HJR 176

HJR176 ENROLLED
1 HJR176
2 ZQHECKK-2
3 By Representatives Clouse, Paramore, Rehm, Paschal
4 RFD: Rules
5 First Read: 24-Feb-26
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1 Enrolled, An Act,
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4 COMMENDING THE INAUGURAL OZARK COLLARD GREEN FESTIVAL.
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6WHEREAS, the Ozark Collard Green Festival, founded by
7 Ms. Belinda Thomas, was established to celebrate the
8 cultural significance of collard greens through food,
9 farming, art, wellness, and education, and to serve as a
10 growing platform that uplifts local farmers, artists, and
11 food innovators; and
12WHEREAS, Alabama's agricultural and cultural
13 identities are deeply rooted in the traditions of greens and
14 root vegetables, and few foods represent the intersection of
15 health, heritage, and community as meaningfully as collard
16 greens; and
17WHEREAS, rich in vitamins and essential nutrients,
18 collard greens are both a staple of Southern cuisine and a
19 symbol of nourishment, resilience, and shared history across
20 generations; and
21WHEREAS, from family kitchens and church gatherings
22 to community celebrations and holiday tables, collard greens
23 with potlikker have long served as a unifying cultural
24 experience for Alabamians, and the tradition of dipping
25 cornbread into potlikker reflects the warmth, hospitality,
26 and resourcefulness that define our state; and
27WHEREAS, the Ozark Collard Green Festival recognizes
28 Alabama's significant role in collard green production and
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29 honors the farmers, cooks, artisans, and community leaders
30 who sustain these traditions; and
31WHEREAS, just as the peanut has come to symbolize
32 Alabama's agricultural heritage, collard greens represent a
33 living tradition that connects our past, present, and
34 future; and
35WHEREAS, this festival celebrates not only a beloved
36 food, but also the people, stories, and communities whose
37 lives and histories are woven into Alabama's culinary and
38 agricultural legacy; now therefore,
39BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
40 HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we commend the inaugural
41 Ozark Collard Green Festival, held November 15, 2025, and
42 extend our appreciation to its founder, organizers,
43 participants, and supporters for their efforts to preserve
44 and promote Alabama's rich agricultural and cultural
45 traditions.
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56________________________________________________
57Speaker of the House of Representatives
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62President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
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65House of Representatives
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67I hereby certify that the within Act originated in
68 and was passed by the House 26-Feb-26.
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70John Treadwell
71Clerk
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77 Senate  05-Mar-26  Adopted
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