Adam Chappell and his brother Seth farm more than 7,000 acres of row crops in Woodruff and Monroe counties. Adam joined us to discuss the challenges they faced during the difficult 12 months just past and his hopes for a better year in 2021.
Monica Paskewitz of Izard County won Arkansas Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award last year and represented the state in American Farm Bureau's first virtual event this week during the organization's annual convention. She shared her experience with Keith Sutton.
This week, we get to know Arkansas Farm Bureau’s new director of Commodity Activities and Economics, Jessica Richard. We also learn about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the equine industry in Arkansas and we talk to one of the first participants to complete the Farm Apprenticeship program through the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food at the University of Arkansas.
At Dogwood Hills Guest Farm in Harriett, guests can stay overnight and enjoy memory-making experiences based on traditional farm life like milking cows, hand feeding goats and learning about wool and fiber arts. Ruth Pepler and her daughter Grace shared the story behind their Ozark Mountains homestead, including Grace's newly opened Dew Line Dairy and their gluten-free farm-to-table kitchen.
Arkansas Farm Bureau hired Jessica Richard as director of Commodity Activities and Economics in the organization’s Commodity and Regulatory Affairs Department.
Caleb Plyler is a Farm Bureau state board member. He operates a cow-calf farm in Hempstead County and was recently appointed to the national Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board. He shares his reaction to that appointment with us.
Southwest Arkansas has been without a USDA-inspected meat processing facility and local livestock producers have had to make lengthy roundtrips to deliver their animals. Now a local plant is under construction near Horatio because of the efforts of local cattleman Charles Morris. He took advantage of Coronavirus CARES Act grant funds to build the plant which will meet demand for locally-sourced protein products.
Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation’s Organization and Member Programs department announced promotions for three members of its staff. The moves come after Justin Reynolds was named director of the department earlier this month.
Magen Allen of Hot Spring County is beginning her second as chair of Arkansas Farm Bureau's Women's Leadership Committee. She participated in American Farm Bureau's first "virtual" annual convention this week and represented the state in AFBF's Women's Leadership activities. Ken Moore visited with Magen about conducting their business virtually and not being able to meet with other farm women in person. She also discussed the state committee's plans to continue their work virtually this year.
This week, we learn about the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee’s recent work and their participation in American Farm Bureau’s Virtual Annual Convention. We also talk to Arkansas State Representative DeAnn Vaught about a new state meat inspection bill she is championing and we learn about a very busy week for Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Public Affairs and Government Relations team.
