KIRK JORDON photo
Carolyn Hubbell (left), coordinator of the Nutrition Olympics at Batesville High School, joined Donette Spann, Arkansas Beef Council promotion coordinator, at Spann’s Healthy Choices bracelet station during the event April 3. This is the ninth year for the Olympics, which engages third graders in activities promoting healthy diets and lifestyles. In the fifth-and sixth-grade category, Teresa Bell, a sixth-grade student at Wickes Elementary in Polk County, won first place. Teresa’s parents are Mary Bell and Chance Bowline. Emma Johnson, a fifthgrader at Swifton Elementary in Jackson County, took second. She is the daughter of Jacky and Ginger Johnson. Third place went to Alexandria Breedlove, a fifth-grade student at Deer Elementary. Alexandria is the daughter of Amanda Breedlove. The contest attracted 52 entries from elementary schools in 23 counties. Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 are awarded to
KEN MOORE photo
Wes Ward (left), the new Arkansas Agriculture Secretary, met Stanley Hill, vice president of ArFB’s Public Policy Department and Jeff Pitchford, director of Public Policy, State Affairs, in Ward’s office April 13. Ward assumed duties as secretary March 23. Hill and Pitchford said Farm Bureau looks forward to assisting Ward in his efforts to promote Arkansas agriculture.
Earlier this month, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program, Act 898, which could significantly improve the way some unpaved roads in the state are built and maintained. Arkansas Farm Bureau supported the measure, which will establish a proactive, incentive-based roads program that minimizes erosion and stretches county dollars farther. the top three winners in each category. Janet Carson gardening seminar The Jackson County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, Jackson County Cooperative Extension Service, ASUNewport and White River Garden Club will host a gardening seminar, “A Day with Janet Carson,” in Newport, June 11 at the ASU Newport Student/Community Center. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The program will start at 9:30 a.m. and will end by 3 p.m. The cost is $15 (paid in advance), which includes lunch, door prizes and more. To register, call the Jackson County Extension Office at 870-523-7450 or email wbarker@uaex.edu. The deadline is June 4.
In Arkansas
JACOB APPLEBERRY photo
Safety poster contest winners Arkansas Farm Bureau has announced the winners of its annual safety poster contest, which coincided with Ag Safety Awareness Week March 1-7. The contest was designed to increase awareness of potential hazards on farms and ranches. The posters depicted this year’s theme, “Ride Like a Pro, Wherever You Go.” In the first-and second-grade category, Easton Cantrell, a second-grade student at Deer Elementary in Newton County, won first place. Easton is the son of Derek and Lorie Cantrell. Kailynn Gober, a second-grade student at Gurdon Primary School in Clark County, won second place. Kailynn is the daughter of Kathryn Gober. Brance Williams, a second-grade student at Hazen Elementary in Prairie County, was third. He is the son of David and Angie Williams. In the third-and fourth-grade category, Dusty Davis of Mena, a fourth-grader at Holly Harshman Elementary in Polk County, took first place. Dusty is the son of Dalon and Jennifer Davis. Third-grade student Lily Davis of Prairie Grove Intermediate School in Washington County won second place. Lily’s parents are Scott and Cassie Davis. Lily Parson, a fourth-grade student at Hazen Elementary, was third. Her parents are Terry and Erica Parson.
KEN MOORE photo
Conference, June 16-20.
Arkansas at the National Ag in the Classroom
Dumas, Tillar, Watson and Winchester fire departments and Industrial Grain employees participated in a Technician 1 rope rescue course Feb. 12-15. Bin Biliti and Mike Harp of the Safety and Technical Rescue Association trained these members of the new South Arkansas Rope Rescue Team, which now can rescue victims trapped in agricultural facilities.
Help for feral hog problems Mike Sullivan, state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS) announced April 15 that producers can sign up for a new feral swine management pilot program. Available in Arkansas and four other states, the program is a multipartner collaboration geared toward addressing resource issues caused by feral swine. Arkansas landowners, farmers and ranchers in eight counties — Arkansas, Chicot, Desha, Drew, Pope, Searcy, Sevier and Yell — can sign up for the Feral Swine Management Interim Conservation Activity offered through the Environmental