Local farmers will go about the planting season without a fixture of the Cullman County agricultural landscape as longtime Auburn University Experiment Station Director Arnold Caylor retires after 30 years of helping crops take root and prosper.

Those who have worked alongside Caylor over the past decades celebrated his service with a retirement party Wednesday at the North Alabama Agriplex. In their comments, many expressed their gratitude for Caylor’s uncommon insights and his endearing quirks along with a shared concern over how they would get along with him in the days ahead.

“This will be first year in Touring Farms for Kids in 18 years that Arnold hasn’t given us a tour so it isn’t going to be the same for sure,” said Rachel Dawsey, director of the Agriplex. “I know on those tours I always learned a lot, and one of those things was how much Arnold was appreciated in our farming community. One day, it lined up so well, we were at Trent (Boyd’s) farm at the tall spindle apples, and Trent said ‘I did this because Arnold told me how to do it.’ Then we went somewhere else and they said, ‘well, I did this because Arnold said to do it like this.’ And the next place, it was the same way. Everywhere we went, all the farmers said they did what they did because Arnold said so… I know that so many Cullman County farmers are going to miss your advice and are so thankful for what they’ve learned from you.”

With his encyclopedic knowledge of horticulture, Caylor has helped farmers improve yields by doing intensive studies and experimental comparisons. He grew up in North Florida helping his uncles with their row crops when he wasn’t listening to farmers share tips and tricks at his grandfather’s country store. The G.I. Bill paid for him to attend junior college in Enterprise, and he later earned a degree in horticulture from Auburn University, doing his student internship in a peach orchard.

His reputation isn’t confined to Cullman either. Marshall County Alabama Extension Service Coordinator Eddie Wheeler said even folks over there know all Caylor’s green thumb and agricultural acumen.

“Arnold is very knowledgeable, and the people in Marshall County always talk about him and tell me that he gives an individual the information in a way that they can understand,” Wheeler said.

Getting Caylor to come to his own retirement party was a bit of a challenge. Cullman County Extension Agent Tony Glover, who is also retiring, knew rather than trying to get him involved in the planning of it, it was best just tell him where to be and at what time.

“I just wanted to go out quietly,” Caylor said sheepishly to a laughing crowd that gathered at the Agriplex Wednedsay.

“It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been an enjoyable 30 years. I’ve been blessed all my life. The good Lord up above has taken care of me my whole life. I honestly can say I’ve never had to go looking for a job. I’m thankful for all my friends, my mama and daddy and wife. I’ve always liked being around people. And it’s not about me. I’ve always felt like there’s no big I’s and no little U’s, it’s just team work. Everything has been great. And now I’m going to shut up.”

Tiffeny Owens can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.