Alabama Rep. Chris Blackshear presented Jacks Benton with a framed copy of a Legislative Resolution commending Benton for winning the 2025 Big Buck Photo Contest sponsored by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA).

Blackshear made the presentation on Monday at Outdoor Hobbies in the Lee County community of Salem. Benton and his family gathered in front of the deer mount of the 10-point buck that Benton harvested on family land in Russell County.

“BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That it is an honor to offer this resolution to Jacks Benton to recognize his achievement and express appreciation to the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association for its work promoting outdoor recreation and tourism in Alabama's Black Belt,” the resolution reads.

Benton, who is five and will start kindergarten at Glenwood later this month, was joined at the presentation by Blackshear and ALBBAA Director Pam Swanner.

“We appreciate Rep. Blackshear for working to have the Legislative resolution passed to honor Jacks for winning our Big Buck Photo Contest,” Swanner said. “Our photo contests are designed to highlight the amazing outdoor recreation opportunities available in the Black Belt, and we appreciate everyone who participates.”

The ALBBAA currently has two active contests – the 2025 Best Fish Contest, which opened last week, and the Black Belt Road Trip Photo Contest, which ends Aug. 15. Photos entered in all ALBBBA contests must be taken in the Black Belt’s 23-county footprint.

The Black Belt includes the following 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.

The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association is committed to promoting and enhancing outdoor recreation and tourism opportunities in the Black Belt in a manner that provides economic and ecological benefits to the region and its citizens. For information, go to www.alabamablackbeltadventures.org.