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89th Annual Membership Meeting: Built for the Long Run

In February, Alabama Farmers Cooperative members, leaders and guests came together in Montgomery, Alabama, for the organization’s 89th Annual Membership Meeting. Attendees took a moment to review numbers and decisions, but also reflect on shared progress, recognize the people behind the work and look ahead with confidence. 

The meeting underscored a truth long understood across the Co-op system: AFC’s strength lies not only in facilities, assets and balance sheets, but in relationships between farmers, store managers, local Co-ops and the people they serve every day. 

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rivers Myres addressed members with his trademark mix of humor, storytelling and candor. Reflecting on the past year, Myres acknowledged challenges but also pointed to meaningful progress. 

For the first time since 2017, AFC and all its ubsidiaries and joint ventures recorded an operating profit, an important milestone achieved through careful expense management and disciplined decision-making. 

“That’s a testament to the work being done,” Myres shared, adding that when market conditions improve, AFC will be well positioned to move forward quickly and decisively. 

Myres began by discussing someone missing from the stage this year, former AFC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Al Cheatham, andcongratulating him on his new position as President and CEO of Bonnie Plants. Cheatham worked diligently at AFC for 24 years, serving as COO since 2017. Rivers touted the work Cheatham and his team are doing following the “Sell More, Waste Less” strategy.  

Myres then addressed AFC’s recent acquisition of Golden Gin in Jay, Florida, explaining that the decision went beyond simple economics. In a region where cotton and peanuts are king, the opportunity made strategic sense, but what mattered most was alignment. 

The family behind Golden Gin was focused on protecting their employees, the farmers they serve and a legacy built over six generations. That shared perspective made AFC the right fit. 

Members were also interested to learn of AFC’s upcoming move of its corporate office to a shared facility with GreenPoint Ag in downtown Decatur, Alabama. With fewer employees than in decades past, the move reflects a practical approach to a changing workforce while remaining fiscally responsible. 

Myres reassured members that the transition would be handled thoughtfully, with no overlap in lease costs and a focus on long-term efficiency. 

As he often does, Myres tied business lessons back to personal experience. He shared a story from coaching youth soccer that resonated deeply with the attendees. Faced with a moment that tested pride and ego, he chose what was best for the team, even though it meant pulling his own son from the game. The decision paid off, but more importantly, it reinforced a truth that applies far beyond the soccer field. 

Leadership, Myres reminded the audience, means putting the team first and making decisions that may not be easy, but are right, adding that it means running all the way through the finish line and leaving the organization ready for those who come next. 

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Brad Benson applauded the efforts and decisions made by AFC’s joint ventures for overcoming a difficult agriculture economy and becoming profitable, specifically through efficiency and long-term investments. 

AFC’s net worth at the close of the 2025 fiscal year was $362 million. AFC also retired another $3.5 million of allocated equity, pushing the running total of equity returned to the membership to over $90 million since 2014.

AFC’s net worth at the close of the 2025 fiscal year was $362 million. AFC also retired another $3.5 million of allocated equity pushing the running total of equity returned to the membership to over $90 million since 2014. 

“I was recently reminded that farming is our country’s primary defense system,” said Benson. “Because a nation that can feed and clothe itself will ultimately thrive. That’s the America we’re responsible for, and the one AFC and its members plan to be here to support for the next 89 years and beyond.” 

Throughout his remarks, Myres showed gratitude for the employees, managers, board members and Co-op partners who make AFC successful every day.

As he closed, Myres reflected on lessons learned long ago: finish strong, stay focused and don’t slow down before the job is done. 

Board Chairman Jeff Sims concluded the meeting with remarks that struck a deeply personal chord, especially with Co-op managers and general managers in attendance. 

“I could not have done it without his help,” Sims said, recalling how a simple conversation in a Co-op parking lot grew into a decades-long relationship that supported his operation as it expanded from 30 acres to more than 3,000.

Speaking from his own experience as a first-generation farmer, Sims shared the importance of his local Co-op and store manager walking alongside him from the very beginning, including helping him rent and calibrate a grain drill and advising him on the perfect amount of fertilizer and chemicals to allow his crops to grow weed and pest-free. 

“I could not have done it without his help,” Sims said, recalling how a simple conversation in a Co-op parking lot grew into a decades-long relationship that supported his operation as it expanded from 30 acres to more than 3,000. 

Sims emphasized that store managers are far more than suppliers; they are advisors, problem-solvers and trusted partners.  “Our farmers cannot do it without you,” he told the group. “And AFC cannot do it without you. All our success starts and ends with you.” 

He closed by thanking store managers on behalf of both farmers and the AFC Board of Directors, reminding them that their impact is seen, valued and essential. 

As AFC approaches its 90th anniversary, the 89th Annual Membership Meeting served as a reminder of what has sustained the Co-op for generations: people who step up, help one another and make decisions with the long view in mind. 

The path forward may not always be easy, but AFC remains ready by continuing to be rooted in relationships and focused on the future. 

The participating Cooperative members who earned the 2025 President’s Awards include James Lynn, Todd Booker, Eric Sanders, Tim Wood, Seth Eubanks, Jason Plunkett, Doug Smith, Barry Long, Brian Keith, Daniel Salter, Chris Elliott, Wayne Gilliam and Justin Taylor.

Not pictured are Jeff Kinder, Ryan Williams, Perry Catrett and Dannny Dewrell.

During the 89th Annual Membership Meeting banquet, Alabama Farmers Cooperative paused to honor a leader whose career has been defined by dedication, steady leadership and a deep commitment to the people he serves for nearly five decades 

Board Vice Chairman Brooks Hayes and President and CEO Rivers Myres welcomed Ricky Wilks to the stage in recognition of his retirement. Over the past 48 years, Wilks has devoted his career to AFC, leaving a lasting impact on the local cooperatives and communities he’s served. 

Throughout his career, Wilks played a pivotal role in uniting Coffee County Farmers Cooperative, Hartford Farmers Cooperative and West Geneva Co-op to form Genco Farmers Cooperative, where he currently served as General Manager. His steady leadership helped strengthen those local operations and ensured they were well-positioned for the future. 

Joined by his wife, Melissa, Wilks was presented with a crystal award by Myres as a token of appreciation for his lasting contributions. On behalf of the entire AFC organization, the moment served as a heartfelt thank-you to a Co-op leader whose legacy will continue to benefit members and communities for years to come. 

2025 Scholarship Recipients

Attendees gather at 89th Annual Membership Meeting

89th Annual Membership Meeting Guests at Check In