Woodrow Rains of Centre was recently selected to receive the Senior Leaders Recognition Award presented by the Alabama Farmers Federation. Rains will be presented with his award at the Annual Meeting in Mobile Monday morning, Dec. 6.

Woodrow Wilson Rains, born March 23, 1919, is the son of Gus and Etta Mae Mackey Rains. He is the oldest of five children and the only son.

Woodrow and wife to be Venice Tucker, graduated from Cherokee County High School in 1938 and married June 24, 1939. They have been married 65 years. Venice, born Sept. 4, 1920, is the daughter of Vester Thomas and Alphia Louella Tucker and the oldest of 10 children. Rains and his wife, Venice, are lifetime residents of Cherokee Count as were both of their parents. Woodrow and Venice have three children: Doris Gail Hayes, Ronald Wilson Rains and Freida Sue Ellis all residing in Centre and Cherokee County. Woodrow and Venice have five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Farming row cotton, corn and soybeans were Woodrow’s major occupation for more than 40 years, farming almost 1,000 acres including pasture and woodland management. His experience also included dairy farming in the early 1940s. Woodrow also worked as a carpenter, mason and part-time rural mail carrier to supplement the family income in the off season.

During World War II, he served his country in the United States Army. While Woodrow was on duty in the South Pacific and the Philippine Islands, Venice and Gail lived in East Gadsden, Ala. After his honorable discharge from duty in 1949, Woodrow moved his family back to the farm where his parents had lived for 29 years and into the house where he was born. This old home place is located across the road from Sand Valley Baptist Church.

Woodrow began farming with a one-row tractor in 1946. He gradually increased the farming operation using two two-row tractors and equipment. The cotton was chopped, hoed and picked up by hand until 1960. In 1961, Woodrow bought his first cotton picker working some 400 acres of cotton. Chemicals greatly helped to reduce hand labor along with better farming management. Woodrow purchased his first farm in 1959 on Little Nose Bay of Weiss Lake. In 1962, Woodrow and Venice built their present home on Lakeside Drive. They have enjoyed this home for 42 years where they maintain a beautifully landscaped yard.

Utilizing this new technology, Woodrow began to increase his crops, especially cotton through the 1960’s and 1970’s to nearly 700 acres of cotton and soybeans. During this time he acquired and used four 4-row tractors and equipment. He opened two 2-row cotton pickers. Woodrow had the reputation for keeping his crops almost weed free and usually yielding above average lint per acre. Ronald (Ronnie) began helping his father farm during the late 1950s. He learned from his dad how to operate farm equipment at an early age, forming a partnership in 1974. Woodrow retired from farming in 1984 having accomplished a rewarding and successful career.

Woodrow has always been active in church and community activities. He has served as a deacon of the Baptist Church since 1949. He served as Sunday School Superinten-dent at Sand Valley Baptist Church. He was a teacher for the Builders Sunday School Class of Centre First Baptist Church for 15 years and president of the class for several years. He has served as chairman of the Deacons and worked on various committees.

Woodrow is a director of the Cherokee County Farmers Federation. He was county president from 1971-1986. During this time he served two terms (six years) as director on the State Board of the Alabama Farmers Federation. He is to receive an outstanding leadership award on Dec. 6, 2004 at the annual Alabama Farmers Federation in Mobile, Ala. Rains received a 45-year award from the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service Nov. 17, 2004, in Montgomery, Ala. Woodrow and Venice attended meetings and conventions at the local, state and national level and made many interesting trips representing the Cherokee County and Alabama Farmers Federation, including trips to foreign countries.

Woodrow was a member of the Cherokee County Extension Council for several years. He has been a supervisor of Soil Conservation for 45 years, also serving as assistant co-chairman and treasurer of the organization. He has been a member of the Centre Lions Club for 26 years and was named “Lion of the Year” in 1990-91. Woodrow was elected and served on the Centre City Council from 1992-1994. He helped the mayor, council and city by serving as chairman of the finance committee.

In retirement Woodrow enjoys his garden and yard work. One of his attributes is his consistent maintenance and keeping the edges of the road mowed along his property in the Sand Valley Community. Woodrow and Venice have been extremely generous with their fresh garden vegetables. They thoroughly enjoy spending time with family and helping their friends and neighbors.

Woodrow and Venice’ oldest daughter, Gail, was born Sept. 9, 1941 and graduated from Cherokee County High School in 1959. She attended Alverson-Draughon Business College in Birmingham. She married William Kelley Hayes in 1960. Kelley also attended Alverson-Draughon Business College. Gail was employed for 31 years at Cherokee Electric Cooperative where she worked in the accounting department. Kelley was an agent with ALFA Insurance Company where he was employed for 33 years. They have one son, Gregory Kyle, a graduate of Cherokee County High School in 1979. Kyle married Luanne Payne in 1986. Kyle and Luanne are both graduates of Auburn University (1985) with degrees in Agribusiness and Economics. They reside in Guntersville, Ala. with their two daughters, Kelsey and Taylor. Kyle works for the Farmers Federation and Luanne is employed with the city of Guntersville in the economic development.

Son Ronald (Ronnie) W. Rains was born July 5, 1947. Ronnie graduated from Cherokee County High School in 1965 and Auburn University in 1969 with a major in Agriculture Education. In 1971 he earned a masters degree in Guidance and Counseling from Jacksonville State University and in 1979 received a AA certification in Education Administration from the University of Alabama. In 1971, he married Diann Weaver. Ronnie was employed almost 30 years with the Cherokee County Board of Education. He served as counselor, assistant director and director of the Cherokee County Area Vocational School from 1972 until 1995. In 1995, Ronnie was employed as supervisor of vocational education for the Cherokee County Board of Education. He has two daughters, Brandi and Misti. Both graduated from Cherokee County High School. Brandi and Misti were both honor students. Brandi was Valedictorian of her class. She earned a Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy from Samford University in May 1999. Brandi is married to Ty Ashe, who is a pilot for Auburn University. Brandi and Ty have one son, Kolt, age 2. They reside in Auburn, Ala. Misti is a Gadsden State graduate and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University in 2000. She served as a missionary in Australia during the summer of 1998. Misti is married to Jim Bryson, a member of the Band Mercy Me. Misti and Jim have one son, Riley, age 1. They reside near Dallas, in Greenville, Texas.

Daughter Freida was born Sept. 27, 1954. Freida is a graduate of Jacksonville State University with a Business Education Degree. She received her masters in Education from the University of Alabama and a Masters Certification as a Media Specialist from Jacksonville State University. She married Watt Andy Ellis II in 1976. And is a 1976 graduate of Auburn University with an Agribusiness Degree. They have two children, Andrea Susanne and Watt Andy Ellis IV (Wae). Freida taught for 20 years in the Cherokee County School System. She helps her husband Andy with family business. Andy is President of Sure-Grow Seed and has an Angus Cattle Farm and rents his farmland. They reside in the Ellisville Community of Cherokee County, Ala. Andrea graduated from Cherokee County High School in 1998 as an honor student. She was a member of the State 4-A Championship Girls Basketball Team. Andrea married Shane Givens who is an attorney and they reside in Birmingham. Wae was involved in sports as a student at Cherokee County High School. He helps work on the farm during the summer. Wae will be graduating December 2004 from Auburn University.

The Rains’ children agree, “Our Mother and Daddy gave us an opportunity to learn many life and leadership skills from them. We are blessed to have Christian parents. Our Dad was always eager to learn new methods of farming and used these practices to make him a very successful farmer. While Daddy was busy working in the field, Mother always had hot meals on the table and did the household chores, doing her best as a good homemaker and mother. Although busy with so much to do, they always had time to visit with family and friends, and help look after the sick. Mother and Daddy have always been supportive of their family. We are very proud of them and thankful for what they have accomplished with their lives.