Alabama Farm Center

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Alabama Farm Center, formerly called the Alabama Rural Economic Center is a proposed $158 million livestock and agricultural facility to be constructed in the Hallmark Cooperative District at the former 567-acre Hallmark Farm near I-65 in Warrior.

The Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) began planning for a statewide agricultural center in 2019. It was originally to have been located on a 500-acre site at I-65 Exit 212 in Clanton, but conflicts between the Chilton County Commission and the City of Clanton, who jointly owned the site, along with changes made by the developer, delayed progress, leading the organization to look elsewhere.

The Hallmark Farm property was acquired by a joint initiative of Jefferson County and the City of Warrior for $7.5 million in 2019. In 2023 the Alabama Farmers Federation's Alabama Rural Economic Center proposed to construct a major farm center there, to host livestock and equestrian competitions, rodeos, and concerts. Facilities would include an indoor livestock arena, a covered outdoor arena, two livestock barns, and an exhibit hall. The facility, patterned after the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agriculture Center in Perry, Georgia, would be able to host state fairs with livestock shows, as well as other exhibitions and events.

Legislation to create a public Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation to construct and operate the facility was sponsored by State Senator Shay Shelnutt. Versions of the bill easily passed both chambers early in 2024 Alabama legislative session, but a final consolidated bill was held up until the final day of the session over a dispute regarding opposition to a referendum to legalize gambling. The bill designated the corporation as an "economic development organization" under the Growing Alabama Act (Act of Alabama 2021-02).

ALFA partnered with the Jefferson County Commission to commission a master plan for site development.

References

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Alabama_Farm_Center&oldid=216318"