2016 ARFB County Farm Families of the Year Named

2016 ARFB County Farm Families of the Year Named

Proctor farm family shares local honors

steve.eddington@arfb.com LITTLE ROCK – County winners for the 69th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program have been selected. The county winners will be judged June 6-8 to determine the eight district winners. The district winners will be announced June 14. They will be judged again by a different set of judges July 11-14 to determine a state winner, which will be announced Dec. 8 at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon.

The county winners are: East Central District

• Lee – Ramey Stiles family, Marianna

• Lonoke – Brandon & Beverly Parker family, Carlisle

• Prairie – John & Kristel Petrus family, Hazen

• Pulaski – Jimmy D. Jennings, Sr. family, Sherwood

• Saline – Helmich Farms, Alexander

• St. Francis – Bobby & Lisa Jackson family, Colt

• White – Chris & Nesha Smith family, Rose Bud

• Woodruff – Brad & Angie Burkett family, McCrory North Central District

• Cleburne – Rob Wilson family, Heber Springs

• Independence – Fred Denison, Sr. family, Batesville

• Izard – Brad Wheelis family, Melbourne

• Marion – Nick & Beth Dearmore family, Yellville

• Searcy – Harold Hendrix family, Marshall

• Sharp – Bart & Brandi Schulz family, Cave City

• Stone – Brian & Brandy Stoltze, Mountain View

• Van Buren – Wade Lucas family, Shirley Northeast District

• Clay – Randal & Mark Coleman families, Corning

• Craighead – Josh & Melissa Cureton family, Cash

• Crittenden – Bobby & Marianne Cupples family, Proctor

• Cross – Bob Stacy family, Wynne

• Greene – Jimmy Pat Blackburn family, Paragould

• Lawrence – Rickey & Virginia Goff family, Smithville

• Mississippi – Hart Farms, Inc., Osceola

• Poinsett – Keith & Kristine Bise family, Weiner

• Randolph – A.L.L Farm: Adam Liebhaber family, Pocahontas Northwest District

• Benton – Tracy Moorman family, Gravette

• Boone – Wes Parker family, Omaha

• Carroll – Kirk & Lacey Powell family, Green Forest

• Johnson – Peach Pickin' Paradise: Mark & Shay Morgan family, Clarksville

• Sebastian – Samantha Phanouvong family, Mansfield

• Washington – Kendall & Stephanie Pendergraft family, Nob Hill Southeast District

• Arkansas, N. – Taylor & Nikki Burdett family, Stuttgart

• Chicot – Johan & Helena Loewen family, Eudora

• Desha – Chuck & Marjorie Day family, McGehee

• Drew – Rusty Mitchell family, Monticello

• Jefferson – Steve Pharr family, Pine Bluff

• Phillips – Double H Farms: Jim & Dina Hubbard family, Marvell Southwest District

• Bradley – Mike Harton family, Warren

• Calhoun – Randy & Angie Ables family, Hampton

• Hempstead – Mark & Mindy Lockhart family, Hope

• Lafayette – Stephen Allen family, Lewisville

• Little River – Fawcett Ranch: Brett & Teresa Fawcett family, Ashdown

• Miller – Wren Land & Cattle: Brandon Wren family, Texarkana Western District

• Conway – Lazy G Angus Ranch: Mike & Beverly Gadberry family, Hattieville

• Faulkner – Michael & Kim Dickey family, Greenbrier

• Perry – James Mann family, Bigelow

• Polk – Joe & Jill Brinkley family, Grannis

• Pope – Jared & Whitney Mahoney family, Russellville

• Yell – Jerry, Kathy, Luke & Jeremy Jones family, Gravelly West Central District

• Clark – Roy Gene & George Ann Britt family, Okolona

• Cleveland – Jackson & Brooke Allison family, Rison

• Garland – Tommy & Joy Sorrells family, Royal

• Grant – Chris & Elizabeth Hale family, Sheridan

• Hot Spring – Jay & Valorie Lee family, Bismarck

• Sevier – Phillip & Patricia Maben family, DeQueen “I share the excitement of each of these families being recognized as their county Farm Family of the Year,” said Randy Veach, president, Arkansas Farm Bureau. “They are great examples of the work that makes Arkansas agriculture the most significant and meaningful industry in Arkansas. These families represent the pillars of our state. Congratulations to each of them on this recognition and we share our thanks to all those who have helped them succeed.”

“The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program is one of the oldest of its kind in the nation. The success and longevity of this program has only been possible because of our sponsors and partners,” said Farm Family coordinator Mollie Dykes. “We're honored to work with such great families who work tirelessly to provide our growing world with food, fiber and shelter.”

The Farm Family of the Year program begins each year with the selection of top farm families in each county and culminates in December with the selection of the state Farm Family of the Year who will then go on to represent Arkansas at the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. All winners are judged on their farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership.

Steve Eddington