News & Media

2018 County Farm Families of the Year Named

LITTLE ROCK – County winners for the 71st annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program have been selected. The county winners will be visited by a set of judges to determine the eight district winners, to be announced June 20. They will be visited again by a different set of judges in July to determine a state winner, which will be announced Dec. 6 at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon in North Little Rock.

The county winners are:

East Central District

  • Lee – Mark Hurt, Marianna
  • Lonoke – Isbell Family Farms, England
  • Monroe – Phllip Ferebee, Brinkley
  • Prairie – Casey and Leah Beth Skarda, Des Arc
  • Pulaski – Mike and Kelly Daniels, North Little Rock
  • St. Francis – Bart Haven, Forrest City
  • White – Shannon Feather, Higginson
  • Woodruff – Billy and Nancy Kyle, Augusta

North Central District

  • Baxter – Vernon and Julie Fowler, Clarkridge
  • Cleburne – Chris and Lisa Davis, Pailey Defoor Farm, Drasco
  • Fulton – Lendal and Tammy Erby, Viola
  • Independence – Aaron Turner, Cord
  • Izard –Tim Finley, Sidney
  • Marion – William Blasdel, Flippin
  • Searcy – Brandon and Katrina McCallister, Marshall
  • Stone – Olen Wilson, Timbo
  • Van Buren – Jared and Lacey Standridge

Northeast District

  • Clay – Mark and Michael Ahrent, Corning
  • Craighead – Terry and Paula Grimes, Grimes Farm Partnership, Bookland
  • Crittenden – Michael and Kelly Pouncey, Hughes
  • Cross – Derek Wood, Cherry Valley
  • Greene – Newberry Farm, Paragould
  • Jackson – WKW Partnership, Swifton
  • Lawrence – Mitch and Geta Bell, Saffell
  • Mississippi – Russ and Katie Thomason, Sandy Bayou Planting Company, Osceola
  • Poinsett – Brad and Jason Malone, Bono
  • Randolph – Redwine Angus Farm, Maynard

Northwest District

  • Benton – Jeremy Jackson, Gentry
  • Boone – Carl Campbell, Harrison
  • Carroll – Kevan and Lynn Flowers, Oak Grove
  • Crawford – Tim  and Beth Owen, Alma
  • Franklin – David and Sandra Morris, Cecil
  • Johnson – Michael Barr, Clarksville
  • Madison – Shannon and Melissa Fancher, Huntsville
  • Newton – Jake Moenning, Vendor
  • Sebastian – Lynn Strang, Lavaca
  • Washington – Jerry and Dyanna Moyer, Lincoln

Southeast District

  • Arkansas, N. – Jordan and Ashley Maier, Stuttgart
  • Arkansas, S. – Dean and Tawana Watson, St. Charles
  • Ashley – Robert B. (Tate) Watt, Crossett
  • Chicot – Berkemeyer and Sons, Lake Village
  • Desha – James Dunnahoe, Tillar
  • Drew – Tony and Letica Adams, Monticello
  • Jefferson – Joshua J. Euseppi, Altheimer
  • Lincoln – Steve Scott, Star City
  • Phillips – Darrin Davis, Lexa

Southwest District

  • Bradley – Wilson and Spurlock Farms, Hermitage
  • Calhoun – Josh and Shana Morris, Hampton
  • Hempstead – Jeff and Jane Collumns, Hope
  • Lafayette – Mike and Polly Lee, Lewisville
  • Little River – Cowling Family Farms, Foreman
  • Miller – Jimmy and Crystal Hewitt, Cherokee Cattle Co., Fouke
  • Nevada – Todd Brown, Rosston
  • Union – Gary and Kristi Sewell, El Dorado

Western District

  • Faulkner – Michael Lee, Conway
  • Logan – Mark Snow, Subiaco
  • Montgomery – Wednell Adams, Mount Ida
  • Perry – Jason and Christy Trantina, Bigelow
  • Polk – Matt and Jessica Debnar, Mena
  • Pope – Shawn and Gayla Boxnick, London
  • Yell – Lewayne and Mary Hold, Danville

West Central District

  • Clark – Wyndal Minton, Gurdon
  • Dallas – Lathan and Sandra Erwin, Fordyce
  • Garland – James Parker, Hot Springs
  • Grant – Shelby and JoAnn Taylor, Sheridan
  • Hot Spring – Mike and Jenny Lanier, Malvern
  • Howard – Randall and Kelly Pugh, Dierks
  • Saline – Damon Helton, Benton
  • Sevier – Walter John Marshall, Horatio

“The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program recognizes great farmers and ranchers each year,” said Randy Veach, president, Arkansas Farm Bureau. “These families are involved in noble and important work to provide food, fiber and shelter to the world.

“Congratulations to these great farm families. We are pleased to honor their success, stewardship, and commitment to Arkansas agriculture.”

Since 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program has served as a vehicle to recognized outstanding farm families throughout the state. The objectives of the Farm Family of the Year program is,

  • To give recognition and encouragement to farm families who are doing an outstanding job on their farm and in their community;
  • To gain recognition of the importance of agriculture in the community and state;
  • To disseminate information on improved farm practices and management.

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 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Arkansas has had two overall winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016. All winners are judged on their farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership.

Sponsors of the Farm Family of the Year program are Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, and the three Farm Credit agencies that serve Arkansas: AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas and Midsouth Farm Credit. Additionally, support for the program is provided by the Arkansas Agriculture Department, Arkansas Department of Career Education, Arkansas Press Association, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development.

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of more than 190,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.

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Steve Eddington
(501) 228-1383
steve.eddington@arfb.com

or

Maddison Stewart
(501) 228-1394
maddison.stewart@arfb.com