John Lang named 2025 Tuscaloosa County Farmer of the Year

The Tuscaloosa County Farm-City Banquet is an annual event dating back to 1955 where local farmers are recognized for their work in the farming community while serving others. On Monday, November 24th, John Lang was recognized as the 72nd Farmer of the Year as a cattle farmer and serving the farming community at the Forest Lake United Methodist Fellowship Hall.

John Lang moved to Tuscaloosa County in the late 1970's to begin working with Hunt Oil and started raising cattle in 1985. Lang grew up in east Texas with experience in row crops and cattle. He began Black Warrior Cattle and became involved with the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. Lang gave back to the community by sponsoring several 4-H events on his 454-acre ranch on the Black Warrior River.

During the banquet the Piney Ridge Farm operated by the Oswalt Family was recognized as an Alabama Century & Heritage Farm by the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. The Alabama Century and Heritage Farm Program is designed to recognize and honor farms that have been in operation as a family farm over a long period of time and have played a significant role in Alabama history.

The Kiwanis Club of Tuscaloosa has hosted the Tuscaloosa County Banquet for the last 72 years.