What kind of exercise can you do in 1 minute, 17 seconds? Maybe 60 crunches or even 60 pushups if you’re pretty fit. But how about… climbing multiple flights of stairs, hoisting a 42-pound hose, descending those stairs (making sure you touch every single one), driving a 160-pound steel beam back five feet, running a 140-foot slalom, pulling a 240-pound hose a distance of 75 feet… AND dragging a 175-pound dummy a distance of 100 feet? Think that’s a lot? Well, the firefighters who compete in the annual Combat Challenge make all that easy as pie. Mary Wilson heads to downtown Montgomery to check out the competition.
Jade Randolph heads to Griffin Farms in West Blocton, one of the state’s many pumpkin patches that are perfect spots to enjoy outdoor family fun as the weather starts to cool down. At Griffin Farms, meet a few barnyard critters or two before heading out to the field to pick the perfect pumpkin. Don’t forget about these agritourism attractions during other times of the year. You can visit Griffin Farms in the spring, too, for a special Spring Fling event.
Everyone thinks they have the best dog… and none of them are wrong. It’s just not every dog has the votes to go with that title. But Phil and Kim Slay’s dog, Sue, earned the title of People’s Choice Pup in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest, sponsored by Purina.
Kevin Worthington visits Chambers County to see what’s behind Sue’s popularity. She’s often seen in town helping Phil make deliveries of their farm’s famous tomatoes, but Sue also gets a workout on the farm helping wrangle up the cattle.
Zucchini is an extremely popular squash. Even novice gardeners could see their veggie gardens produce a plethora of zucchini, if you use quality starter plants from Bonnie Plants.
Need a unique dish to serve using all that zucchini? Try these Zucchini Cakes!
Zucchini Cakes Ingredients
Cooking oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 large zucchinis
Heat cooking oil in a skillet, deep enough to fry the cakes.
Mix eggs into ricotta cheese. Add breadcrumbs, red pepper, garlic powder and and parmesan cheese. Grate zucchinis. Use cheesecloth or a paper towel to ring water out of grated zucchini. Add to other ingredients and mix well. Form into balls. Place in hot oil. Flatten with spatula. Cook until golden brown, flipping once. Remove and let drain on paper towels before serving.