Todd and Hope Cassebaum of Cassebaum Farms in Baldwin County are one of six outstanding farm families that were showcased April 6 as they competed for the title of Alabama Farm of Distinction at the Alabama Farm-City Awards in Birmingham.

The winner will receive over $12,000 in cash and prizes and will represent Alabama in the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year contest at the Sunbelt Ag Expo Oct. 17-19.

Todd Cassebaum approaches farming with a strong work ethic, ingenuity and the commitment to quality he learned from his father.

"When I was a little kid, Dad said we needed something to do," he said. "We started planting a little patch of sweet corn — my sisters and me. I think the first year we planted a couple acres, and we bought a trampoline."

Today, Todd and wife Hope farm 1,250 acres in Baldwin County where they raise peanuts, corn, cotton, millet, pecans and vegetables. They also have a 160-cow commercial beef herd.

The Cassebaums say good crop rotation and investment in irrigation are keys to their success.

"We can do a little better job with vegetables with irrigation water because we can put it on when it needs it," Todd said.

Increasing productivity is important because development along the Gulf Coast is consuming cropland.

"We have to learn to increase with what we’ve got," he added. "We can’t find any more farmland, so we’re trying to grow within the acres we have."

The Cassebaums also are catering to the expanding population by growing more fresh produce. They have built a loyal customer base for their sweet corn, peas, butterbeans and watermelons by focusing on quality and service.

"We try to give them more than what they expect," Todd said. "We like the baker’s dozen. We don’t know a dozen as 12; we know it as 13 ears."

The Cassebaums are passing the work ethic and values they learned from their parents onto their son, August, and daughter, Kelsey.

"The only reason I’m doing a lot of this now is I want them to take over," Todd said. "I want them to have the same opportunity I’ve had."

Alabama Farm-City Committee Chairman Jeff Helms said the 2017 Farm of Distinction recipient will join an elite group of past winners.

“More than 30 Alabama farms have been recognized since the program’s inception,” Helms said. “They include family businesses raising everything from row crops and beef cattle to catfish and timber. Each of these farms is distinct because of the owners’ commitment to continual improvement and their positive impact on the community.”

Alabama’s Farm of Distinction will receive a John Deere Gator from SunSouth, TriGreen and AgPro dealers; a $1,000 gift certificate from Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC); $2,500 from Swisher International; and an engraved farm sign from Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance. All six finalists will receive a $250 AFC gift certificate.

Judges Jim Allen of AFC, Chris Cline of AgPro and Dr. Deacue Fields of Auburn University visited the farms March 1-3.