Chilton County resident James Robert Parnell was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) to fill the unexpired term for District 6, a position formerly held by Jimmie Harrison, Jr. for 23 years. Parnell began his term of service on May 24, 2022, and will serve until the election at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Members, where the nominated candidate will be voted on by the membership.

Parnell manages the family timber and cattle farm, Parnell Inc., in Maplesville. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business and Economics. During his career, he has served on numerous committees including the USDA Farm Service Agency and the American Shorthorn Association and held positions in both the Chilton County Young Farmers (Chairman) and the Alabama Farmers Federation (Young Farmers Committee South at Large Director). Currently he serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors at the YMCA of Chilton County as well as the President of the Chilton County Cattleman’s Association.

Parnell and his wife Jami have two daughters, Charli Bay, 9, and Merit James, 16 months. They are members of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Maplesville.  He spends most of his time working on the farm, raising and exhibiting show cattle.