arkansas
farm
bureau
committee comments
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n January, your State Women’s Committee will attend the 94th American Farm Bureau annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. This will be my last duty as your state chairwoman. I received a certificate of recognition of work done by the Women’s Committee of Arkansas and what a great honor. I want to thank each and every one of you for a job well done in promoting Arkansas agriculture in 2012. It has been a great privilege Sue Billiot, chairwoman to serve as your chairwoman for the past two years. Remember you are the strength of our women’s committee. I encourage you to continue to promote and educate others about the importance of agriculture in our state and local communities. With Food Check-Out Week around the corner, I know you are gearing up for another action packed year. The statewide Women’s Conference is March 8-9 in Little Rock at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend. Thank you.
keith sutton photo
Cassie Davis, chairwoman of the Washington County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, accepted the Outstanding County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee award from Randy Veach, Arkansas Farm Bureau president. The award, which honors the state’s top Farm Bureau women’s committee, was presented at Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 78th Annual Convention on Nov. 29 in Hot Springs. This is the fifth consecutive year Washington County Farm Bureau has received this honor.
county activities The following activity summaries were submitted by the county Farm Bureau Women’s Committees:
including the Mobile Ag Experience Trailer, with elementary schools in the county as they plan their spring activities.
Arkansas: The committee hosted an NRCS meeting for the EQIP program and donated money for the local Easter Seals program.
Benton: The committee conducted poultry incubation projects at St. Vincent Catholic, Washington Jr. High, Ardis Ann Middle School, Grace Hill Elementary, Lowell Elementary and Old Wire Elementary schools involving a total of 490 students. Members of the committee also conducted dairy tours for a U of A journalism student,
Baxter: The committee arranged for James Rhein to present honeybee and beekeeping programs to the Audubon and Historical Societies of Bull Shoals. Members of the committee also discussed AITC materials available,
Fourth Quarter 2012 ®
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county activities ®
2012 arfb state women’s committee
A
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 keith sutton photo
Janice Marsh vice chairwoman Woodruff County, District 2 870-731-5660 rmarsh@centurytel.net
Beth Wallace (second from right) of Greenbrier won Best in Show in ArFB’s Rice Cooking Contest on Oct.16 at the 2012 Arkansas State Fair for her Crispy Coconut Pie. With Wallace are members of ArFB’s State Women’s Committee, who judged the contest.
Sherry Felts Mississippi County, District 1 870-537-4772 sherry.felts@yahoo.com
several U of A nutrition classes, a homeschool group and the “Moms on the Farm” group which introduces nonfarm women with life on a farm.
Carole Lichti Carroll County, District 3 870-545-3371 charleslichti@windstream.net
Calhoun: The committee donated rice growing booklets and posters to kindergarten through third grade classrooms. The committee also provided a meal for 4-H members and buyers before the premium sale at the county fair.
Linda Parish Scott County, District 4 479-928-5098 jlparish@juno.com Renee Thrash Faulkner County, District 5 501-336-9652 thrashr@conwayschools.net Meredith Baker Jefferson County, District 6 870-536-3459 meredithbaker@hughes.net Peggy Miller Chicot County, District 7 870-265-5151 peggymiller2@gmail.com
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Clark co. fb photo
Clark Co. FB Women’s Committee co-chairs Karen Kirkpatrick (left) and Becky Baumgardner (right) presented Goza Middle School teachers Kelly Rogers and Kannesha Hall with cotton and forestry literature Oct. 15 to help promote local students’ awareness of agriculture.
Carroll: The committee conducted a “Sew with Cotton” fashion contest at the county fair. The committee also had a booth at the fair promoting the importance of Arkansas agriculture and the economic impact it has in the county and state. Members of the committee donated the booklet, “Seed, Sun and Soil” to a local elementary school. Chicot: The committee held meetings for “Strong Women” where exercises were demonstrated that will help women learn about strength and balance. 24 attended. The committee also presented a lecture in Eudora on how to eat smart and spend less. Tips were given on how you can eat healthy but spend less on food. The committee was also active at the county fair and displayed posters promoting commodities grown in the county. Clark: The committee purchased food for the area backpack food program for county schools Members of the committee also prepared chicken, biscuits and honey bars for an area dinner, prepared dairy bags for each child attending the county fair petting zoo, took food trays to area teachers lounges for back to school breaks and delivered soup to area shut-ins. Clay: The committee conducted a coloring and poster contest for the 1st and 6th grades of Piggott and Rector. Members of the committee also met continued on page 4
Union (county fair booth)
Van Buren (beef promotion)
C O U N T Y c l o s e - u ps
Lafayette (county fair booth)
Craighead (rice promotion)
Izard (4-H recognition)
Independence (Ag in the Classroom award) 3
county activities with local schools and discussed accessing the Farm Bureau website to use as a teaching tool and the many items available to be ordered for classroom use. The committee also conducted a bicycle safety program at the county fair.
Cleburne: The committee distributed recipes for Arkansas grown products and supplied materials of interest to area school teachers at the county fair. The committee also handed out Fun on the Farm booklets to Concord Elementary school children. The committee conducted a program at Pangburn Preschool and presented Fun on the Farm booklets and crayons to 60 children and talked about the farm. Conway: The committee assisted with the annual 4-H Fishing Derby to promote Arkansas Grown catfish to the youth participating. Over 60 youth took part in the derby and went home with agriculture and wildlife information. The committee was also active at the county fair where students from across the county were taught the importance of the livestock and food industry within the state of Arkansas during the county fair. Students toured the livestock barns, took part in hands-on learning activities through the use of the Farm Bureau Mobile Ag Experience trailer and toured displays of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Over 300 students took part in the program. Craighead: For the 17th year the committee to kicked-off “September as Rice Month” by organizing a special Rice Tasting event at a local bank’s lobby. Bank patrons were treated to many different rice foods along with a copy of the recipes. County judge, Ed Hill signed a proclamation declaring September as Rice Month. The Consolidated Youth Services (CYS) Classroom was invited to participate in a Rice Poster Contest conducted by the committee. Winners of the contest were presented with a rice snack basket. The posters were displayed in our NEA District Fair booth for all fairgoers to see. These students were presented an AITC program by Karie Gibson. Karie used the new Rice Ag Reader and provided the students three rice dishes to taste after her presentation. She asked the students to incorporate the rice facts in their posters. Crawford: The committee conducted a rice luncheon at the county fair and served 70 people. The committee also distributed 600 goodie bags, crayons and coloring books to children attending the fair. Cross: The committee conducted a Rice Tasting luncheon, a coloring and poster contest, a health fair at Wynne High School, ATV and bicycle safety program, chemical look-alike, fire survival plan and handed out safety brochures. The committee also provided snacks and refreshments for the county measure the candidate meeting. 4
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Susan Anglin (maroon hoodie, back to camera) of Triple A dairy farm near Bentonville speaks to participants at the first “Moms on the Farm” tour Oct. 8. The event takes women with no agricultural ties to working farms to help them better understand food production.
Drew: The committee provided commodity/ activity placemats for the county annual meeting. The committee also arranged for the Farm Bureau cow and combine simulator during the county fair. The committee provided educational information regarding dairy and grain products, including distributing ice cream sandwiches and bags of rice during all four days of the fair. The committee also donated the book, “How Did That Get in Your Lunchbox” to the UA-Monticello School of Education to be used during training of elementary school teachers. Faulkner: The committee conducted a Sew with Cotton contest in October. Members of the committee also assisted at the Schaefer’s Corn Maze by providing educational items, coloring books, soybean crayons, books about corn and the history of agriculture. Some 6,000 people attended the maze and family oriented agritourism endeavor. The committee also conducted a garden project at Wooster Elementary School which included six lessons for 45 students. Garland: The committee sponsored an Arkansas Ag Commodity Promotion booth at the county fair and distributed 500 packets. The committee also conducted an Ag Literacy Program at Oaklawn Baptist Preschool as well as a program on agriculture career opportunities for 8th grade students at Fountain Lake School and a program on ag literacy for kindergarten through second grade students at Cutter Morningstar Elementary. Grant: The committee conducted a Sew with Cotton contest.
Hot Spring: The committee sponsored an informational booth at the county fair featuring beef, dairy, poultry and other commodities. The committee also distributed “Extra Cheese Please” booklets purchased for the Bismarck Kindergarten and First Grade for FFA week. The committee also assisted with the BBQ Bash and other FFA activities in Bismarck. Howard: The committee sponsored a pizza ranch activity. This event was held during the Howard county fair. Kindergarten students from local schools attended the event and learned about pizza ingredients and where they come from. The committee also offered educational materials, pens, pencils, children’s activities to fair patrons throughout the week. Independence: The committee conducted a Sew with Cotton contest at the Farm Bureau office. Prizes were given from two fabric stores, refreshments were served, and contestants were given sewing tips to prepare for the state contest. The winners also received a monetary prize to enter the state contest. The committee also conducted tours of local livestock and poultry operations for students and 4-H members as well as one for visitors from Washington state. The tours included examples of local forage production. Izard: The committee displayed our Farm Family booth at the Izard County Fair. The committee also assisted in serving the meal at the county annual continued on page 5
county activities meeting and presented the Farm Family of the Year with flowers and a plaque. This was reported on in the local newspapers.
Jackson: The committee submitted four articles to the Newport Independent newspaper about the importance of rice, along with rice recipes. The committee also donated 50 bags of rice to a Georgia girl scout troop. Rice gift bags which included assorted teas, mints and candies were given to the local newspaper and radio station. The committee also arranged for the mayor to proclaim September as Rice Month and conducted a rice recipe tasting event at the Iron Mountain Depot which was covered by KAIT-TV and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Jefferson: The committee presented David Alan Sites, Jr. with the Jefferson County Farm Bureau Scholarship award for $1,000. Lafayette: The committee sponsored a booth at the county fair. It featured “Fresh From the Natural State” pamphlets & informational bookmarkers. Lee: The committee donated placemats, coloring books/crayons and a bingo game to a local school. The committee also assisted with the Tri-County Fair safety program at Marvell Fairgrounds and helped with the Morrill Act 150-year Ag Celebration day at the Lonn Mann Cotton Research Station in Marianna. Little River: The committee donated $200 to the local food pantry for families in need and served water and snacks to local elementary school children while they were touring farms in the county. Lonoke: The committee partnered with Miss Lonoke County Rice to promote rice at a booth at the Lonoke Co. Fair. The committee also honored Dr. B.E Holmes for his many years of service in the community and donated the entire amount of the B.E. Holmes Mentor Fund to the MASH Program and sponsored safety programs at Carlisle Public Schools. Marion: The committee participated in Cattlemens fair and purchased car seats for the annual county WIC baby shower to promote the Farm Bureau Child Safety Seat member benefit. The committee also purchased caps and a plaque for the county Farm Family of the Year presentation. Miller: The committee met with the Back to Nature and Fishing Derby committee to plan for those events in 2013. Members of the committee also met with board members to present a check to Sam Clem for the Therapeutic Riding Center, in addition to helping cook and serve lunch for senior citizens at Miller County Fair. The committee conducted a clean-up day for the
keith sutton photo
On Sept. 18, 3- to 5-year-olds at Little Bitty City Daycare in Hot Springs enjoyed a program about foods from the farm (“Reddy the Farm Truck”) developed and presented by Sara Beth Waller (left) and Sara Loe with Garland County Farm Bureau.
Susan B. Komen Race at the FourStates Fairgrounds with Boy Scouts.
Monroe: The committee assisted with the local Farmer’s Market in conjunction with the Cooperative Extension office. Members helped with publicity and providing manpower. The committee continues to support the Monroe County Human Development Center with their community gardening project. The committee also provided assistance with the local bicycle safety competition at the Fall Roundup. Members cooperated with our local Hometown Health Initiative to promote health fairs in the county. The committee also hosted a “Measure the Candidate” forum for candidates in Monroe County. Nevada: The committee conducted an Ag
in the Classroom coloring contest in local schools.
Newton: The committee promoted Dairy, Pork and Poultry by purchasing, preparing and serving breakfast at the Carroll Electric Community Building. The committee also distributed forestry and beef information to grades 4-6 at Deer School. The committee also made bread and cookies and delivered the treats to residents in the Newton Co Nursing Home. North Logan: The committee
set up the county fair booth featuring these themes: “Agriculture - Growing Arkansas,” and “Did You Eat Today? Thank a Farmer”. The display featured Arkansas grown products. Several committee members prepared dinner for 60 fair judges and workers. Three members of
the committee planted 36 trays of wheat for decorations for the county annual meeting. The theme was “Grass Root Organization” and Patriotic – The committee put its wheat trays in square patriotic baskets with two flags and VOTE picks. They were given away as door prizes. The committee also conducted a class on wheat at Scranton elementary school for about 85 1st and 2nd grade students.
Perry: The committee assisted with the county fair booth and Junior Premium Livestock Sales. Members of the committee also helped local teachers with questions they had regarding Ag in the Classroom materials and curriculum. Pike: The committee assisted with the County Annual Meeting and Fish Fry. Hosted Linda Parish of the State Women’s Committee. She gave a short presentation on Women’s Committee accomplishments. The committee also assisted the County Health Department with the Murfreesboro School Flu Clinic and the county wide Flu Clinic. Poinsett: The committee conducted a coloring book contest in county elementary schools. Polk: The committee set up the My Plate nutrition display and activity at Mena Schools. This is a community event for students to learn about choosing a healthy, balanced meal. The committee also conducted a Sew With Cotton contest for Polk County. continued on page 6 5
county activities Pope: The committee distributed 200 coloring books and 200 crayons for the lions care program. The committee also sponsored an ATV class for 4-H. The fair booth had a Child Safety Seat and booster seat display. Members of the committee also fed the judges and workers at the county fair. Pulaski: Pam Bredlow invited a LeadAR group to visit their farm to learn more about Agriculture, while Donna Bemis from Bemis Tree Farm sponsored a booth at the Flower and Garden Show. Betty Oliver helped to coordinate the Sew With Cotton Contest at the Annual Convention. Bemis Tree Farm donated the Christmas trees to the Capitol and the Clinton Library. Kathy Ratcliffe assisted in teaching a class on basic horticulture through the Master Gardeners program and Donna Bemis helped to coordinate a tour of the Mabelvale Middle School Gardens for Sylvan Hills High School students. Randolph: The committee conducted a rice tasting luncheon in September with many in attendance. Scott: The committee assisted county board members with the Ag Experience trailer and Farm Bureau milk cow at our county fair. Committee members spoke to 18 different classes, grades 2-4, about some of the commodities grown in Arkansas. Safety coordinator Jason Kaufman spoke with four Mansfield High school classes on drunk driving, distracted driving, and where food comes from. Amanda Williams visited Mansfield Middle School and spoke to four, 8th grade classes on where our food comes from. Our Women’s committee spoke to two classes at a local preschool about where our food comes from. We used lunchable pizzas as a hands on activity. We also read the Arkansas Farm Bureau book “Good Things From Arkansas.” Searcy: The committee made plans to promote Ag in the Classroom program which will be conducted October 1st through mid-November. The committee will conduct the coloring book contest for K-2 grade students and the poster contest for 3rd-6th grade students. The committee bought art supplies for the local schools in advance of the coloring book and poster contest. Three ladies helped with the booth at the county fair.
chris wilson photo
Roseanne Stitcher (left) of Cave City and Renea Foster of Viola were named Sweepstakes Winners in ArFB’s Sew with Cotton Competition. They each took home $400 and a Husquvarna serger sewing machine for their achievements.
Sharp: The committee conducted a Sew with Cotton contest with two winners: Rosanne Stitcher and Judy Beckenridge, both from Cave City. Rosanne went on to win the state contest. The committee also distributed the Kids Pork Cookbooks to 4th graders at Cave City Elementary. Amanda Williams, ArFB Safety Coordinator conducted an Internet Safety program for the 4th-7th graders at Highland School. South Logan: The committee presented a program to Booneville 3rd grade students about the parts of plants that can be eaten. Members gave examples of vegetables which we usually have
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
in our gardens. The committee also conducted a Sew with Cotton contest during the county fair. With the help of the County Extension Service, the committee presented a program on purchasing groceries wisely. This program was followed by an article in the local newspaper.
St. Francis: The committee conducted the annual Rice Tasting Luncheon promoting Rice Month. It featured a rice cook-off and several state office employees served as judges. Door prizes were given donated by local businesses. The healthy woman representative had a display on the benefits of brown rice. The committee also assisted Miss St. Francis County Rice in her meetings and provided her with the necessary rice items for her presentations. Stone: The committee donated coloring books and crayons to the K-2 classes in the local schools. Members walked in the 19th annual Susan B Komen Race for the Cure in Little Rock in October. The committee also sponsored a booth at the county fair which promoted local commodities. continued on page 7
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county activities Union: The committee hosted a rice luncheon for 70 people in conjunction with Arkansas Rice month. Rice Spectacular was served to those in attendance. Rice recipes were highlighted by committee members at the county Extension Homemakers Achievement Day. The committee set up an Arkansas commodities display and a beef display at the county fair. Recipes were distributed at both booths. They also set up a gardening booth promoting Arkansas fruits and vegetables. 400 bags of rice, Farm Bureau book marks and rice Ag Readers were distributed at the fair. Members assisted 4-Hers in preparing for a National seafood contest at which they served “Senn-sational Seafood Stir Fry.” Arkansas rice was one of the main ingredients in this recipe. The committee also conducted a Sew with Cotton contest. Van Buren: The committee conducted a barnyard activity area for youngsters age 4 thru 8 at the county fair promoting Arkansas agricultural commodities. The children are invited to play our “Farmer For A Day” game. They have chores to do and must take their produce to market like farmers do. They are given a basket and told to gather potatoes, carrots, fruit from the orchard, and eggs from the hen house. They take their basket to market and get a bright orange ribbon as compensation. Then they have other chores to do: They exercise the horse, water the ducks, milk the cow and for recreation they can fish in the pond. The Arkansas Farm Bureau milking cow was a real treat for them. The children received ribbons that read “I milked a cow at the Van Buren County Fair”. The committee sent a press release describing the event to both county newspapers. The committee also conducted a beef nutrition program, arranged for safety coordinator Jason Kaufman to conduct programs on
keith sutton photo
More than 150 students from Prairie Grove Elementary visited Davis Riverview Farms in Washington Co. Oct. 4-5 to learn about dairy production from owners Scott and Cassie Davis. distracted driving, a Sew with Cotton contest and several other activities.
Washington: A committee member
hosted a field trip and tour for 150 Prairie Grove Elementary school children to visit their dairy farm to learn about dairy and milk production and life on the farm. The committee also helped sponsor a “Fun on the Farm” booth at the Washington County Fair. Committee members attended the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Ag dinner, the Rural Friendship Day tour hosted by our
county and conducted a Sew with Cotton contest.
White: The committee conducted a ‘Corn for Kid’ program. This was the annual ‘Corn for Kids’ program. Approximately 51, 6th grade students at Pangburn started this project in the 5th grade and completed it in the 6th grade. They were in on the planting in the Spring, watched it being harvested, then they gathered mature ears for working in the classroom. They learned how the grain was transported to mills and made into various products. They gathered, shucked, shelled and ground corn. They also experimented making corn starch putty. They netted $757 after expenses by growing an acre of corn on land provided by Jackie Reaper. Woodruff: The committee conducted rice luncheons at the Bank of Augusta and Bank of McCrory during rice month in September. Rice gift baskets were given away as part of drawings held at all banks in Woodruff County. A member of the committee also helped judge rice dishes at the Arkansas State Fair. The committee also delivered coloring sheets and poster boards for the county coloring contest to all elementary schools in Woodruff County. The committee also presented a program on farming to students at Augusta High School.
van buren co. fb photo
Student volunteers from South Side Bee Branch HS’s Family, Career and Community Leaders organization assisted Van Buren Co. FB Women’s Committee members at a Farmer-for-the-Day event Sept. 13-14. More than 600 K-3 students attended.
Yell: The committee conducted an embryology program for two second grade classes at Danville Elementary School that reached 70 students. The committee also distributed brochures on ATV safety at a Danville Elementary parent meeting and provided meals for the judges at the Yell County Fair. 7
arfb women’s committee calendar Sun.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Sat.
January 1
2
3
4
5
10
11
12
New Year’s Day, FB Offices closed
6
7
9
8 Corn & Grain Sorghum Producer Conference in Jonesboro
13
14
15
Corn & Grain Sorghum Producer Conference in Dumas
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17
18
19
23
24
25
26
30
31
2 February 1
2
Legislature Convenes
AFBF Convention in Nashville, Tenn.
20
21
22
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
27
28
29
ArFB Winter Commodity Division Meetings in NLR
3
4
5
Groundhog Day
6
7
8
9
AFBF Joint Leadership Conference in Phoenix
10
11
AFBF Joint Leadership Conference
17
18
President’s Day
12
13
Farmers’ Day at the Legislature
ASU Agribusiness Conference Ash Wednesday
Valentine’s Day
19
20
21
Mardi Gras
14
15
16
22
23
State YF&R Conference in LR
Food Check-Out Week 24
25
26
27
28
3
4
5
6
7
March 1
2
8
9
Ag Hall of Fame Lunch State Women’s Conference in LR
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
29
30
Daylight Savings Starts
17 St. Patrick’s Day
24
First Day of Spring
25
26
27
28
FB Offices Closed for Easter Holiday Good Friday
31 Easter
8