/2011womensnewsletter_4Q by Arkansas Farm Bureau

arkansas

farm

bureau

committee comments

reetings from your Arkansas Farm Bureau State Women’s Committee! The Committee will be representing you at the 93rd American Farm Bureau annual convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jan. 8–11. We expect to bring back some wonderful ideas for activities in the New Year. The 2011 Sew with Cotton luncheon was held at the Arkansas Farm Bureau state convention Thursday, Dec 1. It was well attended and we had a great response from women’s Sue Billiot, committees chairwoman who conducted contests in your home counties. Thank you for everything you have done this past year in your county to promote agriculture. With Food Check-Out Week just around the corner, Feb. 19–25, I know you are gearing up for another action-packed week of service to your communities. It’s also not too early to be thinking about attending the statewide Women’s Conference March 9 -10 in Little Rock. Remember to continue collecting the pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas. I look forward to seeing each of you soon. I hope each of you had a blessed Christmas with family and friends and will have a prosperous New Year!

keith sutton photo

The ArFB State Women’s Committee sponsored and judged the rice-cooking competition at the 2011 Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock.

county activities The following activity summaries were submitted by the county Farm Bureau Women’s Committees:

Arkansas: The committee designed and manned a booth at the county fair promoting local commodities and Farm Bureau. The committee also sponsored a Stroke Detection Plus program for county members. Ashley: The committee participated in and

promoted local commodities in the local AgFest festival and sponsored an Ag in the Classroom poster contest.

Baxter: The committee arranged and sponsored a tractor and ATV safety program as part of the Baxter County Cattlemen Field Day. The committee also arranged for James Rhein to present Honeybee programs for Heber Springs Master Gardeners and a group in Mountain View.

Benton: The committee conducted a Dairy Farm tour for 25 University of Arkansas nutrition students. The committee also used an incubator and conducted Ag in the Classroom chick hatching programs for first and second grade students at St. Vincent Catholic School, Eastside Elementary and Grace Hill Elementary School in Rogers. Boone: The committee presented Farm Bureau coloring books to kindergarten students at Bergman Elementary and Farm Bureau place mats to third graders. The committee also presented “Grow Smarter” books to all kindergarten through second grade teacher in the county. Calhoun: The committee conducted an Ag in the Classroom coloring book contest for 115

Fourth Quarter 2011 ®

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county activities ®

arfb state women’s committee

s your state women’s committee, we are here to be a resource and assist you in your ag promotion activities. Please feel free to contact us at any time. Sue Billiot chairwoman Sharp County, District 2 870-528-3617 kajunsue@centurytel.net Janice Marsh vice chairwoman Woodruff County, District 2 870-731-5660 rmarsh@centurytel.net Deborah Dooly Columbia County, District 7 870-547-2437 debdooly@hotmail.com Sherry Felts Mississippi County, District 1 870-537-4772 Jeannie Hornsby Washington County, District 3 479-549-4273 jhornsby@uark.edu Linda Parish Scott County, District 4 479-928-5098 jlparish@juno.com Cara Parker Lonoke County, District 6 870-552-7090 parker@arkansasducks.com Renee Thrash Faulkner County, District 5 501-336-9652 thrashr@conwayschools.net

K-2nd grade students. The committee also supported the county fair by preparing a meal for FFA and FHA students and in other ways.

Carroll: The committee conducted a “Sew with Cotton” contest at the county fair. The committee also donated the books “Grow Smarter”, “Clarabelle” and “Good Things From Arkansas” to Green Forest K-2nd grade classes. Clark: The committee prepared and

delivered brownies to area schools promoting wheat and grains. The committee also promoted Rice Month through several activities and visited with senior citizens about the importance of a healthy diet.

Cleburne: The committee participated in the county fair by distributing crayons and Fun on the Farm coloring books to children. The committee also arranged for the Farm Bureau milking cow to be at the fair and some 550 children milked the cow over two days. Columbia: The committee distributed rice brochures at 4-H activities and participated in the county fair livestock show premium sale. Conway: The committee participated in the annual 4-H Fishing Derby which promotes Arkansas farm-raised catfish. More than 60 young people took part. The committee also worked with students from the Conway County School District attending the county fair by leading tours of the livestock barns and giving them hands-on learning opportunities through the Farm Bureau Ag Experience Trailer. More than 300 students participated. Craighead: The committee supported the annual Kidz Fun Fair at St. Brenards Hospital by filling and donating gift bags containing My American Farm coloring books, rice krispie treats, nutritional information and rice recipes. $519 worth of items were ordered from American Farm Bureau. The committee manned a Farm Bureau booth at the event where they distributed 650 gift bags.. The committee also conducted a special “Rice Tasting” event in the Regions Bank lobby to kickoff National Rice Month. Rice recipes were contributed to the Jonesboro Sun newspaper for an article on healthy eating during rice month. Crawford: Six members of the com-

mittee conducted a rice luncheon at the county fair and 60 people took part. The Farm Bureau booth at the fair featured photos and information on dairy cows, beef cattle, turkey, chickens and horses. Promotional items were distributed. The committee also distributed 600 gift bags containing Farm Bureau items to area children.

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Clark Co. FB Women’s Committee co-chairs Becky Baumgarder and Karen Kirkpatrick decorated a booth for mid-September’s county fair. In addition to promoting the benefits of agriculture to fairgoers, the Women’s Committee purchased animals at the premium sale and helped with advertising around the fairgrounds.

Lafayette (Strong Women exercise program)

Howard (Pizza Ranch at County Fair)

C O U N T Y c l o s e - u ps

Cross: The committee conducted an Ag in the Classroom poster contest. The committee also distributed safety brochures and coloring books to Wynne second grade students at the 4-H banquet. They also supported Miss Cross County Rice in several of her activities. Drew: The committee provided Arkansas Ag Map placemats for the county annual meeting in August. Those in attendance were encouraged to take the placemats home to share the activities with their families. The committee also hosted a booth at the Drew County Fair on September 27th through 30th, promoting the My American Farm website. Children were given the opportunity to play the games on the website, and were given a bookmark displaying the website to take home. The committee also provided information to teachers, so that they could use the website in their classrooms.

Sharp (Safety Program)

Stone (Ag Appreciation Day)

Faulkner: The committee assisted with the Schaefer Corn Maze by helping guide tours of the farm and distribute ag literature to some of the 2,300 visitors. The committee also sponsored a booth and arranged for the Mobile Ag Experience Trailer at the county fair. Garland: The committee promoted 4-H programs (including livestock and agriculture) with grill-out and petting zoo at Tractor Supply Store. The committee also conducted STEM activities at Jessieville Afterschool programs. These included a gardening project and planting daffodils. continued on page 4

Washington (Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year)

Independence (Book Buddies Bags) 3

county activities

county activities Sun.” The committee donated the book “Grow Smarter” to the first grade class. The committee also baked cookies and delivered to elementary school teachers at Deer and Jasper schools in appreciation for their working with Farm Bureau on classroom activities.

Grant: The committee conducted a Sew

with Cotton contest which included a cotton apron contest. The committee also sponsored two stroke detection clinics at the county office.

Hot Spring: The committee arranged for the Farm Bureau Milking Cow and Mobile Ag Experience Trailer to be at the county fair. Howard: The committee sponsored a “Pizza Ranch” activity held during the Howard County Fair. The event was held on September 15& 16 and approximately 220 preschool students from the County attended. The activity was designed to educate young children about the ingredients used to make pizza and where those ingredients come from. The women’s committee provided string cheese and wheat crackers to each student attending. The committee also volunteered in helping with the “Real Deal” financial program. The program was conducted for high school students at Nashville and was designed to help students recognize and make wise decisions about financial matters in real life situations. Independence: The commit-

tee conducted a Sew with Cotton Contest on Oct. 3rd. Judged entries and made suggestions on improving sewing and presentation skills. Judges supplied nutritious snacks. Had two Adult winners and two Youth Winners. Winners are awarded $100 each to attend the State Sew with Cotton contest. They also receive gift cards for sewing supplies from two local businesses. The committee also delivered two bags per Kindergarten class for a total of 50 Book Buddies Bags. They contained a small bag of rice for each student (600 total), a Two Bite Book Club book, Cool Fuel Cookbook-recipes for children with colorful fruits and veggies, Grow Smarter Conservation in Arkansas, a 5 a day pamphlet and recipes, and bookmarks promoting Arkansas Agriculture.

Jackson: The committee sponsored a rice

field day for preschool children. They enjoyed seeing a combine at work in a rice field at Rutledge farms. Each child was given a treat bag which contained a bag of rice, rice krispie treats, Fun on the farm coloring book, soy crayons, and pencils. The committee also presented fall treat bags to local newspaper and radio editors to thank them for the job they do promoting agriculture in the county.

Lafayette: The committee conducted a

“Strong Women” exercise program for women in the county.

Lee: The committee sponsored bicycle, tornado and computer safety programs with Phillips and Monroe Counties. The committee also delivered 4

drew co. fb photo

Brittany Harpole and Carrin Cross, UofA at Monticello Collegiate Farm Bureau members, assisted the Drew Co. FB Women’s Committee with their county fair booth the week of Sept. 17.

crayons and coloring books to local schools.

arfb photo

Brenda Sandage of Batesville (Independence Co.) took home $400 and a serger sewing machine after being named Adult Sweepstakes Winner in ArFB’s Sew with Cotton Competition.

Little River: The committee donated money and helped with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The committee also sponsored a summer reading program and helped purchase supplies and awards.

by distributing brochures about nutrition and rice at our annual city festival. The committee also conducted a bicycle safety event in conjunction with the Cooperative Extension Service at the Brinkley Fall Roundup. The committee also manned an information booth at the county health fair and distributed brochures on health-related subjects.

Lonoke: The committee manned a fair

Montgomery: The committee

booth at Lonoke Co. Fair. The committee also sponsored the Ag in the Classroom coloring and essay contest.

Madison: The committee manned a booth at the county fair and distributed brochures promoting Arkansas commodities and Farm Bureau safety programs. Members of the committee also assisted with the Young Farmers and Ranchers Kiddie Tractor Pull at the fair. Marion: The committee sponsored a

county Sew with Cotton contest, distributed “Growing with Arkansas” books as learning tool for 2nd grade teachers, and arranged for tractor and fire safety smokehouse programs to be conducted.

Miller: Members of the committee cooked and served lunch to senior citizens for senior citizen day at the county fair. In Sept. at the challengers rodeo the committee along With a number of the county board members worked all day at the rodeo. The event attracted over 600 children. Activities included face painting, letting children mount horses, a session teaching children where milk comes from and the importance of good nutrition. There were also sessions on bicycle and gun safety. Monroe: The committee assisted Miss Monroe County rice with her promotion in September

donated the books “Good things from Arkansas” and “Clarabelle” to First Step, a school for children with learning disabilities. The committee also donated “Fun on the Farm” and “Phone Books” to the Mt. Ida kindergarten and first grade students. The committee arranged for 4-H dairy recipe contestants to cater their dishes for an interpretive event dinner at the monthly quorum court meeting.

North Logan: Members of the committee assisted with school day at the county fair. 626 students and 26 teachers toured the fair building. The committee arranged for the combine simulator and Farm Bureau milking cow to be at the fair. The local paper had a picture on the front page of a little girl milking the cow. Members of the committee served as judges and assisted with other area county fairs and festivals.

Perry: The committee helped set up the county fair booth promoting local commodities through information made available in the booth. The committee also made sure county grade school teachers were aware of materials and curriculum available for Ag-inthe-classroom thru Farm Bureau. Phillips: The committee conducted a county Sew With Cotton contest in October. The committee also arranged for an ATV safety program to be conducted at the fairgrounds. Polk: The committee conducted a Sew With Cotton contest and participated in the county fair. Activities included overseeing the photography department, the Jr. Livestock Auction and the 4-H Pullet Chain Auction. Pope: The committee manned a booth at county fair spotlighting crops grown in Pope county. The committee also donated Fun on the Farm coloring books to Pottsville and Atkins Schools and scheduled Stroke Detection Plus programs in June and September. Prairie: The committee donated Rice Krispie treats during Arkansas Zoo Animal days at the local library and to classes at Hazen Elementary School. The committee conducted a rice poster contest and made and gave away rice compression socks at the Farm Bureau booth at the Hazen Rice Festival. The committee distributed brochures about Farm Bureau and the soybean and rice industry.

continued on page 5

Saline: The committee donated food to Community Christian Outreach, an organization that provides food, clothing and medical help to homeless and poverty level families. The committee also purchased supplies and decorated for the County Annual Meeting. Scott: The committee arranged for the Farm Bureau Mobile Ag Experience Trailer to be at the Scott County Fair and Waldron Elementary School. Two committee members and the county Farm Bureau president gave presentations on cotton, rice, beef, poultry to the second, third and fourth grade classes. Searcy: The committee provided curriculum

for the three-day 4-H youth camp in August for 47 children, 10 youth leaders and 11 adults. The young people used AG readers and made posters for the fair dealing with cattle, corn and chickens. The committee also donated soy crayons, pencils and coloring books to the kindergarten through second grade classes at Marshall and Leslie schools.

Nevada: The committee conducted an Ag in the Classroom coloring book contest for elementary students in the county. Newton: Members of the committee read to kindergarten through third grade students at Jasper Elementary schools the books, “Good Things from Arkansas, “Grow Smarter” and “Seed, Soil and

keith sutton photo

Board members Barbara Sutton and Charles Santifer were among the many volunteers from Miller Co. FB who were on hand Sept. 20 to assist with Challenge Rodeo activities for kids at the Four States Fair & Rodeo in Texarkana. Miller Co. FB sponsors the event.

ArFB photo

Nicole Foster, 14, of Viola took home $400 and a serger sewing machine after being named Youth Sweepstakes Winner in ArFB’s Sew with Cotton Competition. Gene Martin of ArFB made the presentation.

Sharp: The committee sponsored and arranged for Farm Bureau safety coordinator Amanda Williams to conduct an internet safety program for fifth and sixth and seventh grade students at Cave City and Highland Schools. South Logan: Members of the committee read the book “Oh say can you seed” to

second graders at Booneville Elementary School and third grade students at Magazine Elementary. We also explained the parts of a plant and told them what was edible and what was not. The committee also presented a program to the Magazine 3rd grade about polymers and how they work to hold moisture to help plants grow. Also discussed different types of soils and what is best for growing vegetables.

South Mississippi: The committee purchased and distributed backpacks with school supplies to area children in need. Stone: The committee sponsored the Stone County 4-H Clubs and Mountain View FFA in their participation in the Stone County Agriculture day. Both continued on page 6

staff contacts • Harry Willems, associate director of O&MP 501-228-1247, harry.willems@arfb.com • Autumn Wood, O&MP special programs assistant 501-228-1306, autumn.wood@arfb.com

arfb women’s committee calendar

county activities Sun.

youth organizations were funded for the costs of sodas, hamburgers and hotdogs which they sold and kept the revenue generated for their projects for the coming year. The committee also helps provide educational seminars for area youth such as horse training seminars, cattle working demonstrations, bee keeping and tractor safety. The committee also sponsored the toy tractor races and the chicken chases and sack races at the Stone County Agriculture Appreciation day in October.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thu.

Fri.

Sat.

New Year’s Day

FB Center closed for New Year’s holiday

January 1

AFBF Convention

St. Francis: The committee conducted a

Honolulu

MLK Jr. Day

rice luncheon during National Rice Month in September and helped promote local agriculture at the county fair.

Union: The committee conducted fall

gardening projects for students at Junction City and El Dorado Schools. The committee also conducted a Water fest for all 6th grade public school students as well as arranged for a health screening program at the Farm Bureau Office. The committee also conducted programs on food preservation and safety.

Van Buren: The committee sponsored

a media appreciation event at which members of the county media were presented American Farm Bureau’s pocket guide and Farm Facts, along with several documents containing information about agriculture’s importance to our county, state and nation. The committee also operated an educational barnyard activity at the county fair. The “Farmer For A Day” barnyard is geared for children 4 to 8 years of age. Farm Bureau gave South Side high school FCCLA students the opportunity to assist in the barnyard when the three elementary schools in the county had field trips to the fair. Five different students helped each day with the opportunity to gain community service hours in developing leadership skills.

Washington: The committee spon-

St. francis co. fb photo

St. Francis Co. FB’s Women’s Committee hosted a rice-tasting luncheon at the Forrest City United Methodist Church on Sept. 23 featuring Miss St. Francis Co. Rice Ashley Blaylock. 6

ArFB Winter Commodity Division Meetings in NLR

February 1

How to Win an Election Seminar in Fayetteville

keith sutton photo

Querita Faddis accepts the Outstanding County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee award from ArFB President Randy Veach on behalf of Washington County, which earned the recognition for the fourth consecutive year. sored the “’Sew with Cotton” contest in our county. The first place winner was Peg bills who won a $25 prize. Rheanna Morgan won first place in the 13 and under division and also won $25. Members of the committee gathered materials for three booths at the county fair - (Fun on the Farm booth, Stick Horse booth, and Farm Bureau booth). The “Fun on the Farm” booth taught children about where their food comes from. They gather corn, potatoes, eggs, apples, feed wooden pigs and wooden sheep. At the end, their produce is exchanged for a packet containing a “Fun on the Farm” coloring book, dairy or beef pencil, Farm Bureau bookmark and crayons. The attendance this year was 231 children. The

pope co. fb photo

The Pope Co. FB Women’s Committee set up a booth at this year’s county fair and received a blue ribbon for their efforts. The booth helped the ladies in their efforts to promote agriculture in the county.

“Stick Horse” booth allowed children an opportunity to ride a stick horse around bales of hay. It was attended by 163 children. The “Fun on the Farm” and “Stick Horse” booth was covered by the local media.

White: The committee scheduled Farm

Bureau safety coordinator Jason Kaufman to conduct a program on farm and ATV safety and distracted driving for students at Pangburn High School. He showed a video produced by AT&T on the dangers of texting while driving. Distracted driving is now the number one killer of teenage motorists and Jason told the students that in 2009 5,500 people under the age of 20 were killed by distracted driving. The committee also arranged for Jason to present a program on the value and importance of Arkansas agricultural commodities to Pangburn High School students as well.

Woodruff: The committee publicized National Rice Month in a variety of ways. Committee members conducted rice luncheons at banks in the county and distributed rice baskets and small packages of rice to customers. The committee also donated “Fun on the Farm” coloring books and posters to students at Augusta Elementary School. Committee members collected materials and delivered them to Augusta and McCrory Elementary Schools for the Farm Bureau coloring book contest.

ASU Agribusiness Conference in Jonesboro

Arkansas General Assembly Convenes for Fiscal Session

President’s Day

Valentine’s Day

AFBF YF&R Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. Feb. 17–20

Mardi Gras

March 1

Food Check-Out Week 26

County Presidents’ Tour

Washington, D.C. Feb. 28–March 2

9 Ark. Ag Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon in LR

ARFB Statewide Women’s Conference

10 ARFB Statewide Women’s Conference

First Day of Spring

St. Patrick’s Day

Yell: The committee arranged for the Farm Bureau milking cow to be at the county fair. Committee members fed fair workers and judges and assisted by manning the Farm Bureau booth. April 22

Earth Day!

Where membership matters. In the fields or the suburbs. In the chicken houses or the downtown lofts. With nearly one in every four Arkansans belonging to a Farm Bureau family, chances are you can find one of our members anywhere. Furthermore, the diversity of our members is a direct result of the diversity of benefits we offer.

An advocate at the Capitol or affordable insurance. A discount on a new vehicle or a college scholarship. We really do have something for everyone.

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