Birmingham – State Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, joined agriculture leaders last week to promote rabbit production in Alabama and to stress his continued commitment to the emerging industry.

Sen. Roger Bedford (left) joins Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks (right) and JC Holt, president of the 300-member Tri-State Rabbit Growers Association, in Birmingham last week when Holt's group unveiled its new brand name, Rabbit Creek Farms at a dinner featuring rabbit. Bedford obtained a legislative appropriation for the group for marketing and promotion of meat rabbit.

“As chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee I have been able to reserve money in the budget for rabbit production and promotion,” Bedford said. “I am very proud to have been a help to this small but growing industry and you have my commitment that I will continue to support the rabbit farmers.

“I want to congratulate the Tri-State Rabbit Growers Association on their new brand name, Rabbit Creek Farms, and all of their other new marketing efforts,” Bedford said. “I also want to encourage them to continue to market rabbits through local Alabama companies and our Alabama-based grocery stores.”

Bedford joined others interested in the rabbit industry for dinner at the Birmingham-based The Culinard for dinner where rabbit and some of the state’s best fruits and vegetables were served.