays begins mid-September. “I have no clue how many lights we actually use, but there are at least 1,500 feet of lights just along the fence,” Aaron says with a laugh.

They have around 300 blow molds, which are plastic figures with lights inside. The Taylors repurpose cheap or donated items, such as a Fisher Price playhouse that with paint turns into a gingerbread house or broken patio umbrellas they convert into Christmas trees.

The impressive light display grows each year, but the displays are truly a year-round labor of love because the family constantly works on the land, widening lanes, grinding stumps, taking care of undergrowth and performing other maintenance to make it possible to handle the crowds. Both Aaron and Shanna work full-time jobs — Shanna is a cosmetologist and Aaron is an engineering assistant for Alabama Department of Transportation.

The driving force that keeps the Taylors going year after year is seeing the joy on people’s faces.

Some of Shanna’s fondest memories are going to look at Christmas lights with her family as a child. One of the local places they loved to visit gained some popularity and eventually began charging $10 per person to get in.

“My dad had to turn to me and tell us we couldn’t go,” she says. ”I told him it was fine, and that one day I’d have my own place for people to come to.”

Now that Shanna’s prediction is a reality, she wants to make sure everyone who wants to has the chance to experience the magic of Christmas.

“My heart is for people to know what Christmas is about. Jesus is the reason,” Shanna says.

Bring the Family!

Christmas in Ansley will welcome visitors Thanksgiving night until December 27, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., but it will be closed on Mondays.

Check the Christmas in Ansley Facebook page for updates!

The annual meeting of the membership of South Alabama Electric Cooperative was Tuesday, October 25, at the SAEC Office Complex.

This year’s annual meeting featured a business session, and members could vote by mailing their ballot. Each member who voted received a $20 bill credit. This year, there were 2,482 votes cast, which met the requirements for a quorum.

“We appreciate all the members who voted in this year's election. Participating in the governance of the cooperative is one of the most important aspects of being a member of an electric cooperative,” SAEC General Manager David Bailey says. “These men have done a great job representing members of their districts, and we know they will continue to do that in their next term.”

Meet the New Board Members

SAEC had 2 board of trustee positions up for election in District 1 and District 2. Both sitting members were reelected. In District 1 Johnny Garrett defeated Steve Thrash, and in District 2 James R. Shaver defeated Jeffery Warrick.

Garrett and his wife, Patricia, live in the community of Pronto in Pike County. He is retired after 35 years as owner of the Piggly Wiggly locations in Brundidge and Troy. He is a member of Brundidge United Methodist Church, where he serves as a trustee and president of the church council. He is a member of the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association and serves as treasurer.

Shaver and his wife, LaRue, live in Goshen, where he is a farmer. Shaver is active in the Lions Club and is a director in the Pike County Farmers Federation. He is also a trustee with Little Oak Methodist Church. He is a member of the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association. Also, he has earned his Certified Cooperative Directors certificate and Board Leadership certification from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Pike County Extension Coordinator Abby Peters wants to teach her nieces about how food gets on the dinner table.

“I tell them, ‘You don’t just go in the grocery store and the meat appears,’” she says.

As a second-generation cattle farmer, it’s important to her to make sure her nieces, and the community, understand the hard work that goes into ranching and food production.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, also called ACES, has a goal of engaging and educating Alabamians through enrichment programs. The Extension system offers research-based programs on a variety of subjects ranging from forestry and wildlife to family and consumer sciences.

ACES acts as an outreach organization for Alabama A&M and Auburn universities, and there is an Extension office in each of Alabama’s 67 counties.

Coffee County Extension Coordinator Gavin Mauldin believes ACES’ research is what makes a difference in its programs.

“The great thing about the extension is we provide nonbiased research-based education,” he says. “People can Google anything and find a result, but we are a trusted and reliable source of information.”

Coffee County

Mauldin began his career with the Geneva County Extension Agency in 2014, and then he came back home to Coffee County as the extension coordinator in 2017. He’s originally from Elba, so it was especially rewarding to serve his home county.

Mauldin participated in 4-H in elementary school and has always loved being involved with agriculture. He dove into the field of retail agriculture after college and was managing a Tractor Supply store when he received the opportunity to work for ACES.

During the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, extension offices saw an increased interest from the public in gardening and food preservation.

“People were looking for something to do, and we were lucky to have the infrastructure to do Zoom calls and to be able to instruct people,” he says. Now, those programs are offered in person and remain popular.

Along with 4-H education and after-school clubs, ACES offers programs targeted at adults on topics like livestock production, trapping feral swine and controlling invasive species like cogongrass, an invasive plant known with a reputation as the worst weed on earth. As it spreads, cogongrass replaces the native species wildlife ordinarily feeds on. Animals cannot digest cogongrass because it has a high silica content.

“We’re trying to educate people on how to properly identify it and to control it without spreading it,” Mauldin says. “It spreads so easily. If you mow or bush hog it, the seed can spread and even get on equipment and distribute that way.”

Crenshaw County

Farming has always been a way of life for Crenshaw County Extension Coordinator Amanda Evans. Her family operates a cattle farm, and her grandfather raised crops. “I remember climbing into peanut wagons when I wasn’t old enough to help much,” she recalls.

A native of Luverne who raises cattle herself, Evans says her family has always known they could call on the local extension agent when they needed something.

“That’s who you called,” she says. Now, she is the person others reach out to for help. Evans has a background in environmental science, and she began working for ACES two years ago.

She has family ties to South Alabama Electric Cooperative. Her grandfather, Joseph Thomas, was a member of the board of trustees in 2014.

A popular program at the Crenshaw County Extension is Farm Safety Day, when all the sixth graders in the county come together to learn about a working farm and how farmers stay safe while tending to their crops and animals. Evans brings in several organizations, like the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the ALFA Young Farmer Federation, to offer their insights to the children. SAEC also participates by bringing the electric safety demonstration trailer to teach kids how to handle situations like downed lines or car accidents.

“All of the things they learn can be applied in many aspects around the farm,” Evans says. “It’s a big hit. There are some people in this area who have never even seen a lawnmower in person, so it’s a great way to get them to interact with things they don’t normally see.”

Other popular programs are self-defense classes and a budget program called Your Money, Your Life.

“We try to offer a little bit of something for everyone,” she says.

Pike County

Abby Peters was born and raised in Pike County. In addition to being the county’s extension coordinator, she is also a cattle farmer. She and her father work two farms, one in Henderson and the other in Shellhorn.

“The reason it’s so important to me is that it’s important to my dad,” she says. “Seeing his dream over the years has meant a lot to me.”

Peters has a background in accounting and worked at Troy University before moving over to ACES three years ago. She has always been involved with 4-H, a program also supported by the extension service.

All of the extension coordinators know if they need a space to do a program, SAEC is always willing to help out and offer its facility in Troy as a meeting spot.

“They’re my go-to,” Peters says. “Any program I have, I always prefer to partner with SAEC. SAEC is great because they have that new facility with the kitchen and state-of-the-art tech. Everything was set up from equipment to tables and chairs. The space is so accommodating. They are always so great and wonderful to partner with.”

The extensions in Pike and Crenshaw counties also partner with SAEC. For example, the with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry and SAEC to host the A Healthy You, A Healthy Farm initiative. The program, which drew about 50 people, raises awareness of suicide and the agricultural industry. The program educates everyone from farmers to medical professionals and even lenders.

“The ag lenders talk to these farmers every day. They’re in the throes with them because — especially in 2020 — people were having trouble paying their bills,” Evans says.

Another important outreach event is Farm/City Week, which bridges the gap between farmers and industry. It’s a week-long event for students that includes contests and a farm day. All third graders in the county come to the Pike County Cattleman’s Association building where local industries bring some of their products and stage educational demonstrations.

For example, Wayne Farms brings baby chickens, and the National Resources Conservation Service brings its soil tunnel trailer, which kids can walk through and learn about how plants grow. Other local industries provide equipment like tractors and a fertilizer spreader truck. The Goshen High School Ag Academy brings cows, pigs, horses and goats for the kids to interact with.

“It’s a lot of fun. You would be amazed at how many children have never seen farm animals in real life,” Evans says.

South Alabama Electric Cooperative annually selects 10 high school juniors from the cooperative’s service area to attend the Alabama Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Montgomery.

The students receive a free trip to the state Capitol, where they meet others from across the state, visit historic sites and more.

2 students will also be selected to attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C.

Here’s what to do:

1. Pick up an application from your school’s guidance counselor or download it from southaec.com.
2. Tell us why we should choose you to represent SAEC.
3. Do some research. Learn about electric cooperatives, SAEC, your local senators and your representatives. You will be asked about these topics during your interview.
4. After completing the application and supporting documents, return them to your guidance counselor or mail them to:
   South Alabama Electric Cooperative ATTN: Andy Kimbro
   PO Box 449 Troy, AL 36081
5. Applications must be received no later than Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.

The Montgomery Youth Tour will be March 14 to March 16.

A panel will review all applications and conduct interviews in January to select the winners.