Downs, Holliman, Parnell Inducted into Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame

The Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the state’s livestock industry. The Hall of Fame was established in 1984 by the Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and is housed in the Cattlemen’s Building in historic downtown Montgomery. View our newest Alabama Livestock Hall of Fame inductees below. 

John Downs

16711878_976452999157370_8002514180393761763_nJohn Downs of Dothan began Southern Cattle Company (SCC) 25 years ago. With several successful steel business ventures under his belt, he fulfilled a lifelong dream and purchased his first cattle and original 400 acres of SCC, where the headquarters now stand today. What was meant to be just a hobby farm, has developed into one of the largest and most respected purebred operations in the south.  Downs has farms in Alabama and Florida and has run up to 6,000 head of cattle.

The youngest of nine children, John was born in central Alabama to tenant farmers. At 18, Downs got his first public job with Gamble Steel Co. in Montgomery. The ethics of hard work learned in that cotton field began paying off. In 1976, with a wife and three children to support, he took the leap and purchased a red barn in Webb, Alabama, and with $10,000, he began what is now Qualico Steel Company. With the help of family and other partners, Downs’ steel business has expanded to seven steel-related companies in three states employing over 500 team members.

Read more about John in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.


Jimmy Holliman

16711736_976453052490698_6934660798306439214_nJimmy Holliman of Marion Junction was raised on a cotton farm in the Mississippi Delta. He received a B.S. in Animal Science and a Master’s Degree in Animal Nutrition from Mississippi State University. Holliman was employed by Auburn University for 42 at the Black Belt Research and Extension Center in Marion Junction where he was named director of the station in 1989.  Jimmy started Circle H Cattle Farm in 1982 where he raises black Simmental cattle. He is a member of the First Step Bull Sale Group.
Holliman is widely known as a local, state and national leader in the beef cattle industry. He served as a Regional Vice President of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and as President of the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association. He was president of the Alabama Purebred Breeds Council in 1990-1992 and was elected the 69th president of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.
Holliman has received numerous awards for his service to the beef cattle industry.

Read more about Jimmy in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.


Jimmy Parnell

16640566_976453069157363_1241444142248626679_nParnell is a native of Stanton where he is a fifth-generation farmer and a partner in his family’s beef cattle and timber operations. He is a graduate of Auburn University in agricultural business and economics. Parnell has been an outstanding leader with agricultural organizations including Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Alabama Forestry Association.
Jimmy is currently serving as president and CEO of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance Corporation. He and his wife, Robin, have two children, James Robert and Anna Grace who have been very active in showing cattle and have each served as president of the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association. The family attends Hillcrest Baptist Church in Maplesville.
Read more about Jimmy in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

ACA Newly-Elected Regional Vice Presidents

Brian Smith, Lauderdale

16807384_10211605772761182_5786141479857831657_nBrian grew up in Green Hill in Lauderdale County and has lived on the family farm all his life. He graduated from Rogers High School and received a B.S. and Master’s degree from the University of North Alabama.
Under his leadership, the Junior Cattlemen’s membership grew to the largest in the state, and the county membership grew from 423 to 514. Brian, along with the juniors, led the incredible effort to raise funds and take 21 heifers to ranchers in South Dakota following a tragic snowstorm that wreaked havoc on cattle ranches in 2013. Read more about Brian in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Sabrina McKinney, Autauga

Sabrina of Autaugaville has been involved in the cattle industry since 16729463_10211604345845510_228181977817076420_nchildhood. A longtime leader in the cattle industry, Sabrina is the past president of the Autauga County Cattlemen’s Association.  She has been active in the Alabama Angus Association, American National Cattlewomen’s Association and the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association serving in multiple officers and on numerous committees. Read more about Sabrina in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Jim Jordan, Clay

Jim, Talledega, is a lifelong resident of Clay County. Aft16711800_10211604345765508_4394131309011785082_ner graduating in 1992, he worked in the timber industry for many years and in 2002 started his own business, Envirogrind LLC, which he still runs today. He is owner and operator of 4J Farm, which is a small commercial cow/calf and registered show cattle operation. He and his wife of 21 years, Kim, have two sons, Will (16) and Russell (13) who are very active in the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association. Read more about Jim in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Ashley Catrett, Crenshaw

16711674_10211604345925512_4333996478735876684_nAshley is a native of Elba and attended Troy University where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and Master’s Degree in Special Education. Currently, she is Director of Curriculum for Career and Technical Education, and Accountability for Crenshaw County Public Schools. Ashley, her husband Perry and two daughters, Cassidy and Cameron, own Shinglepile Creek Farm in Luverne, a 50-head commercial and purebred cow/calf operation.The cattle business is a family affair for the Catrett’s as Cassidy and Cameron have both grown up exhibiting and judging cattle. Read more about Ashley in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.

Langley Elected ACA Vice President

16603107_10211604345725507_8701776104900611904_nChristopher Langley, Sr. of Lafayette in Chambers County was elected vice president of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association on February 16 at the 74th Annual Cattlemen’s Convention and Trade Show in Montgomery.
Chris graduated from Lyman Ward Military Academy and received an Associate’s degree in welding from Southern Union State Community College. A fifth-generation farmer, Chris has proudly has been in the cattle and timber business for 35 years on the same family land. His wife, Elizabeth, also grew up on a large cattle farm and is actively involved in the operation. Langley Farms runs a commercial herd of Angus and SimAngus cattle. Chris is co-founder of Piedmont Cattle Marketing Association where he has sold calves for over 20 years.
As an active member of the county and state association, Chris has served as president of the Chambers County Cattlemen’s Association, taking the county “Over the Top” in membership. He has also served as regional vice president for the last three years.  He has been active in the Alabama Angus Association, Alabama Forestry Association, Alabama Farmers Federation and is an alumni of the AU Leaders Program Class VI.
Chris and Elizabeth have four children, Christopher (22), Charlie (20), Chandler (18) and Chelsea (16) who are all active on the farm.
Learn more about Chris and his family by reading the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine. 

Meadows Elected President, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association

16807156_10211604346365523_265717774985369428_nRichard Meadows, Houston County, was elected to serve as president of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association February 16 at the Opening General Session of the 74th annual ACA Convention & Trade Show. This title follows a term of serving as both president-elect and vice president of the state association.
Richard is a proud member of the sixth generation to grow up on his family’s row crop and commercial cattle farm in Columbia, Alabama.  Richard has been involved in the cattle industry since he was very young, and he and his siblings showed steers throughout their 4-H years. Profits from the steer projects were invested in purchasing his very own cattle, and at age 11, Richard bought his first commercial heifer. By age 14, he was able to buy his first purebred Charolais cows.  From these beginnings, the family partnership of Meadows Creek Farm was formed between Richard and his brother, Glenn.  Today, Meadows Creek Farm raises purebred Charolais and commercial crossbred cattle.
While in 4-H, Richard was on the state champion Livestock Judging team.  He continued that trend while in college at Auburn University, by serving on both the livestock and meats judging teams.  He continues to use his skill set to judge cattle shows throughout the Southeast.
Learn more about Richard and his family by reading the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.