CHANGES TO CHECKOFF PROGRAMS

Continued from page 1 throughout the life of most of the checkoff programs, more than 50 years in some cases.

”With this decision to move the checkoff administration away from the Farm Bureau, we see an opportunity to redirect our staff resources so that we continue to have a positive effect on our membership, as has been our history for decades,” Hillman said. “Farm Bureau will continue to serve agriculture, not use agriculture.

"Arkansas Farm Bureau thanks our legislators for their service and we will continue working with our elected officials to grow and improve Arkansas' largest industry, agriculture.”

Senate Bill 506 moves the agricultural promotion boards to the Department of Agriculture by a cabinet level transfer. Farm Bureau opposed this legislation because it ends a long-standing privatepublic partnership, expands state government, and does not allow the boards to choose their own governance or administration. Farm Bureau has provided the administrative function of the boards at no charge, so that the money farmers contributed through the checkoff programs would be utilized as extensively as possible for research and market development.

The following boards are included in this transfer:

• Arkansas Beef Council

• Arkansas Corn & Grain Sorghum Promotion Board

• Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board

• Arkansas Rice Research & Promotion Board

• Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board

• Arkansas Wheat Board

The legislation will be effective 90 days after the official closure of the General Assembly, known as sine die, which is expected May 1. The legislature held its final meeting on April 7, after 89 days of being in session.

A recap of the full legislative session, complete with voting records for each member of the General Assembly, will be distributed to Farm Bureau leaders in the coming days.

Many have asked how to provide support for those affected by the March 31 tornados. The ArFB Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund exists to provide assistance to organizations helping those affected.

While Arkansas Farm Bureau's immediate focus is taking care of members through its insurance companies, the ArFB Foundation will be working with county Farm Bureaus to determine what and where the greatest needs are for disaster relief efforts in the days and weeks to come.

Leigh Pruss has been promoted to vice president of finance at the Arkansas Farm Bureau (ArFB).

Pruss succeeds Mike Solomon, who retired after 35 years of service at Farm Bureau.

A native of Little Rock, Pruss has worked at Farm Bureau for 18 years, most recently as director of finance. She joined ArFB in 2005 as a senior accountant after three years at Thomas & Thomas. A certified public accountant, she holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas and an MBA from UA-Little Rock. Pruss will manage a team of eight accounting staff who