Lamar County, Alabama Farmers Up For Top Award

PRESS RELEASE

Bill and Carol Freeman of Timberland Cattle in Lamar County are one of six outstanding farm families that will be showcased April 6 as they compete for the title of Alabama Farm of Distinction at the Alabama Farm-City Awards in Birmingham.

The winner will receive over $12,000 in cash and prizes and will represent Alabama in the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest at the Sunbelt Ag Expo Oct. 17-19.

At Timberland Cattle, Bill and Carol Freeman are growing food and fiber together on the rolling hills of Lamar County.

“Our farm consists of a tree farm and a cattle farm,” Bill said. “We run cattle in our trees, and they work well with each other.”

The 850-acre operation includes 200 acres of pine plantation, 600 acres of pastureland and 50 acres of hay. The Freemans have a 300-cow purebred Angus, Simmental and SimAngus herd, along with a 100-cow commercial beef herd.

The farm sells about 75 bulls each November in an on-farm, video production sale and bred heifers at a spring sale.

The Freemans maintain a strict herd health program, utilize rotational grazing and installed irrigation to ensure year-round forage is available.

“We just came out of a severe drought,” Bill said. “Had we not irrigated, we would not have gotten the grass to come up.”

Despite the hard work it took to make Timberland Cattle the showplace it is today, Bill is quick to give thanks for his blessings.

“The keys to my success, I feel like, are from our Father,” he said. “I really believe without the blessings we get from Him we wouldn’t have ability to do what we do. I really love being outside and love being able to produce cattle.”

The Freemans have one daughter, Jessica.

Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms said the 2017 Farm of Distinction recipient will join an elite group of past winners.

“More than 30 Alabama farms have been recognized since the program’s inception,” Helms said. “They include family businesses raising everything from row crops and beef cattle to catfish and timber. Each of these farms is distinct because of the owners’ commitment to continual improvement and their positive impact on the community.”

Alabama’s Farm of Distinction will receive a John Deere Gator from SunSouth, TriGreen and AgPro dealers; a $1,000 gift certificate from Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC); $2,500 from Swisher International; and an engraved farm sign from Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance. All six finalists will receive a $250 AFC gift certificate.

Judges Jim Allen of AFC, Chris Cline of AgPro and Dr. Deacue Fields of Auburn University visited the farms March 1-3.