AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED NORTHEAST ARKANSAS The Achievement Award recognizes young farmers and ranchers RESEARCH STATION in Arkansas who have excelled in their farming and ranching operations and exhibited outstanding leadership abilities. The GROUND BREAKING award is designed for those involved full-time in production agriculture. The three finalists for the Achievement Award are: • John Michael and Rachel Bearden, Hot Spring Co. The Beardens have a cow-calf operation in Friendship. They also raise performance horses, hay, sheep, and timber. Rachel is an extension agent in Hot Spring County, serving as Staff Chair. They have one daughter. • Dayton and Lauren McCarty, Stone Co. The McCartys have a cow-calf operation in Mountain View, where they have 12 commercial pairs and 12 registered black angus. They also have 6 broiler houses. They have three children.
The Northeast Arkansas Rice Research Station ground breaking was held May 9 in Arkansas, with more than 200 people in attendance. The new headquarters building will serve as a rice research and education hub, featuring offices, labs, a demonstration kitchen and public meeting spaces. The facility is the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s newest agricultural research and extension center and will focus on rice production practices that maximize farm income while conserving natural resources.
• Justin and Laycee Story, Scott Co. The Storys have an 851acre farm in western Scott Co., where they run a 145-head cattle operation and150 Black Belly and Dorper Cross sheep. They operate a liquid feed business while Justin also works part-time for other cattlemen in the area. They have three children. The winner of the awards will be announced in July at the Officers and Leaders Conference in Hot Springs.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GROWERS presented by the Cooperative Extension Service’s Arkansas Produce Safety Team, teaches growers about regulatory requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. FSMA is the first federally regulated standard for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding fresh produce. For more information, contact Sanders at gsanders@uada.edu or at 501-671-2046.
Casting for Recovery | The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation enriches the lives of children with special needs, supports their families, and strengthens communities through the sport of fishing. Arkansas Farm Bureau Insurance has partnered with the organization for its four events in the state this year. The first was held May 6 at Reynolds Park in Paragould.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
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