Madison County returned from the Association of County Commissions of Alabama’s 98th Annual Convention with multiple honors recognizing everything from an innovative community farm to decades of public service.
County officials from across Alabama gathered for the annual convention last week, where Madison County’s People’s Patch Community Farm received the 2026 Award for Efficiency and Innovation in County Government for an Urban County.
The farm is a partnership between the Madison County Commission and Alabama A&M University led by District 6 Commissioner Violet Edwards. It was created to give residents access to fresh fruits and vegetables at no cost while also providing agricultural education for students and the community.
“Our community farm stands as a testament to the dedication of our staff and the unwavering support of our neighbors,” Edwards said. “Together, we turned a shared vision into a meaningful solution, and the farm is proof of what can grow when neighbors come together with purpose, hope, and willing hands.”
And plenty has grown.
Last year alone, the farm produced 54,000 pounds of turnip greens, 22,000 pounds of yellow squash, 21,000 pounds of collards, 15,000 pounds of okra, 14,000 pounds of potatoes and 10,000 pounds of Roma tomatoes. The farm also grew green beans, watermelons, sweet corn, cucumbers, kale, cabbage and other vegetables.
The county said the project grew from an effort to address food insecurity by combining county resources with the agricultural expertise of Alabama A&M.
Riddick recognized for 16 years of service
District 5 Commissioner Phil Riddick was also honored by ACCA for 16 years of outstanding and dedicated service to county government in Alabama.
Riddick first joined the Madison County Commission in January 2011 after then-Gov. Bob Riley appointed him to complete the term of Mo Brooks following Brooks’ election to Congress.
Riddick went on to win full terms in 2012 and 2016 and is now serving his fourth term following his election in November 2024.
Public service runs in the Riddick family. His father, Frank Riddick, served as Madison County probate judge, a state legislator and Huntsville city councilman, while his grandfather served as Madison County sheriff.
Lang named Revenue Officer of the Year
Madison County Deputy Sales Tax Director Terisa Lang received the 2026 County Revenue Officer of the Year Award from the County Revenue Officers Association of Alabama.
Lang was nominated by her peers in recognition of her work on a committee involving the ACCA, Alabama Department of Revenue and County Revenue Officers Association of Alabama. According to the county, her work helped strengthen cooperation among the three organizations.
Lang has been a CROAA member since 1999 and served as the organization’s vice president from 2017 to 2019 and president from 2019 to 2022. She has also served on several committees and currently represents District 2 on the CROAA Board of Directors.
The three honors were presented as county commissioners, administrators, engineers and revenue officers from across Alabama gathered for the statewide association’s annual convention.
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