Photo ID Left to Right: Chad Breeding (AHA), Harper Starnes (granddaughter of Randy and Kelly Owen),
Randy Owen, Kelly Owen, Jim Coley (AHA)
Photo Courtesy of Randy Owen 
Randy Owen, lead singer and founding member of legendary country music group ALABAMA, and his wife Kelly Owen were honored with the American Hereford Association (AHA) Hall of Merit Award on Saturday, October 25. The Owens received the award during the AHA’s Annual Meeting and International Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

The AHA Hall of Merit Award is one of the Association’s highest honors, presented annually to men and women who have significantly influenced the Hereford breed and the cattle industry overall. 

Randy and Kelly Owen were recognized for their lifelong commitment to the cattle industry and agricultural community. On their Tennessee River Music Ranch in Fort Payne, Alabama, the Owens have raised registered Hereford and Angus cattle for decades. Their operation reflects their shared passion for animal care, land stewardship, and promoting youth involvement in agriculture through programs like 4-H and FFA.

“After breeding Herefords for almost 50 years, it’s nice to be recognized for the Hall of Merit in Kansas City at the World Hereford Conference,” says Randy Owen.

The ceremony was part of the AHA’s annual celebration recognizing individuals who have made lasting contributions to the breed and the beef industry.

ALABAMA continues to bring its legendary sound to fans across the nation. Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry are currently performing nationally on their Live In Concert 25 Tour with six more live concert dates scheduled before the year’s end. Visit thealabamaband.com for tour details.

About ALABAMA
Over 50 years ago, Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama to spend the summer playing music in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina bar called The Bowery. It took them six long years of tip jars and word-of-mouth to earn the major label deal they’d been dreaming of. Then, seemingly no time at all to change the face of country music. ALABAMA, country music’s first band, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. The group is known for hit songs including “Mountain Music,” “Roll On,” “Dixieland Delight” and “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band).” From humble beginnings picking cotton in the fields, to international stars, ALABAMA went on to sell 80 million albums and charted 43 No.1 hits, becoming the most successful band in the history of country music. In November 2022, ALABAMA co-founder Jeff Cook passed following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. With his prior encouragement and wishes, ALABAMA continues touring on a limited basis, keeping the iconic music they created alive for the current and future generation of fans.
 
For more information on ALABAMA, visit thealabamaband.com. 
countryAwardsNewsPress ReleaseAlabama,American Hereford Association Hall of Merit Award,Chad Breeding,Harper Starnes,Jim Coley,Kelly Owen,Randy Owen
Photo ID Left to Right: Chad Breeding (AHA), Harper Starnes (granddaughter of Randy and Kelly Owen), Randy Owen, Kelly Owen, Jim Coley (AHA) Photo Courtesy of Randy Owen  Randy Owen, lead singer and founding member of legendary country music group ALABAMA, and his wife Kelly Owen were honored with the American Hereford Association (AHA) Hall of Merit...