Seventy-seven students were recognized Sept. 23, during the Alabama Farmers Federation annual awards program at Lazenby Farms in Auburn. The partnership between the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation and county Farmers Federations, awarded $136,000 to undergraduates pursuing degrees in agriculture, forestry and related fields at Auburn University.

St. Clair County native and Auburn University student Ridge McHugh received a $1,750 scholarship from the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation and the St. Clair County Farmers Federation. McHugh was recognized during the Alabama Farmers Federation scholarship reception Sept. 23 at Lazenby Farms in Auburn. McHugh is a senior studying wildlife enterprise management.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell encouraged the group of AU students to distinguish themselves through initiative and problem solving.

“Work hard,” said Parnell, an AU College of Agriculture alumnus. “Nothing will make you stand out in a crowd like working hard. I encourage you to learn to think and to make friends with fellow classmates and professors.”

Parnell expressed the Federation’s commitment to Auburn and the next generation.

“This organization was formed almost 104 years ago at AU for the purpose of representing farmers and rural citizens of Alabama,” Parnell said. “The future of the Federation and our state is in the hands of young people.”

2025-2026 scholarship applications open Nov. 1 at AlfaFarmers.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2025.