We always enjoy looking back on a year and seeing where the days have taken us! This year, we traveled to 39 of Alabama’s 67 counties to bring you stories about some our state’s best people and places. We started new recurring segments, including Rural Roundup with updates on agricultural news. We worked with our friends at Sweet Grown Alabama for a new monthly segment called What’s in Season, and we brought y’all 18 features on Sweet Grown Alabama member farmers explaining how they grow their crops. It’s been a really fun year, and we hope you enjoyed it, too! To help you reminisce, here’s our Top 10 stories from the year.
10. Life-Saving Farmer
In October 2022, St. Clair County farmer Matt Smith collapsed while inside the Oxford TriGreen dealership. Thankfully, fellow farmer and store general manager Justin Lackey jumped into action and is the reason this story ends happily.
9. Mark’s Mart
With its fancy meats and fine wines, Mark’s Mart resembles a European Market, but it’s every bit of an Alabama institution. Visit the beloved Selma landmark and learn more about its legendary concoction — the Original Chicken Swirl.
8. Legislators Showing Animals
Alabama legislators left committee meetings and bill reviews behind for an afternoon as they stepped in the livestock show ring to learn what it takes to exhibit an animal. A handful of experienced youth livestock exhibitors from across Alabama were on hand to educate legislators on show basics, like how to lead the animal and proper leg placement. The entire experience demonstrated the importance of supporting youth agriculture programs such as livestock shows.
7. Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch
The Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch is one of four Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches in Alabama. Living at the ranch, girls learn a little about working with livestock, but the greatest lessons are about learning to live as a family.
6. Harrison Brothers Hardware Store
Harrison Brothers Hardware Store has been in the same location in Huntsville for over 125 years. The wares have changed — rather than tools and lumber, the inventory skews more toward giftware and local products. But the shelves still hold stories of the store’s history, including an old-time cash register.
5. Alabama Society of Traditional Bowmen
If Robin Hood was forced to leave Sherwood Forest, he’d feel right at home in Brierfield Ironworks State Park… that is, as long as he stopped by during one of the four times each year that the Alabama Society of Traditional Bowmen hosts events there. Members of this group are passionate about preserving traditional archery, and even without modern sights or rangefinders, this group is right on target!
4. Gilmer Dairy to Beef
David and Will Gilmer are the second and third generation to operate Gilmer Dairy Farm. They’re also the last. But that doesn’t mean they’re changing professions.
3. Red’s Little School House
Red’s Little School House may be off the beaten path, but the food is sure to remind you of a meal at grandma’s house. And the staff treats you just as kindly as grandmama did, too! Those menu items were nearly a thing of the past until Red’s family decided the restaurant was too good a thing to let go. Pull up a chair, and enjoy a visit to this institution in south Montgomery County.
2. Large-Animal Vet Shortage
Veterinarians help us keep our pets healthy. Farmers also rely on large-animal vets to keep their livestock healthy, but there seem to be fewer and fewer of those around. After all, it’s extremely demanding work and none too glamorous. Thankfully, farmers in northeast Alabama can rely on Dr. Christi Standridge to take care of their herds.
1. Sporting Clays
It’s been described as golf with a shotgun, and the sport is one of the fastest-growing in the nation. At Selwood Farm in Alpine, rookies in Sporting Clays can learn what it takes to be a successful sharp-shooter, and experienced marksmen can enjoy a sporting day out in the peaceful woods.
Thank you to all of our show sponsors. Simply Southern would not be possible without all of these folks. Please be sure to visit their webpages and follow their social media accounts!
