Mayor Alton Craft joined with dozens of area civic and business leaders for the Regional State of Agriculture program held Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Oxford Civic Center.
The event was sponsored by the Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center, Calhoun County Conservation District, Regions Bank, Alabama Soil & Water Conservation Committee, and the Choccolocco Creek Watershed, it is the second of its kind held in Oxford to serve the region.
“We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of manufacturing and industry in this area,” said Chamber government affairs director Jakob Williamson. “Those are important, but we often overlook agriculture. When you are raised in a rural area, the importance of agriculture is instilled in you at a very young age.”
The youthful side of agriculture was on display as several members of the Future Farmers of America served as greeters and ushers, the Calhoun County Career Tech culinary students prepared morning pastries.
Jennifer Hudson, who works with the Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Choccolocco Creek Watershed, helped to bring the idea of such a meeting to Oxford and Calhoun County.
“They have this in Montgomery every year and our office attended a couple of the events,” Hudson said. “We saw how it helped put the focus on ‘Alabama grown’ items and thought we could do that locally. We wanted to highlight that we are here to partner and help improve land management through financial and technical assistance for agricultural conservation practices.”
Kathy McCrimmon, chairman of the CCSWCD, said the district serves Calhoun and Cleburne counties and was able to assist in bringing $1.46 million “to put conservation practices on the ground.”
Remarks were also given by Ray Hilburn, associate director, Alabama Poultry and Egg Association; Dan Chappell, assistant division director, management division, Alabama Forestry Commission; and Rick Pate, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.
Local growers were proudly highlighted throughout the event. Tables were beautifully decorated with flowers from McLeod Family Farm, while lunch featured tomato sandwiches made with Smith tomatoes and Aquality Farms lettuce, along with Conecuh bacon prepared by Hubbards Off Main. Smith Farm also provided fresh corn for the meal.
Those tomato sandwiches are what Craft says is a treasured memory for many from younger days.
“My pawpaw had three favorite foods: Neapolitan ice cream, canned peaches, and – when his first tomatoes came in – all kinds of tomato sandwiches,” Craft said. “We appreciate this event and appreciate you allowing Oxford to be your host.”