By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich on Monday will give the keynote address at the Alabama Farmers Federation Annual Meeting in Montgomery.
The former Speaker, best-selling author, and noted political commentator is the special guest for the Federation’s 97th Annual Meeting this weekend in Montgomery. Gov. Kay Ivey and Agriculture Commissioner and Treasurer-elect John McMillan are also expected to speak and discuss the issues facing Alabama’s farming industry. On Sunday, McMillan will be awarded the Service to Agriculture Award, which is the Federation’s highest honor.
More than 1,200 farmers and guests are expected to attend the event in Montgomery, making it one of the state’s largest ever gathering of farmers. Awards also will be presented to distinguished individual Federation members, as well as outstanding county Federations, Women’s Leadership committees and Young Farmers groups.
The Alabama Farmers Federation is the largest farm organization in Alabama that represents the concerns and agricultural needs of the farmers in all 67 counties in the state. They work to promote the interests of farmers to various government bodies, including the U.S. Congress and the Alabama Legislature.
After the devastation of Hurricane Michael through the Wiregrass regions of Alabama, the USDA declared that five Alabama counties were disaster areas which allows the use of existing USDA emergency programs for the state and clears the way for additional disaster aid to be used to help farmers recover from their loss.
The dinner will be held on Monday night at the Montgomery Convention Center at the Renaissance. Tickets to the event are sold out.