89TH Annual Meeting Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 2023 Statehouse Convention Center Little Rock
From the President
I hope you will make plans to attend the Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 2023 annual meeting in Little Rock. This is one of my favorite times of year when I get to see friends from across the state. This year’s theme is “Breaking New Ground” and that will be reinforced in everything from the tradeshow to conferences to our business session.
Our convention is the largest gathering of farmers and ranchers in the state and our trade show is second to none. I am excited to announce that this year’s tradeshow will include:
• A farmers market
• Ag Innovation Challenge Presentations
• ArFB Ag Mechanics Show
• Kids Corner
The Ag Mechanics Show will give students an opportunity to showcase their product designs and a few of these will even be auctioned in the tradeshow on Wednesday!
Your staff is working to build a great line up of conferences and speakers. We have again invited the Arkansas House and Senate Ag Committees to meet at our convention, and are excited to have former NFL lineman-turned-farmer Jason Brown as Thursday’s keynote speaker.
The Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation will host the 4th annual Foundation Night-In from 6-8 p.m on Nov. 29.
This year’s event will include a silent auction as well as several live auction items, including the Golden Rooster. This is one of our biggest fundraisers for the Foundation, which supports MASH Programs, Ag-in-the-Classroom, Ronald McDonald House, Hunters Feeding the Hungry, Arkansas Food Bank and so many more. I hope you will make plans to attend and support this important cause. Our meeting will close with the 89th annual Business Session of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, where voting delegates from the state’s 76 county Farm Bureaus define the organization’s policy positions on items of importance to its members.
I hope you will make plans today to come join us at our 89th annual convention in Little Rock.
Rich Hillman ArFB President
2 General Info 4 Trade Show 6 Schedule-at-a-Glance 8 Delegate Info 9 Speakers Table of Contents
General Info
General Activities Special Events
Registration is in Osage in the Convention Center rotunda. All events will be in the Statehouse Convention Center.
The annual meeting will begin with President Hillman’s final address to the membership during Wednesday’s General Session and finish with our delegate session on Friday.
Pre-Registration
Look for registration
email/information in Sept. All attendees should be pre-registered.
Onsite Registration
There will be on-site registration if needed.
Check-in/Check-out
Hotel check-in times are 3 p.m. Hotel check-out times are 11 a.m.
Foundation
Night-In
(Governor’s Hall IV)
Wednesday, Nov. 29
Join us for evening of great food & entertainment as we toast president Rich Hillman at his final State Convention. The event will include a silent auction and several live auction items: First County to Eat, Milk Cow, Book Barn, and the coveted Golden Rooster!
Ag Mechanics Show (Tradeshow Floor)
We are excited to introduce the inaugural Arkansas Farm Bureau Ag Mechanics show, where we will be hosting a statewide youth contest. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their incredible projects, ranging from picnic tables to livestock trailers, all designed and manufactured by the students themselves. We will have an auction in the tradeshow on Wednesday for some of the items!
Farmers Market (Tradeshow
Floor)
This year’s annual convention promises to be a celebration of the best of Arkansas, showcasing local food and goods in a dedicated area: the Farmers Market presented by Arkansas Grown & Arkansas Made.
Ag Innovation Challenge (Tradeshow
Floor)
Thursday, Nov. 30
Arkansas Farm Bureau presents the first Arkansas Ag Innovation Challenge in partnership with Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. The selected semi-finalists will present their product or service to judges and members for a chance to win part of the $15,000 total prize package. Members will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite presenter as the “People’s Choice Winner.”
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Dining Options Near the Statehouse Convention Center
@ The Corner – Breakfast/Lunch
201 E Markham
Capital Bar & Grille (Capital Hotel)
111 W Markham
Big Whiskey’s
225 E Markham
Diablo’s Tacos
300 President Clinton Ave
Gus’s Fried Chicken
300 President Clinton Ave
Flying Saucer
323 President Clinton Ave
Cache Restaurant
425 President Clinton Ave
Sticky Fingerz
107 River Market Ave
Flying Fish
511 President Clinton Ave
Dugan’s Pub
401 E 3rd St
Copper Grill
300 E 3rd St
Bruno’s Little Italy
310 Main St.
Doe’s Eat Place
1023 W Markham
Iriana’s Pizza
201 E Markham
Samantha’s Tap Room
322 Main St #1
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Trade Show
We are thrilled to announce that the ArFB tradeshow is back,
We are expecting more than 60 vendors and adding new content to the show for our more than 1,100 attendees to enjoy.
Stage Presentations
We have an exciting lineup of stage presentations that will feature:
• Arkansas Ag Innovation Challenge
• Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet
• Arkansas AgCast
• Live entertainment
Farmers Market
Local foods and goods showcased by Arkansans thanks to AR Department of Agriculture’s sponsorship. Contact John McMinn at john.mcminn@arfb.com for more information.
Arkansas Farm Bureau Ag Mechanics Show
We invite all talented youth to take part in this exciting competition. To apply for the youth contest or for more details, please contact Matt Jackson at matt.jackson@arfb.com.
Ag Innovation Challenge
We invite Arkansas startups developing innovative solutions that address challenges facing Arkansas’ farmers, ranchers, and rural communities to take part in this new program. Applications open through October 8, 2023.
Join us for this exceptional experience and immerse yourself in the heart of downtown Little Rock at our 89th Annual State Convention. The tradeshow will be open November 29-30.
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bigger, and better than ever!
Vendors & Sponsors
We offer two days of invaluable interaction and networking opportunities with our 1,100 plus attendees. As a vendor at our tradeshow, you’ll have excellent opportunities to showcase and sell your products or discuss how your company can assist and benefit our members. Scan here to be a tradeshow vendor or sponsor:
5 10'x20' Truss entrance entrance Entrance men women building services roll door ramp roll door service hallway roll door roll door 15' x 15' roll door 20'w x 15'h women men exit women men storage women men elevator exit exit exit exit exit exit exit exit exit counter storage water cantrell road / Hwy 10 Concessions 42 52 43 Stage 12' x 20' Silent Auction 36 1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 19 20 21 18 22 23 24 28 29 30 31 35 4732 33 34 3940 44 45 48 49 50 51 7 6 5 25 17 26 27 38 46 37 41 SHCC seating for 100 50' Ag Mechanics A B SB / skirted tables SHCC E 6' C D Kids Corner 8' high drape 8' high drape FB Equip Room vendor drive through Registration F SB cocktail tables SB cocktail tables 30' X 60' 30' X 30' 30' X 60' 60' X 60' 20' X 40' 20' X 20' 30' X 90' 30' X 90' 30' X 60' 30' X 60' 30' X 60' G H I J K 13'6" Show Storage vendor drive through vendor move in break area Farmers Market vendor / hotel move in
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Nov. 29 10 a.m. Registration/Trade Show Opens 1 p.m. General Session
Address Rich Hillman, ArFB President Leadership Award Presentations FFA and 4-H Special Recognition 3:30 p.m. Awards Presentation in Trade Show 4 p.m Ag Mechanics Show Auction 4:45 p.m. Resolution Committee Open Hearing 5 p.m. Trade Show Closes 6 p.m. Foundation Night In Thursday, Nov. 30 7 a.m. County Presidents Breakfast Reception Invitation Only 8 a.m. Registration/Trade Show Opens 8:15 a.m. Workshops 9:15 a.m. Workshops 10 a.m. Joint Meeting of Senate/House Ag Committee (invited) 10:30 a.m. Ag Innovation Challenge 12 pm Women’s Leadership Luncheon 2 p.m. General Session County Award Presentations
Jason Brown –NFL Lineman/Farmer 5 p.m. Caucus of Voting Delegates 5:30 p.m. Trade Show Closes
Schedule At-a-Glance Wednesday,
President’s
Keynote:
Friday, Dec. 1
7 a.m. Voting Delegate Breakfast
8 a.m. Business Session
Report of Credentials Committee
Report of Rules Committee
Introduction of Parliamentarian
Caucus Reports
Election of Board Members
Election of Voting Delegates to AFBF Convention
Business Report
Report of Nominating Committee Election of President
Election of Vice President
Discuss and Action on Resolutions
Adjourn
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Delegate Activities
District Caucus Meetings
Thursday, Nov. 30 at 5:00 p.m.
Statehouse Convention Center
Delegate Breakfast
Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 a.m.
Statehouse Convention Center
Voting Delegate Session
Friday, Dec. 1 at 8:00 a.m.
Statehouse Convention Center
Voting Delegate/Alternate Eligibility:
• Farm Bureau insurance agents are not eligible to serve as voting delegates.
• Employees of Arkansas Farm Bureau, county Farm Bureaus or affiliated service companies are not eligible to serve as voting delegates.
• There shall be only one voting delegate per family membership.
• Employees of federal or state governmental agencies are prohibited from serving as voting delegates.
• State or national political office holders or filed candidates for state or national political office are prohibited from serving as voting delegates.
Farm Bureau Districts for Electing Federation Directors
District 1: Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Mississippi, Phillips, Poinsett and St. Francis.
District 2: Clay, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Monroe, Prairie, Randolph, Sharp, White and Woodruff.
District 3: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Izard, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy, Stone and Washington.
District 4: Crawford, Howard, Little River, Miller, Montgomery, North Logan, Pike, Polk, Scott, Sebastian, Sevier and South Logan.
District 5: Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Franklin, Garland, Hot Spring, Johnson, Perry, Pope, Van Buren and Yell.
District 6: Arkansas, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Pulaski and Saline.
District 7: Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Grant, Hempstead, Lafayette, Nevada, Ouachita and Union.
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Delegate Info
Rich Hillman of Carlisle is the 11th person to serve as ArFB president in the 88-year history of the organization. A sixth-generation farmer, Hillman grows rice, soybeans and corn in Lonoke County. He has been a member of the ArFB state board of directors since 2001 and served as vice president of the board for 11 years before being elected as president. He and his wife Tina have a son and a daughter and two grandchildren.
Jason Brown was the highest-paid center in NFL history, but he walked away from a $35 million contract with the St. Louis Rams. Why? He felt God’s call to become a farmer. Based in Louisburg, NC, First Fruits Farm was founded to share the love of Christ and aid in hunger relief in eastern North Carolina. This story explores his journey of learning to farm, finding the land and growing & harvesting over 100,000 pounds of vegetables - as well as the many extraordinary events which made it all possible.
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Speakers
Other Upcoming Events
Nov. 1-2, 2023
ArFB Resolutions Committee
Hot Springs Convention Center
Jan. 9, 2024
Breaking Down Commodities
ArFB Commodity Division Winter Meetings
Embassy Suites Little Rock
Jan. 19-23, 2024
New Frontiers
AFBF Convention
Salt Lake City, UT
Feb. 9-11, 2024
Breaking Through
ArFB – YF&R Convention
Embassy Suites Little Rock
Mar. 5-7, 2024
ArFB President’s Tour
Washington, DC
Jul. 25-26, 2024
Breaking New Barriers
ArFB Officers and Leaders
Embassy Suites Jonesboro
Jul. 26-27, 2024
Breaking Boundaries
ArFB Women’s Leadership
Embassy Suites Jonesboro
Dec. 4-6, 2024
ArFB State Convention
Hot Springs Convention Center