Helping Farmers, Helping You

HELPING FARMERS, HELPING YOU with Warren Carter

ARFB EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

There are some things that can’t be put on hold. Meanwhile, our membership held steady, even growing

This year has seen a lot of postponements and in recent months as we continued our work to identify new, cancellations, from summer movie blockbusters exciting and useful benefits for our members and to highlight and major sporting events, all the way down to community the many ways our low annual membership fee supports festivals, business meetings and family gatherings. These important education efforts, community outreach and decisions are the cost of efforts to keep the COVID-19 farmers and ranchers throughout the state. outbreak under control, however there are cases in which the As we approach the end of summer, we will carry out one show must go on, even if it means making some changes to of our most important functions as a grassroots organization: the production. forming our official policy for the coming year. Like many

In my last column, I pointed things in 2020, the process may look out that Arkansas farmers and ranchers continued their essential Food, fiber and a little different than in the past, but it will happen. Taking advantage of work to feed our country despite what we’ve learned from Officers & the emerging pandemic and other challenges of this stressful shelter remain Leaders, we will plan safe, distanced and appropriate meetings. We will year. I also highlighted the ways that Arkansas Farm Bureau was continuing its mission to support necessary, and use virtual elements when necessary and adhere to all recommended state guidelines. Most importantly, we agriculture and all of those across the state who work in our state’s Arkansas Farm will – as we do each year – hear the key concerns and needs of our county largest industry. leaders and members and we will use Since then, we’ve continued to adapt and make the necessary Bureau remains this to once again build the policy that will guide our efforts throughout adjustments to accomplish the coming year, no matter what our goals, and we’ve been very successful, despite the committed to those unexpected challenges my arise. We have moved carefully in circumstances. Most recently, returning to normal business we held our annual Officers & Leaders Conference “virtually,” who provide it. operations, even as we’ve made the changes necessary to keep our for the first time in its 72-year employees and members safe. As history. Hundreds of viewers we prepare to enter a new season, heard from our board leaders and Gov. Asa Hutchinson we face more uncertainty with a new school year, national via live video stream and hundreds more visited the official and state elections and another harvest. Be it bad weather Officers & Leaders website, which hosted more than eight or the continued spread of coronavirus, there will be more hours of informative video on a variety of important topics, challenges ahead, but we’ve now proven these obstacles such as feral hogs, H-2A employment and ballot initiatives. can be overcome. Work can be accomplished and goals can

We were also able to continue our tradition of recognizing be achieved. the top Young Farmers & Ranchers in the state, thanks to Food, fiber and shelter remain necessary, and Arkansas video submissions and a livestreamed awards announcement. Farm Bureau remains committed to those who provide it. Now, these talented and hard-working young men and Farmers don’t get to put things off until a better year comes women will represent Arkansas at the national level, even if around and neither does Arkansas Farm Bureau. Whether the American Farm Bureau must hold its January convention we’re standing six feet apart or communicating through video, virtually as well. we will do what needs to be done for Arkansas agriculture. •