The Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association held its annual meeting Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. at the recreation center in Russellville.

Steak dinners and door prizes, along with status updates and special recognitions, were all part of the evening’s activities. The Franklin County Junior Leaders served the meal.

Officers for 2020 are Caleb Beason, president; Michael Pounders, vice president; and Jack and Bonnie Hargett, secretary/treasurer.

Beason gave the welcoming remarks, introduced speakers and special guests and provided the annual report.

Speakers included Katernia Cole-Coffey, Franklin County Extension director; Paul Vining; Regional Extension Agent for animal science; and Chris Langley, president of the Alabama Cattlemen Association.

Pounders gave the Junior Cattlemen Annual Report.

David Welborn presided over the Nominating Committee Report and Election of Directors.

Beason presented the Cattleman of the Year Award to Ralph Winchester, and Orland Britnell was named a Lifetime Director.

More than 400 attended the event, as per an estimate by Beason. “I would like to thank everyone who helped make this evening a success – our officers, directors and all our members,” Beason said. “This is the fourth year in a row Franklin County has been the leading county for highest membership in the state. Last year, we finished with 500 members. It’s our goal to increase that number this year.”

Beason said he wanted to emphasize that owning cattle is not necessary to be a member – but added membership provides a lot of perks for those who do. Some of the other benefits of membership include a local discount card, monthly Cattlemen magazine, summer picnic and an annual steak meal and door prizes.

The association provides an average of 26 scholarships to county seniors each year. Proceeds from six annual ribeye steak sandwich sales fund the scholarships.

Other contributions to the community include donation of beef to all the Family and Consumer Sciences departments at the county schools; participation in the Cattlemen’s Association elementary reading program; and support of the county Envirothon, Cattlemen’s Association Beef Month and the Franklin County Junior Cattlemen.

A number of door prizes were handed out, provided by organizations in Franklin County as well as outside of it.

Sponsors of the annual meeting included Alabama Central Credit Union, CB&S Bank, Community Spirit Bank, Bank Independent, Alabama Farm Credit, Valley State Bank, First South Farm Credit and Sunshine Mills.