Farmers Federation endorses Richard Shelby in 2016 Senate re-election bid

The Alabama Farmers Federation, the state’s leading agricultural industry interest group, came out in support of Republican Sen. Richard Shelby‘s bid to retain his seat in the U.S. Senate on Thursday.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell praised Shelby for taking Alabama’s deeply conservative attitudes many on issues with him to Washington, D.C.

“The Alabama Farmers Federation is proud to endorse Richard Shelby for the U.S. Senate,” ALFA President Jimmy Parnell stated.  “As our state’s senior senator, he shares the same conservative values that the farmers and rural Alabamians hold so dear.”

Shelby, first elected to the Senate in 1986, responded in kind to Parnell’s warm words.

“I am proud to have the endorsement of the Alabama Farmers Federation. I will always defend our shared values and way of life,” said Shelby.

Shelby chairs the Senate’s Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee, as well as the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science.

Shelby is facing a long-shot primary challenge from former state Sen. Shadrack McGill.