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
John 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
Jimmy 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.Read more about Jimmy in the March issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.
Jimmy Parnell
Parnell 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.
Brian 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.
childhood. 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.
er 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 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.
Christopher 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.
Richard 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.