Justin and Laycee Story of Cauthron (Scott County) and Hannah Walker of Henderson (Baxter County) earned the top Young Farmers & Ranchers awards Thursday during Arkansas Farm Bureau’s annual Officers & Leaders Conference at the Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro. The awards honor young farmers and ranchers ages 18-35 for the general excellence of their operations, their hard work and innovation.
With the YF&R Achievement Award, the Storys received $35,000 and a trip to the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Texas to compete for the national award. The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers in Arkansas who have excelled in their farming/ ranching operations and exhibited outstanding leadership abilities. The award is designed for an individual or couple involved in full-time production agriculture with a majority of their income subject to normal production risks. The Achievement Award is sponsored by the Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Company.
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2024 YF&R Achievement Award | Shown (from left) are ArFB Vice President Mike Freeze, ArFB President Dan Wright, YF&R Vice Chair Stewart Warner, Kary, Justin, Burl, Laycee and Ola Story, and YF&R Chairs Brad and Tara Peacock.
2024 WLC Photo Recap, Page 5
2024 Top YF&R Award Finalists, Page 2
2024 O&L Photo Recap, Page 3-4
2024 TOP
YOUNG FARMERS & RANCHERS
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The Storys have a farm in western Scott Co, where they run a beef cattle and hair sheep operation and a liquid feed business. Justin also works part-time for other cattlemen in the area. The Storys moved to Arkansas from Florida in 2021 after inheriting the farm and have become a strong part of the ag community in Scott County. They have three children who help on the farm.
Walker received the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of individuals or couples who earn the majority of their income through off-farm efforts, but who are involved in farming and Arkansas Farm Bureau. They are evaluated on their understanding of agricultural issues, as well as leadership, achievements and involvement in Arkansas Farm Bureau and other organizations. The Excellence in Agriculture Award is sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau Mutual Company.
As winner of the Excellence in Agriculture Award, Hannah Walker received an $11,000 cash prize and a trip to the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention to compete for the national award.
Walker and her husband Cody run a cow-calf operation near Mountain Home. On weekdays, Hannah works within the Mountain Home School district, and on the weekends she and Cody operate County Line Beef, LLC, a direct-to-consumer beef operation. Hannah and her family look to be the face of agriculture in their community. Their two children Claire and Charlie are active on the farm and in 4-H.
2024 YF&R Excellence in Ag Award | From left are YF&R Chairs Brad and Tara Peacock, Hannah Walker, Claire Walker, Cody and Charlie Walker and YF&R Vice-Chair Stewart Warner.
YF&R Achievement Award Finalists | Dalton and Skiver Dilldine of Mississippi County.
YF&R Achievement Award Finalists | Cody and Olivia Stroud of Sharp County.
YF&R Excellence in Ag Award Finalists | Garrett and Mallory Moix of Faulkner County.
YF&R Excellence in Ag Award Finalists | Caleigh Watlington of Columbia County.
2024 OFFICERS & LEADERS
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1) ArFB President Dan Wright gives his remarks during the first day general session. 2) ArFB EVP Jarrod Yates addressed the audience on new programs coming to the membership. 3) ArFB members held O&L in Jonesboro for the first time in 21 years. 4) Craighead County Sheriff Marty Boyd led the group in the pledge of allegiance and then received the ArFB Hometown Hero award from ArFB Secretary/ Treasurer Terry Dabbs, ArFB President Dan Wright and ArFB Vice President Mike Freeze. 5) Day two of the conference included a tour to Delta Peanut. 6) Members visited the Riceland milling facility on a tour. 7) Arkansas State University hosted attendees at several campus locations including the A-State Equine Center. 8) Members were also able to tour and pack meals at the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas.
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1) Members from across the state were able to catch up in between sessions. 2) The summer commodity meetings where held during two sessions. 3) Commodity division meetings included guest speakers including NAME HERE. 4) Those who attended the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas tour packed 4,518 meals during their visit. 5) The Arkansas AgCast recorded on-site with Dr. Heidi Banse, dean for the Arkansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine who discussed plans for the new vet school. 6) Dr. Cliff Jones, deputy director of Arkansas State University’s Delta Center for Economic Development, was the keynote speaker for Friday. 7) Riceland tour attendees were taken on a complete walk-through of the milling process. 8) Delta Peanut tour guests were able to observe the sorting and storing areas of the facility. 9) Those in attendance were able to register for door prizes throughout the conference. 10) Employees of Riceland were on hand during the tour to explain each step of the milling process.
2024 WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
1) The Women’s Leadership Committee hosted a Grab & Gab session during O&L for attendees to gather ag education materials to take back to their counties. 2) The conference included a Community Cultivations panel, where state and county level programs were discussed. 3) Another panel included a discussion with a journalist, farmer and legislative liaison on how attendees can be an effective advocate. 4) A third panel including mental health professionals discussing how attendees can take first steps for treating mental health. 5) The second day of the conference included a hands-on Ag in the Classroom session with ideas and projects for members to take back to county schools. 6) Saturday’s keynote speaker Katelyn Duban, included a talk on the illusion of balance . 7) Friday night dinner and entertainment included several competitive rounds of bingo, with attendees dressing up, winning prizes and engaging with others. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
MARKET NEWS
as of July 10, 2024
Contact Brandy Carroll brandy.carroll@arfb.com
Tyler Oxner tyler.oxner@arfb.com
Rice
Rice futures have been on a roller coaster ride for over a month. After setting a new 6-month low in midJuly, September futures completed a 62% retracement of the sell-off. The market began August with a huge bearish reversal, suggesting the recovery was over, and another downturn was on its way. There has since been little follow-through selling, but that high of $15.38 is now key resistance. A close above that level would negate the key reversal and signal a retest of the contract high of $15.80. The low of $14.80, also charted on Aug. 1, is key support, and a close below that level could signal a retest of the low at $14.15. The harvest has begun in Louisiana and Texas in earnest, and we have seen the first loads of rice delivered in Arkansas this week. Nationwide, USDA says 80% of the crop is in good to excellent condition. In Arkansas, that total is 79%.
Cotton
Cotton futures continue to trade at or near contract low levels, with 70 cents now key resistance and the first upside objective in confirming a bottom. 45% of the cotton crop is rated good to excellent nationwide, up from 41% a year ago. Combined with acreage that is up 14% from last year, and that means the potential for a larger-than-expected cotton crop in the U.S. Strength in the dollar is also a bearish factor for prices, but stronger crude oil
will offset that pressure to some degree, as higher oil prices make competing synthetic fibers more expensive. In Arkansas, 74% of the crop is rated good to excellent, 91% of the crop is setting bolls, and 13% of the crop has opening bolls.
Corn
Corn prices remain under pressure as a global stock and commodity selloff accelerated this week, coinciding with crude oil prices hitting their lowest levels since early February. Contributing factors to the decline in corn futures include forecasts of cooler weather and assumptions of potentially record-high yields. The September contract is hovering around the recent low of $3.78, which is seen as support, while the 20-day moving average of $3.93 acts as resistance. In Arkansas, corn conditions have remained steady, with 76% of the crop rated as good to excellent. Nationally, the condition of the U.S. corn crop has declined by 1% over the past week to 67% rated good to excellent, which is still a 10% improvement compared to the same period last year. These positive condition reports, along with higher continuous stock reports, continue to exert downward pressure on prices.
Soybean
A bumper U.S. crop appears to be on the way, increasing pressure on the soybean market and favoring bearish trends. November soybeans are testing the contract low again, primarily due to weakness in soymeal. The November contract has support at $10.12, while the 20-day moving average of $10.44 serves as resistance. Rainfall in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as expected precipitation in Western Nebraska and the remnants of Hurricane Debby in the southeast U.S., are
factors influencing crop conditions. In Arkansas, the crop condition improved by 1% over the past week, with 72% rated as good to excellent. Nationwide, soybean conditions improved by 1% to 68% rated good to excellent, which is a 14% improvement compared to last year. These favorable condition reports, along with higher continuous stock reports, continue to keep prices under pressure.
Cattle
Cattle futures have plummeted in recent days as the long-term rally came to an abrupt end. October futures violated uptrending support near $185 last week, confirming that a top has been charted for the time being. Support can now be found at $176, and further losses could signal a move toward support at $171. The collapse in prices is largely attributed to sharp U.S. stock market losses that have triggered demand worries and fund selling. October feeders are headed for a retest of the 8-month low below $236.
Hogs
Hog futures are attempting to consolidate in the face of volatility in other markets. October has resistance near $79 and support in the form of a double bottom just above $68. Strength in cash hog and wholesale pork prices suggests that demand is strong, but pork prices may peak soon due to seasonal factors, if not due to overall economic concerns. Marketings are expected to increase seasonally, as well, adding further pressure to the market.
