The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Hallmark Farms
March 20, 2029 – BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Jefferson County Commission unanimously approved the sale of the Hallmark Farms property in Warrior to the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation or AECC. That organization was formed by the state legislature and will oversee the development of the new agricultural center planned for the area. The County purchased the property in 2019 in a joint effort with the City of Warrior.
The Hallmark Farm property in northern Jefferson County is right on I-65 near Warrior will be the site of a new agricultural exhibition center that would rival that of neighboring other states including Georgia.
The Commission approved the sale of Hallmark Farm for $13.5 million. The property was owned by the Hallmark Farm Cooperative District of Jefferson County, a joint entity formed by the county and the city of Warrior to oversee the property in 2019.
Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones Wadsworth told the Alabama Gazette, "Building a multi-million dollar agriculture exhibition center at Hallmark Farm will significantly boost tourism and drive economic growth in Jefferson County. Large ag events, exhibitions, and competitions have the potential to attract visitors from across our region, leading to increased spending at local hotels, restaurants, and businesses. The development of this iconic, visible piece of property will create jobs, generate tax revenue, and establish the area as a key destination for agricultural and agribusiness events in Alabama."
"Tomorrow is going to be the start of a great project," County Commissioner Joe Knight told the Birmingham Business Journal.
The Jefferson County backed Hallmark Farm Cooperative purchased the property for just $7.5 million in 2019.
The Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation (AECC) is buying the property. The AECC was formed by the Alabama Legislature to oversee the $158 million agriculture center. The Alabama Farmers Federation is the driving force behind this project. The AECC is a public private partnership. Jimmy Parnell, Thomas Ellis, Ralph Williams, John Starnes, Joe Lambert, Barrett Vaughn and Brad Fuller serve on the AECC Board.
ALFA has been actively working to establish a large agricultural exhibition center for rodeos, livestock shows, farm shows, concerts, fairs, etc. since at least 2019.
They needed a site centrally located in Alabama, South of Montgomery would not work for north Alabama farm families due to distance. North of Cullman would not work for south Alabama farm families for the same reason and it pretty much had to be on I-65 for north south transportation reasons. Buying a large tract of land in Birmingham on I-65 is out of the question and recent purchases by Hyundai, solar farms, and other entities has made land too expensive in south Montgomery County and the Prattville/Millbrook area of Autauga and Elmore Counties.
Clanton in Chilton County seemed like the ideal location for it and ALFA had an option on a site in Clanton near exit 212. Those plans were unexpectedly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then the new mayor and city council opposed the deal making ALFA look for a new site.
Historically fairs and agricultural exhibitions in Alabama were held at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery and the Birmingham Fairgrounds. The City of Birmingham made the decision to convert the Fairgrounds to an aquatics center when the late Larry Langford was mayor. Garrett, which was built in 1948 through decades of neglect, has become hopelessly obsolete and the site is not easily accessed by an interstate. The state of Alabama transferred the property to the City of Montgomery – who has done some work on the barns and facilities; but it remains far inferior to much more recent competitors such as Georgia's National Fairgrounds & Agricultural Center in Perry, GA and Georgia's Sunbelt Ag. Expo site in Moultrie Georgia. Tennessee has its Tennessee Fair complex in Wilson County. The Mississippi Fairgrounds Complex in Jackson covers over 105 acres and hosts more than 700 events per year. The Complex has various facilities for exhibitions, trade and consumer shows.
The project will be funded by the state, county, the Alabama Farmers Federation, and other private partners.
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