Reigning Miss Alabama, Jessica Proctor spent the day on Monday visiting farms in Cherokee County and donating food at a local food bank.  

The Alabama Peanut Producers Association and the Cherokee Farmers Federation arranged the visit in conjunction with her personal platform “Step up to the Plate” to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger and food insecurity. 

The first order of business was a stop at the Family Care Center on West Main Street where several cases of peanut butter were donated to help feed those who need assistance with groceries. Miss Alabama also helped fill some of the boxes with food for delivery.

Next on the agenda was lunch at Pat’s Perfection in Centre where they enjoyed a special desert, a peanut butter cake with peanuts on top from a local peanut grower.

They then moved on to the Nick McMichen Farm operation where they enjoyed touring the first year peanut harvesting on the farm in the Howell’s Crossroads Community; afterwards they moved across the road to check out the cotton ready to be harvested on McMichen’s farm.

The next stop on the Farm Tour for the day was the Cherokee Gin & Cotton Company where tour guides Rich Lindsey and State Representative Richard Lindsey explained in detail just how an operation such as theirs works, including processing of the cotton and getting it ready for market.

The tour guide for the day was Kyle Hayes, Area 3 Organization Director with the Alabama Farmers Federation. Also joining the activities of the day was Cherokee County Farmers Federation President, John East and his wife, Dawn along with Farm Host Family, Nick and Freida McMichen.