2017 Poultry & Egg Association Hall of Fame inductee Danny Farr, with wife Geraldine Farr and family / W.C Mann
CULLMAN – On Saturday evening, the Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association held its annual meeting and dinner at the Cullman Civic Center, where Danny Farr was recognized as the association’s 2017 Hall of Fame inductee.
A Holly Pond graduate who grew up on the farm, Farr earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Bernard College and a master’s from UAB, both in education. He served a short stint in the Army, and taught at Welti and Hanceville, retiring in 1995.
Along the way, he and his wife Geraldine got into poultry farming, building their first chicken houses in 1987 and expanding their operation in 1994. They retired from poultry farming in 2015, but have stayed active in the Association. Farr currently serves as secretary/treasurer.
The annual meeting, which has taken place for more than 30 years, provides poultry farmers an informal opportunity for fellowship, while raising funds for distribution to organizations across the county.
The association presented $500 donations to nine area service groups Saturday night:
- American Red Cross – Helen Carroll
- Cullman Area Mental Health Authority – Chris Van Dyke
- Cullman Autism and Special Needs Support Group – Sarah Bates
- Cullman Caring for Kids – Jesselyn Shewbart and Angie Jarrett
- Pilot Light Home – Peggy Harris
- Project Lifesaver – Lt. Jeffery Warnke and Peggy Day
- The Link of Cullman – Dawn Owens
- Hospice of Cullman County – representative not present
- Victim Services of Cullman, Inc. Harbor Haus – representative not present
In a new move this year, the association also presented $500 to the agriscience program of each county and city public high school:
- Cold Springs – Justin Cornelius
- Cullman – David Benefield
- Fairview – Justin Miller
- Good Hope – David Bice
- Hanceville – Michael Chandler
- Holly Pond – Rusty Roden
- Vinemont – Travis Eskew
- West Point – Ethan Lake
Association Co-President Phillip Garrison talked about why all these poultry farmers were getting together.
“Cullman County is the largest poultry-growing county in the world. Cullman, Alabama is ranked number three in the United States, as far as poultry production. Basically, all this is to celebrate and to recognize, and to enjoy some fellowship with a meal. And we always have a Gator (ATV) drawdown, let people buy a ticket, and the money always goes to charitable organizations.
“We’ve always had a meeting this time of year, just to get to see everybody and enjoy the time, and get to give back a little bit to the community that we have earned and worked hard for.
“Poultry has been a big industry in this county for many, many years. It has done a lot for our county and city, because without the county the city don’t make it, without the city the county don’t make it. It takes one to grow it and one to sell it!”
And what was on the menu for the evening? What else? Chicken.
Said Garrison, “We are the best supporters of our industry. We all love it! If you didn’t, you wouldn’t stay in it. It’s really wholesome food that is more likely about one of the healthiest foods to eat. It’s all good. Eat more chicken!”
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