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decades
of coaching young people in events like forestry judging and livestock
shows, the self-proclaimed country boy also is now seeing Dewberry Lands
produce valuable timber, critical wildlife habitat and priceless beauty.
The
farm spans 730 acres, including 329 acres of loblolly pines, 194 acres
of hardwoods, 55 acres of longleaf pines and more than 20 acres of
wildlife openings. The operation has won awards for wildlife management
and environmental stewardship including the National Wild Turkey
Woodland Award and the Treasure Forest Helene Mosley Award.
The
Dewberrys manage their land for what Lamar calls the "twin crops of
modern forest management" - timber and wildlife. But it’s Lamar’s
commitment to protecting the water and reducing soil erosion in the
rolling hills of Clay County that makes his farm distinctive.
"I
always mark the streamside management zones when we have a timber
harvest," Lamar said. "I get back at least 50 feet on each
side of the stream, sometimes farther according to how steep the land is
next to the stream. We could probably allow some harvesting in that
zone, but we don’t allow any for two reasons: one, there’s not going
to be any runoff in that stream if we don’t get within 50 feet of the
stream, and two, it serves as a wildlife corridor."
Lamar
is president of the Clay County Farmers Federation, and Felicia is a
licensed realtor. They have two children, Nathan, 26, and Abby, 25.
As
this year’s Farm of Distinction winner, the Dewberrys received a John
Deere Gator donated by Sun-South and Tri-Green Equipment dealers in
Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. In addition, Alabama Farmers Cooperative
presented them a $1,000 gift certificate redeemable at any of its member
Quality Co-op stores. Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Health awarded
the Farm of Distinction an engraved, mahogany farm sign. The Alabama
winner also will receive a $2,500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to
the Sunbelt Ag Expo to compete in the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo
Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest, with the winner receiving
$14,000, plus several other prizes.
The
Farm of Distinction finalists are judged on their management,
conservation and environmental practices as well as the overall
aesthetic appearance of the farm and leadership of the farm owner.
Five
other finalists also were honored during the program, which was held in
conjunction with the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s
Conference. They were Charles and Vera Britton of Madison County,
Charles and Donna Butler of Madison County, John and Mandy Newman of
Chambers County, Mike and Mary DuBose of Pike County and Donnie and
Norma Waters of Baldwin County. Each finalist received a $250 gift
certificate from Alabama Farmers Cooperative.
The
Farm-City Committee of Alabama presents the Farm of Distinction Award
annually. Farm-City Week is observed nationally beginning the Friday
before Thanksgiving and ends on Thanksgiving as a way to help bridge the
gap between rural and urban residents. |
