Front Porch -- Spring 2020 Issue

SPRING 2020

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6 CONTENT

Farm Bureau Matters

3

Helping Farmers, Helping You

5

Rich Hillman

Warren Carter

#StillFarming

Rob Anderson, Keith Sutton, Gregg Patterson, and Ken Moore

6

Sorting Pills

14

Rural Road Stories

18

Member Services Update

22

Taste Arkansas

28

Talya Tate Boener Keith Sutton

Autumn Wood

Ashley Wallace

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28

Cover design by Bryan Pistole

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

FARM BUREAU MATTERS

with Rich Hillman

ARFB PRESIDENT

COVID-19 has Shaken the Foundation of Our Country

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n the midst of a historic pandemic – one that will be included in history books in the future – the president of the United States and the governor of Arkansas both confirmed something that is now abundantly obvious: AGRICULTURE is essential to our state and nation.

COVID-19 has shaken the foundation of our country. All of our daily lives have been dramatically changed, altered, disrupted – you can add any adjective here that fits. Leaving politics aside, our Governor and his staff, our legislators, our hero medical workers, and our law enforcement agencies have worked together to keep Arkansas as safe as possible. If you compare us to other states, we all have to be extremely proud to be an Arkansan right now. We will continue to pray for all of these brave men and women that are serving this great state.

Probably for the first time since the Depression, or maybe since the rationing policies of World War II, Americans have seen grocery shelves that were not completely stocked and it led to panic buying of certain products. It has caused some to question the stability of our food production system in this country. I want to assure you that we will continue to have enough food for our country. I’d also like to point out that there is perhaps one positive that has come of this situation: The American consumer has become more aware of our great farmers and ranchers and what we do.

With tens of millions of Americans losing their jobs, we have seen the pace of work in our nation change drastically. Our processing plants throughout the food chain are experiencing slowdowns or closings, even as the workers there are declared a part of the essential workforce. Hopefully, they will be back online and back to full speed soon, particularly since President Trump signed an Executive Order to keep them operating. One thing that has not changed is that our farmers and ranchers continue to get up every morning and go to work, taking the necessary precautions, ever mindful that we have crops to grow, animals to raise, and business that has to be done. We will continue to supply the safest, most affordable, most plentiful food and fiber supply on the face of the earth!

During this current pandemic, I can’t help but reflect back to the early days of our organization. Arkansas was in pretty dire circumstances. The Great Depression, a major drought and the

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

daily challenges in agriculture were very daunting, to say the least. The resiliency and dogged determination of the Arkansas farmer and rancher got them through those challenging times.

Helping them traverse that tough time was Arkansas Farm Bureau, an organization formed to help not only agriculture, but rural Arkansas.

We will endure and get through our current troubled times.

We will have the bumps and bruises, and even a few scares due to COVID-19. Hopefully, you and your families are staying safe, but know that Arkansas Farm Bureau and its great staff will assist all of us through this period. Our team has been displaced from the office, for the most part, and have been working from their homes, but this has not prevented them in doing their jobs. Our social media posts have multiplied to a new level and many of our leaders have helped in that endeavor.

The staff has also combed over volumes of new government assistance documents, to help disseminate and explain them to our members. We are continuing to monitor and engage in the high-level discussions about support and aid for our farmers and ranchers.

This is just a small glimpse of the hard work they continue to do for us every day, while keeping themselves and their families safe. To all of them we say, “thank you”.

We have, and we will, make it through. I can’t help but think we will be stronger when this is over. We will be more able as a society, country and world to deal with, not only pandemics, but other global-scale challenges. Before COVID-19 hit, agriculture in Arkansas, and in the U.S. was poised to benefit greatly from hard-fought trade negotiations. Most all segments of the industry were going to profit from these trade deals with our top three trading partners.

New chapters are yet to be written, so stay tuned. Our food chain has been disrupted and it is creating some major problems across our state and nation. Nevertheless, I can assure you that myself, the state board, and our great staff, will continue to monitor, advocate and share all the issues that will affect agriculture and rural Arkansas.

I pray that you keep your families and yourselves safe and healthy. May God bless our farmers and ranchers that feed so many in our state and in this great nation. •

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Official membership publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation mailed to almost 190,000 member-families.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Included in membership dues ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU OFFICERS:

President • Rich Hillman, Carlisle Vice President • Mike Freeze, Little Rock Secretary/Treasurer • Dan Wright, Waldron Executive Vice President • Warren Carter, Little Rock DIRECTORS:

Jon Carroll, Moro Joe Christian, Jonesboro Terry Dabbs, Stuttgart Sherry Felts, Joiner Chase Groves, Garland City Tom Jones, Pottsville Terry Laster, Strong Jeremy Miller, Huntsville Gene Pharr, Lincoln Caleb Plyler, Hope Rusty Smith, Des Arc Joe Thrash, Houston EX OFFICIO

Magen Allen, Bismarck Dustin Cowell, Mount Judea Kerry Stiles, Marianna Reed Storey, Marvell Executive Editor • Steve Eddington Editor • Rob Anderson Contributing Writers • Ken Moore, Gregg Patterson, Ashley Wallace, Keith Sutton ADVERTISING

Contact David Brown at Publishing Concepts for advertising rates dbrown@pcipublishing.com (501) 221-9986 Fax (501) 225-3735 Front Porch (USPS 019-879) is published quarterly by the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation 10720 Kanis Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211 Periodicals Postage paid at Little Rock, AR POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rhonda Whitley at rhonda.whitley@arfb.com Front Porch • P.O. Box 31 • Little Rock, AR 72203 Please provide membership number Issue #115 Publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation reserves the right to accept or reject all advertising requests.

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

HELPING FARMERS, HELPING YOU

with Warren Carter ARFB EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

The Work of Supporting Agriculture Doesn’t Stop

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o say this spring has been a challenging one is an understatement. The impact of the coronavirus outbreak has been felt by all. Whether on a personal level, as we worry about vulnerable or aging loved ones and deal with home-schooling children and sheltering in place, or on a business level – where shutdowns, cancellations and new business models have become the norm – we have all been coping with loss or dealing with uncertainty.

Farmers are facing these same concerns, but, as always during times of crisis, they continue to do what they do best: Grow. At Arkansas Farm Bureau, we continue to do everything we can to help support all of the growers in the fields and pastures around the state and we remain committed to Arkansas’ agriculture industry and rural communities.

With groceries and markets becoming a central part of our new routines and the food supply chain facing stress, our farmers and ranchers have been focused on their jobs, all while doing their best to follow public health guidelines and coping with labor shortages and commodity price swings. At Arkansas Farm Bureau, we moved to a work-from-home program in early March and have kept our usually active field team from traveling the state, but, like others, we made the adjustments necessary to stay on the job and found new ways to accomplish our objectives.

In April, the Farm Bureau Insurance companies presented a $500,000 gift to the six foodbanks that cover the state of Arkansas, anchored by the Arkansas Foodbank. In addition, the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee and the Farm Bureau Foundation donated

$50,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas to help offset projected shortfalls as a result of COVID-19.

Arkansas Farm Bureau also worked with Congressman Rick Crawford’s office, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and others to help launch and promote Arkansas Farm Corps, a project aimed at addressing labor concerns in agriculture caused by restrictions on foreign workers due to COVID-19. This unique initiative is an attempt to connect an available workforce of National Guard and Reservists and other military veterans to jobs in agriculture and it has now been copied in other states.

Like the rest of the state and the country, we are slowly and carefully returning to normal business operations, but we have not lost a step or strayed from our mission during this unusual time. We continued to connect with our county offices and those in the fields through regular Zoom calls, emails and other outreach. We also stayed on top of policy development at the state and national levels, providing explanations and assistance with new legislation and new programs.

As we entered the new year, I expressed excitement about what we could accomplish over the coming 12 months, through our grassroots policy development efforts, our education and outreach work and membership development. None of that has changed. While we didn’t know all of the challenges we would face along the way, all of us at Arkansas Farm Bureau were ready and willing to make the adjustments necessary to stay on track and continue working to help agriculture and Arkansas grow. •

In April, the Farm Bureau Insurance companies presented a $500,000 gift to the six foodbanks that cover the state of Arkansas, anchored by the Arkansas Foodbank

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The essential work of Arkansas agriculture continues during the coronavirus outbreak

by Rob Anderson, Keith Sutton, Gregg Patterson, and Ken Moore photos by Gregg Patterson

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hen response to the coronavirus outbreak ramped up in March, families across the state went into lockdown and businesses closed or changed their operations in order to continue providing needed services. Meanwhile, the state’s farmers and ranchers continued with their work in order to ensure that people across Arkansas and the country would have what they needed to feed and clothe themselves and their families during crisis.

Those who work in agriculture are accustomed to dealing with challenges, so when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated food and agriculture one of 16 critical sectors in the midst of the coronavirus shutdown, they didn’t hesitate to continue operating as an “essential service,” because they were already overcoming obstacles and preparing for spring planting and ongoing livestock care and sales.

Following public health and safety recommendations and facing labor, weather and supply chain problems, they made their way into their fields, pens, poultry houses and workshops every day. They also took time to share with us how they’re continuing to provide the food, fiber and shelter the country needs. Here are the stories of some of those farmers and growers around the state who continue their important work.

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

Adrian Sopshire

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drian Sopshire knows hard work and the discipline necessary to do the dirty jobs no one wants. He says 14 years in the U.S. Navy provided the training for doing those jobs, and that military skillset transfers perfectly into being a farmer.

He’s fond of saying farming is full of dirty jobs and hard work you don’t want to do, but the military taught him the discipline necessary to work through it and get the job done.

Sopshire, 44, runs Fruit of the Vine Farm, a specialty crops farm near Mulberry in Crawford County. He’s the kind of smallfarmer you meet at farmers markets. He focuses on growing vegetables but also grows flowers, raises chickens and eggs, and occasionally goats, pigs and beef cattle. He works with other area farmers to raise farm-fresh products to sell online (www. fruitofthevinemarket.com) and at a fresh vegetable open-air market he oversees in the small Ozark Mountains community of Johnson, located between Fayetteville and Springdale.

Sopshire describes it as a “roadside vegetable market” that he got the opportunity to take over last year. “The people depend on that market for fresh things, and it’s been there for such a long time,” he said.

continued on page 8>>

Dealing with disruptions and changed plans due to issues surrounding COVID-19 is nothing new for specialty crop farmer Adrian Sopshire. He credits his time spent in the military with preparing him to deal with any situation that comes up on his Fruit of the Vine Farm in Mulberry.

Sopshire is working with his sister to develop a cut-flower addition to his Fruit of the Vine Farm where he also grows vegetables and raises chickens and goats. Sopshire oversees the open-air market in the historic town of Johnson located between Fayetteville and Springdale.

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<<continued from page 7

Farmers commonly have to deal with whatever nature throws at them. Usually it’s weather related: things like floods, hail, frost, tornados, drought. Or it can be pests or disease.

There’s an old military saying that every battle plan is a good one until the first shot is fired. Sopshire says he, too, had a battle plan for his farm coming into this year. But things changed quickly when Mother Nature fired the first shot via the weather and then the havoc caused by the coronavirus has come into play.

“It’s amazing how you can come up with a plan. I had a plan,” he said emphatically. “Then the rains came, saturating the ground and delaying my planting.”

Sopshire says the rains actually saturated the ground during a late 2019 storm and flood from a nearby creek that took out a portion of his pasture fence. His farm never adequately dried out during a wet winter and spring so far in 2020.

As part of his plan, he’d replaced the roof on his high tunnel that had been destroyed by straight-line winds two years ago.

The plan was to start the vegetables in the high tunnel, then transplant them as seedlings to the 3-acre garden. High tunnels allow vegetable farmers to start growing their crop earlier, before

8

transplanting the seedlings to open ground. However, the ground in the newly re-roofed high tunnel never dried out.

“It was like cake mix in there. You couldn’t stand without your boots getting stuck in the muck,” he said. He grows zucchini, green beans, tomato varieties, cantaloupes and watermelons.

Sopshire had to change plans and plant seeds outside directly into the ground. Continued rain further delayed that planting, so he now finds himself a month behind. A mid-April frost scare had him protecting the garden by covering the newly seeded areas with salvaged plastic sheeting from the destroyed high-tunnel roof.

(Nothing goes to waste on a farm.)

The coronavirus pandemic and its social distancing is also impacting and will continue to impact his plan.

Last year, Sopshire experimented with developing a flower component for the farm. Without group gatherings like weddings and other events, that market becomes more challenging, as do traditional farmers markets and the Johnson roadside market. He’s working on a new plan for all of that.

“We’ll get through this,” Sopshire said. “I’m learning how to do things I never thought I would do.” • story and photos

by Gregg Patterson

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

James and Ashton Dixon

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James Dixon says the pandemic will likely leave them with extra expenses and less income from raising chickens.

ames and Ashton Dixon raise broiler chickens for Tyson on their farm near Magnolia. The members of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Rancher committee have five houses containing 25,500 birds each. “We raise them for seven and a half to eight weeks,” James explained. “At that point they’re collected and taken to the processing plant in Hope. We deliver around 4.5 million pounds of meat to the plant each year, he said.”

The Dixons received their most recent batch of chickens about five weeks ago when the effects of the Covid-19 virus began to spread across the country.

“My serviceman told me recently that ‘out times’ are going to be going up,” James said. “Once they reach around eight weeks old they are collected and delivered to the plant in Hope. Then we’re usually out, or without birds, for two weeks or 14-18 days, but right now I was told out times will be going up about a day and a half on average per week.

“My birds are 28 days old right now,” he explained, “so that means in about three and a half weeks they’ll come and collect them and I’ll start getting ready for the next batch. But, the effects of the pandemic restrictions will affect us because our out times will be about a month longer than they usually are, and that will leave us with the responsibility of paying utilities, propane, electricity – all the expenses that come with continued on page 10>>

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<<continued from page 9

raising chickens and also paying my employee while we are out that extra month. It will leave us with a lot of extra expense while we’re not making money raising birds.”

If the pandemic results in the Dixons losing a batch of birds James says that will obviously affect his bottom line for the year.

“Long term, when you’re dealing with broiler houses you don’t have bills in the hundreds of dollars, you’re talking thousands of dollars because of the volume of propane you burn per batch.

“When you’re out a month and there’s no telling how long this (the restrictions and effects of the virus) will last. It could last two or three batches and we usually raise five batches per year. Well, this year we may only end up getting four and that will cut into our bottom line bigtime. Hopefully we’ll only end up with one extended out time. We’ll just have to wait and see,” James said.

Another impact of the pandemic is the diminished demand for product by a major client of the Hope processing plant.

“Our Hope complex has a contract with McDonalds,” James said. “Like other eat-in and fast food restaurants McDonald’s business is limited to drive-thru only so their sales are down and that’s a major reason Tyson isn’t needing as much production from farmers as normal because consumer and restaurant demand for chicken is down. And that will affect our profitability as well.”

But he said there is a silver-lining.

“I guess one good thing out of this is it’s led people to help each other in ways we may not have been doing before. Finding creative and different ways to do our work and serve our community during these uncertain times.” • story by Ken Moore

Terry Pollard

T

erry Pollard lives with his wife Debbie near Piggott in Clay County, not far from the Arkansas-Missouri border.

He’s a row-crop farmer through and through. Most years cotton is his main crop, but he also raises corn, rice and some soybeans on the 2,300 acres he farms. Pollard also is an active leader on the Clay County Farm Bureau board of directors.

“With everything that’s happening with the coronavirus, things are a bit different this spring for sure,” he says. “A few months ago, I would not have believed conditions would be like they are now, with people having to stay at home and businesses being closed. Fortunately, we haven’t had any trouble getting what we need for our farm in the way of chemicals and seed and such. Those items are delivered right to our shop, allowing us to continue our social distancing. Getting parts for our farm equipment is another story, though. We must drive to Missouri to the nearest parts store, and things seem a little stricter there than in Arkansas. You’re usually stopped near the front door and have to wait there for someone to help you. But farmers are pretty good at social distancing anyway, so we are ok with that. We kind of practice social distancing during most of the working months anyway.”

Bad weather and a poor economy have created more problems for Pollard than COVID-19.

“The most difficult thing for me has been the idea that we’re putting a crop in the ground right now and there’s probably no way we can make a profit with the depressed commodity prices that we have,” he says. “This is the scariest thing that keeps me awake at night right now. The economy is very concerning, and it’s going to take a while for things to get back on track.

“Our farm hands are local people,” Pollard continues, “and we’ve been able to keep them working. But owners of some bigger farms are having trouble finding enough help.

The coronavirus has changed our way of life for sure.”

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Clay County row-crop farmer Terry Pollard says the COVID-19 pandemic has required adaptations to his everyday farm work and depressed commodity prices.

Family values are very important to Arkansas farm families, and according to Pollard, those principles become even more important during times like these.

“My wife and I keep in contact with our parents daily,” he says. “We see our kids every day, too, and that gives us pleasure.

They keep us focused on family and what’s good right now for sure. We have been having drive-in church the last several weeks, and now we stay focused on God and his Word more than anything. There’s a reason for what we are going through, and God knows the reason. We just have to trust him more than ever right now, and we’ll get through this pandemic.”

Pollard wrapped up his comments with a few words of praise for Farm Bureau and the state’s elected officials.

“Farm Bureau has been very good about keeping us upto-date on government policies,” he says. “And we’re fortunate that here in Arkansas we have some of the best senators and congressmen. They are really on top of what’s going on, especially for the farmers. Congressman Rick Crawford in my district and Senator John Boozman have been at the forefront of the farm policy, and for that, we are very grateful.” • story and photo

by Keith Sutton

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SPRING 2020 ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

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ADVERTORIAL

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QUAIL: What’s Important

t is widely known that Northern Bobwhite (quail) have declined substantially in the last 60-70 years throughout its entire range. In specific, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Breeding Bird Count shows a 5.81% decrease in the number of bobwhites heard per year in Arkansas during 2005-2015. Years of research indicate that much of this decline can be attributed to changes in land use/land cover that have eliminated or severely degraded millions of acres of habitat once available for quail.

In 2017, quail management efforts were heightened with intensive management occurring on six focal areas within the state (Figure 1). Since that time 39,034 acres of habitat have undergone some form of management. This figure includes 11,104 acres of habitat work on the AGFCowned quail focal areas (Figure 1).

In addition to work on Commission-owned lands, partner agencies such as the Forest Service, USACOE, National Park Service, and The Nature Conservancy have implemented 5,980 acres of habitat restoration on their respective properties using funding from AGFC. However, with only 17% of Arkansas’s land mass under public-ownership, that leaves 28 million acres of habitat (home to the majority of Arkansas’ wildlife) under the management of private individuals. With that extensive amount of area under their management control, the influence private landowners have on the existence and condition of populations of species such as quail is tremendous. AGFC realizes the magnitude of affect landowners have on our state’s wildlife and thus have 11 agency private lands biologists and eight Quail Forever farm bill biologists available to provide technical assistance. Providing guidance to landowners on private lands, especially surrounding AGFC quail focal areas and other intensively managed areas, is of utmost importance to creating suitable landscape-scale habitat conditions for quail and other species associated with quail habitat.

Quail typically do not range over a few miles, so to better facilitate expansion of populations, habitat restoration should, ideally, occur as close to areas of existing quality habitat (with birds) as possible.

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Prescribed burning, timber thinning, and grazing are three of the main methods for improving conditions for quail. Over time, vegetation within fields become dense or overtaken by grass. In order to remedy this, landowners should conduct prescribed burns to remove dead thatch, increase bare ground, and stimulate forbs.

Forbs are broadleaf plants that attract insects and produce seed that quail feed upon. Thinning dense stands of timber allows sunlight to reach the forest floor which stimulates ground level vegetation to grow and serve as food and cover. If landowners have cattle, they can accomplish the same conditions that result from prescribed burning by utilizing their cows. Every time a cow takes a bite it is shaping habitat for wildlife that reside in and around that pasture. Leaving some overhead cover (8-14”), allowing forbs and shrubby thickets to remain in and around fields, and adequately grazing vegetation to promote open space/bare ground at ground level should be objectives for landowners who want to maintain or entice quail to their property.

If you are interested in improving habitat on your property for quail, give the private lands or Quail Forever Biologist that covers your county a call to set up a site visit.

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

Arkansas Forever Arkansas Quail Quail Forever Farm FarmBill Bill Biologists Biologists

Quail Forever Bill Biologists

Find A Private Lands Biologist

Ryan Diener, Arkansas CoordinatorArkansas RyanState Diener, RDiener@quailforever.org m. (636) 399-8733 | p. (501) 301-3129

Fowler, Monarch and Pollinator Coordinator StateLeslie Coordinator LFowler@quailforever.org RDiener@quailforever.org m. (208) 431-5233 | p. (501) 301-3169 m. (636) 399-8733 | p. (501)Dillon 301-3129 King

Wesley Tucker Pulaski, Faulkner, White, Conway, Van Buren Counties WTucker@quailforever.org Wesley Tucker m. (205) 412-9205 | p. (501) 758-2544 ext. 3

Izard, Stone, Baxter Counties JKing@quailforever.org m. (817) 564-2420 | p. (870) 368-4413 ext. 3

Pulaski, Faulkner, White, Conway, Van Buren Counties Kelly Bufkin WTucker@quailforever.org Garland, Hot Spring, Clark, Nevada Counties | p. (501)KBufkin@quailforever.org 758-2544 ext. 3 m. (601) 218-8940 | p. (501) 624-2574 ext. 3

Robert Scott Yell, Logan, Scott, Sebastian, Franklin Counties RScott@quailforever.org m. (205) 412-9205 m. (870) 751-7045 | p. (479) 495-2441 ext. 3

Austin Klais Jessica Cox Robert Scott Drew, Ashley, Bradley Counties Boone, Newton, Carrol, Marion, Searcy Counties Yell, Logan, Scott, Sebastian,AKlais@quailforever.org Franklin Counties JCox@quailforever.org m. (501) 425-1985 | p. (870) 367-8400 ext. 3 m. (479) 206-3836 | p. (870) 741-8600 ext. 3 RScott@quailforever.org

Alex Hilburn m. (870) 751-7045 Arkansas, Prairie, Monroe, Counties AHilburn@quailforever.org m. (501) 733-9416 | p. (870)Cox 255-3573 ext. 3 Jessica

| p. (479)Ciera 495-2441 ext. 3 Rhodes

Randolph, Sharp, Fulton Counties CRhodes@quailforever.org m. (731) 439-0027 | p. (870) 892-3623 ext. 3

Boone, Newton, Carrol, Marion, Searcy Counties JCox@quailforever.org m. (479) 206-3836 | p. (870) 741-8600 ext. 3

Arkansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist positions are funded in partnership cooperation with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Quail Forever Chapters in Arkansas

Alex Hilburn Arkansas, Prairie, Monroe, Counties AHilburn@quailforever.org m. (501) 733-9416 | p. (870) 255-3573 ext. 3 Leslie Fowler, Monarch and Pollinator Coordinator

Leslie Fowler, Monarch and Pollinator Coordinator LFowler@quailforever.org m. (208) 431-5233 | p. (501) 301-3169 Dillon King Izard, Stone, Baxter Counties JKing@quailforever.org m. (817) 564-2420 | p. (870) 368-4413 ext. 3 Kelly Bufkin Garland, Hot Spring, Clark, Nevada Counties KBufkin@quailforever.org m. (601) 218-8940 | p. (501) 624-2574 ext. 3 Austin Klais Drew, Ashley, Bradley Counties AKlais@quailforever.org m. (501) 425-1985 | p. (870) 367-8400 ext. 3 Central Ciera Rhodes Jason Honey - 501-580-5390 Randolph, Sharp, Fulton Counties East Central CRhodes@quailforever.org m. (731) 439-0027 | p. (870) 892-3623 ext. 3 Daniel Greenfield - 870-569-8124

Arkansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist positions are funLFowler@quailforever.org ded in partnership cooperation with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Natural m. (208) Resourc431-5233 es Conserva| tiop. n S(501) ervice, a301-3169 nd Quail Forever Chapters in Arkansas

Counties

Dillon King Izard, Stone, Baxter Counties JKing@quailforever.org m. (817) 564-2420 | p. (870) 368-4413 ext. 3 Kelly Bufkin Garland, Hot Spring, Clark, Nevada Counties KBufkin@quailforever.org m. (601) 218-8940 | p. (501) 624-2574 ext. 3

es

Austin Klais Drew, Ashley, Bradley Counties AKlais@quailforever.org m. (501) 425-1985 | p. (870) 367-8400 ext. 3 Ciera Rhodes Randolph, Sharp, Fulton Counties CRhodes@quailforever.org m. (731) 439-0027 | p. (870) 892-3623 ext. 3

ife Biologist Front positionsPorch ar e Fish Commission, Natural apters in Arkansas

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU â&#x20AC;˘ SPRING 2020

North Central Ben Field - 501-442-6197 West Central Clint Johnson - 501-270-1926 Northeast Bo Reid - 870-291-1281 Northwest Hugh Lumpkin - 479-353-7674 East David Graves - 870-319-0668 Southeast Bubba Groves - 870-224-3334 West Michelle Furr - 479-222-5894 Southwest Ricky Chastain - 870-331-1297

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SORTING PILLS

An excerpt from Gene, Everywhere: A Life-Changing Visit from my Father-In-Law, the new book by Delta Child columnist Talya Tate Boerner.

My hand on the paper sack cues him. The top of Gene’s white head juts above the edge of the newspaper.

“Gene, do you want to move to the den? To a more comfortable chair?” I ask. Nonchalantly, I carry his bag of medication to the island and deposit it next to the stovetop.

“No. I’m fine here.” He ruffles the newspaper in my direction as though to prove his busyness. I glance at the clock on the microwave.

It’s only 9:15, day one.

“If you’re sure.” I open the sack and feel Gene’s eyes bore into me. I pull out prescription bottles by the fistful, 10 in total, and line them up on the countertop. From inside filmy orange bottles, the contents stare at me. Capsules, tablets, pills; unremarkable-looking medication. To dull pain, lubricate joints, clear the brain, mask problems, thin the blood? I really don’t know. If I am going to help my father-in-law, even for a few days, I should understand.

With my phone, I begin snapping photos of the pill labels so that I can research each one later.

“Talya, what are you doing with my medicine?”

“I thought I’d get your pills organized. John bought a dispenser.” I reach inside the junk drawer and pull out a daysof-the-week dispenser. “See?” I wave it through the air with a flourish. Maybe this piece of clear plastic will be our magic wand.

“I don’t need that crazy contraption.” He shakes his head from side-to-side. His white eyebrows scrunch into a line.

“I do. I can’t keep track of all your pills without it.”

“How much did John pay for that thing? It’s a waste of money.”

“Not if it keeps your medication straight.”

He murmurs something I can’t make out and disappears behind the sports page again. Will everything be a battle with this man?

I slide my reading glasses onto my nose and each label, printed in a miniscule font, comes into better focus. Still, the medication names are unpronounceable, and instructions vary wildly. Does he really need so much medicine?

Half a pill two times a day.

One pill in the morning on a full stomach and half at bedtime.

One pill at lunch with food.

How on earth does my mother-in-law, Pauline, keep this straight, I wonder.

“Pauline doesn’t use one of those plastic things,” he says.

“Pauline’s better at this than I am.” I twist open the first cap and resist saying what I’m thinking. Actually, Gene, at this moment, Pauline, isn’t better at this. She’s lying in a hospital bed back home in Arkansas, which is the entire reason you’re sitting at my kitchen bar when I should be at work.

For a while, neither of us speaks. Silence spreads over the kitchen, growing louder and louder, magnifying each rustle of the newspaper, exaggerating each of Gene’s shallow exhalations. Shiny capsules, flat blue pills, and round tablets no bigger than baby teeth, I sort them all into piles. One at a time, I begin dropping a week’s worth into morning and evening slots. Gene’s eyes sweep over the news. I’m aware of the sharp glances he sends my way, but I keep my head down and continue working.

Gene is the first to crack the quiet. “How’s it going over there?”

14

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

“Good.” But I am a student who can’t finish her test because the professor is hovering.

“Hmmpf. I can take my pills just fine straight from the bottles.” He raises the sports page.

I continue counting and sorting. Occasionally, Gene peers over the flutter of the newspaper, half-watching through tortoise-shell eyeglasses that make his blue eyes look larger than they are.

Eventually, he says, “Well, it looks like the Dallas Cowboys hired a new coach.” He flips the sports page around and thumps down the picture of Jason Garrett and team owner Jerry Jones. “I don’t care if Jones is from Arkansas, I don’t like him. He’s a snake. You can see it in his eyes.” He shakes his head as though this Arkansas connection adds a secondary level of disappointment; a family member turned bad. “It was wrong the way he tossed that other coach to the curb. You know, uh…what was his name?” His face flushes. His pale lips twist as he struggles to recall the name.

I place my finger on the Thursday slot of the pillbox to keep my place. “Who? Barry Switzer?”

“No, no, no!” He drops his head into his hands and rubs his eyebrows as if that might erase the confusion and let him start fresh. He looks up toward the light fixture. Answers often float near the ceiling. “The guy before him.”

“Jimmy Johnson?”

He groans. “Noooo! The man who wore the hat.”

The man who wore the hat? Immediately I think of Bear Bryant, but he can’t be talking about Alabama’s Bear Bryant.

Can he?

“Flan, Flanders?” He spits syllables that make no sense to me.

I wish I could understand how the jumble of neurons inside his mind works. I think of the childhood game, Gossip.

During recess, when rainy days kept us inside the classroom, my friends and I would sit in a tight circle and whisper a sentence through cupped hands from one ear to the next. Through the gossip chain, the phrase would become mangled, a word here or there, until the final answer had altered drastically from the initially whispered phrase. Gene’s ideas seem similarly scrambled. Even the rare flowing sentence sounds garbled, as though he rolls a marble on his tongue.

“No loyalty. Anywhere,” Gene says. He drops the sports page back onto the countertop and continues mumbling and shaking his head. I can’t help but feel his aggravation is directed at me.

“Tom Landry!”

“Yes, Tom Landry. That’s who I meant.” He sighs and groans, the sheer weariness of thinking erasing all expression from his face. For a while, we say nothing more, and this time, the quiet provides relief.

I count out seven tiny white Lasix tablets and hold them in my palm. One by one, I drop them into the morning slots. Each one bounces against plastic, sounding like a splash of water.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. I look up to find Gene watching me with blank eyes. He holds the newspaper limply in front of him as though he’s forgotten it’s there.

I hold up his bottle of Toprol and shake it. The pills rattle inside. “Guess what? I take Toprol too.”

“Is that right?” He releases the paper, and it floats down, blending in with our stone-colored countertop.

“Yes, but I take it for migraines instead of blood pressure.” I feel one growing behind my eye sockets.

“Well isn’t that something?” His shoulders soften, and he leans back into the bar stool and grins. For the first time, it seems, we both exhale.

We are members of the same club.

My pill sorting project is nearly finished; the only remaining bottle is Coumadin, the bottle half-filled with tiny blue pills. Half a pill two times a day. Although the bottle contains more doses than Gene will need during his short visit with us, I decide to halve all of them so Pauline won’t have to do it later.

My curved herb-chopping knife is perfect for the task, working better on pills than parsley. As I divide pill after pill after pill, I can’t imagine how any elderly person performs this task. When I finish, I return the bulk of the divided Coumadin tablets to the original bottle and place half a pill in each slot of the pillbox, morning and evening. I snap shut the last plastic lid on the sorter. Surprisingly, I feel accomplished, having completed this simple task.

“Here are your three morning pills. You’ll have more to take later tonight.” I place a glass of water in front of him and extend my palm. So nondescript the pills look, yet each holds power or erases power. I’m not sure which.

Gene sweeps aside the newspaper and sits arrow straight, as though he might make an announcement. I drop the pills into his hand. He studies them for a moment. Then, with a tiny sip of water, he washes all three pills down, sliding the still-full glass of water away to the far edge of the bar as though he doesn’t want to be tempted to drink from it again.

“All that counting and cutting sure seems like a lot of work.” The corners of his eyes crinkle into folds as he chuckles.

“I usually take all my pills at the same time, first thing in the morning.”

“Oh no, you don’t. Do you?”

“Sure I do. It’s a heck of a lot easier.” •

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15

Q&A

with the Author of Sorting Pills

1

Talya Tate Boerner Your writing is drawn from your life, so can you tell me about the inspiration for this new work and why it was important for you to write it?

I was inspired to write Gene, Everywhere after spending six weeks caring for my 90-year-old father-in-law. In 2011, my husband and I lived and worked in Dallas; my in-laws lived in Fort Smith. When my mother-in-law fell ill on New Year’s Day and was admitted to the hospital, we didn’t think it was safe for Gene to stay home alone. He had begun to show early signs of dementia.

Without a thought, I extended a spurof-the moment invitation to Gene to come and stay with us. I regretted my offer almost instantly. We were a busy family. My husband traveled extensively with his job, I worked full-time in banking, and our son was a senior in high school. But life has a way of giving us what we need, just when we need it.

Looking back, I realize the six weeks Gene and I spent together came at a serendipitous time, a time when I desperately craved change. While the experience of caring for an aging parent is a very ordinary thing, within the maddening routine of it, an extraordinary relationship grew between Gene and me.

I knew I had a compelling story to tell. I wanted everyone to be blessed by Gene.

2

Can you describe the role and importance rural Arkansas plays (or has played) in your life and writing? Can you do the same for agriculture?

I am certainly a product of my raising, as the saying goes. I have a hard time thinking of rural Arkansas without thinking

16

about agriculture. The older I get, the more firmly I believe my early experiences and lessons learned as a Mississippi County farm girl molded the best parts of me. I’m also convinced that rural Arkansas during the 60s and 70s was a fabulous time to be a kid. Perhaps everyone believes that of their growing-up years?

It’s ironic, really. During a time when we had four channels on our television, and the closest neighbor was two fields away, my corner of rural Arkansas laid the foundation for a world of opportunity. I attended school, first grade through senior year, with the same core group of classmates. This taught me cooperation and solidarity, the importance of teamwork, and the value of life-long friendships.

Creativity freely blossoms in a rural area, from both need and necessity. I learned not only to use my imagination but also to enjoy solitude. Between rows of cotton, down at the ditch dump, or hidden inside the branches of my favorite mimosa tree, I found inspiration in all these places. I still do.

As a farm kid, I learned the value of time and money and perseverance. Early on, I understood that life was something to be nurtured, but it wasn’t always fair.

Today, my writing is heavily inspired by my love of nature and farming. The perspective I’ve gained after having worked 25 years in Dallas before returning home to Arkansas is something I never want to take for granted.

3

What do you think people don’t nderstand about rural communities and agricultural communities that you think they should?

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One of my goals for The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee was to spread awareness about farming. Specifically, I wanted to show how farming was so allencompassing for the entire farm family.

I also hoped to spotlight agriculture in Arkansas, and in particular, the northeast delta region of the state. Most people have no idea the economic impact Arkansas has on the U.S. and global economy. They have no idea the balance required to protect the environment while feeding the planet.

I also think it would be helpful for folks to understand that real farmhouses look nothing like those on Fixer Upper.

4 5

How does your family feel about your writing?

My family has been extremely supportive of my writing. My mother is my greatest cheerleader. Just ask anyone.

Do you discuss what you’re working on with family and friends before you write or during the process or is it strictly personal?

I may discuss projects in broad terms, but other than critique partners, workshop writers, and my editor, no one else is privy to specific details. With Gene, Everywhere, since it is a memoir, there were individual sections I asked my husband and sister-in-law to read in advance of publication. I wanted to make sure family facts and events were correct. I have started a new book which I’ve said very little about to anyone. I don’t want to jinx the excitement I feel over it. Plus, it’s in the very early stages and may never see the light of day.

6

What drove you to write your first book, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, and how did the process differ from your new book?

To clarify, I wrote the first rough draft of Gene, Everywhere in 2012, while my experience with my father-in-law was fresh

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

on my mind. I tucked the story away and let it marinate. Then, I began writing The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee, which was published in 2016.

There’s an old saying in the writing industry to “write what you know.” As a new writer, that’s what I did. With Accidental Salvation, I wrote about a farm girl growing up in northeast Arkansas during the early 1970s. While the plot is fiction, the places and many of the experiences are based on my childhood. I incorporated my memories and worries as a 10-year-old girl. I wrote about the one place I know better than any other.

Gene, Everywhere differs in that as a memoir, the story is true. As caretaker of my father-in-law, many of the problems I faced involving issues with prescriptions and Medicare are highly politicized and timely today. While my two published books embody different genres — southern fiction vs. memoir — my writing process was the same. I prefer to work in the early morning hours (I like to see the sunrise every day), and I write longhand before typing the first word. There’s something about putting pen to paper that enhances my creativity.

7

What do you hope people take away from your new book?

In our society, there’s a tendency to dismiss the elderly, believing a 90-year-old has nothing left to offer. Gene, Everywhere proves the opposite is true. Although my father-in-law had begun to suffer from dementia, he still had plenty to contribute.

Gene completely changed my life.

I hope readers will view caretaking through a different lens, perhaps with more grace and a bit of humor. And, all those stories older relatives tell over and over ad nauseam? Maybe readers will be encouraged to write them down before that history is lost.

A final takeaway — I wrote my first book at age fifty. It’s never too late to do what you were meant to do. •

17

LAKEPORT PLANTATION

by Keith Sutton

D

own in southeast Arkansas’ Chicot County, the name Lakeport has been applied to many places. It originally was the name of a Mississippi River oxbow, Lake Port, where there was a steamboat landing. From there, thousands of bales of cotton were shipped to New Orleans. The name later was given to a nearby plantation established before the Civil War by Joel Johnson from Kentucky. More recently the Lakeport name was bestowed upon a 17-room house built on the plantation for Joel’s son, Lycurgus, and his wife, Lydia. Their descendants remained there until the property was sold in 1927.

Cotton was first grown at Lakeport by Joel Johnson in 1831, nearly three decades before the 1859 Lakeport house was constructed. (courtesy of ASU) 18

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“Lakeport Plantation was built in 1859 and is considered one of the state’s premier historic structures,” says museum curator Ruth O’Loughlin. “It is Arkansas’ only remaining antebellum plantation home along the Mississippi River. The home has been restored by Arkansas State University and now serves as a museum and educational center.”

The house was placed on the National Historic Register in 1974, donated to Arkansas State University in 2001 and designated in 2002 as an official project of Save America’s Treasures. Members of ASU’s Delta Heritage Initiative program extensively renovated the property.

The grand opening was in September 2007.

“Before the start of the American Civil War, Lycurgus Johnson owned 155 enslaved laborers and more than 4,000 acres producing over 1,300 bales of cotton,” says O’Loughlin. “Lakeport’s history includes the end of enslaved labor, tenant and sharecropping, and mechanization of farming. The house does not have major alterations, so guests are able to step back in time to get an idea for themselves about what the area and house looked

like when the Johnson family moved into it in 1860.

Many of the original finishes can be seen throughout the house such as faux graining on the doors and faux marbling on the mantels. The house is not furnished, though, but what furniture is there helps tell the story of Lakeport Plantation.”

An interpretive tour of the beautiful, two-story, GreekRevival-style house provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of the farming families who lived in the 8,000-squarefoot mansion.

“This is still an active cotton plantation,” O’Loughlin points out. “The surrounding farm fields are owned by the Epstein Land Company and have been in continuous cotton production since the 1830s. Tours focus on the architecture and those that lived and worked at Lakeport, but farming is part of that narrative. We do not have equipment that was used on the property in the past, but farmers are often in the area doing their work with modern equipment. A few rows of cotton are left at the end of season for guests to be able to see and, if they want, to pick cotton to take home.” continued on page 20>>

The Lakeport Plantation house, built in 1859 on the Mississippi River in Chicot County, is a gem in the Delta.

Having undergone no extensive remodeling in the 20th century, it retains many of its original architectural features. (photo by Keith Sutton)

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19

<<continued from page 19

Jewel of the Delta is a name still used to describe Lakeport, but you won’t find a romanticized version of the South here. Instead you will find a house that speaks for itself architecturally, along with unobtrusive exhibits that tell the stories of the people who lived and worked on the plantation. Visitors also can learn how modern techniques such as microscopic paint analysis, ground penetrating radar and dendrochronology came together with skilled historic finish specialists, traditional building tradesmen, architects, engineers, historians and others to reveal the stories of the past.

The whole site is fascinating, but be sure you don’t miss a trip through the commissary that operated much like an old country store in the back of the house. This room includes samples of many foods and other products locals could buy there as late as the 1980s. Exhibits such as this have led to recognitions from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Association for State and Local History.

Lakeport Plantation also serves as Arkansas’s southern anchor for the 10-state Great River Road National Scenic Byway.

Lakeport Plantation is at 601 Highway 142, southeast of Lake Village. General admission is $10 ($5 for seniors, school-age children and groups of six or more). Credit cards are not accepted.

The Johnson family at Lakeport, circa 1925. (courtesy of ASU) “We offer tours on the hour Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. all year,” says O’Loughlin. “From Memorial Day to Labor Day, we are open for additional Saturday hours, with tours on the hour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Alternative tour times and group tours are available by appointment by calling 870-265-6031 or emailing roloughlin@astate.edu. Tours take about one hour.”

Note: At the time this was written, all Arkansas State University Sites were closed until further notice due to COVID-19. Please call ahead or visit the plantation website at lakeport.astate.edu before visiting. •

Lakeport guests can take a tour of the house that includes a look at the commissary, which was still in business as late as 1984.

20

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or email pcaruthers@pcipublishing.com

Tried, True, Trotter

De Queen Auto Group, Inc. 863 E. Collin Raye Dr. De Queen, AR 71832 870-642-3604

H

Red Taylor Ford Corning

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Glen Sain Ford Paragould

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Glen Sain Ford, Inc. Danny Ford, owner 1301 Hwy 49 North Paragould, AR 72450 870-236-8546 www.glensainford.net

Ford of West Memphis 2400 North Service Rd. West Memphis, AR 72301 870-735-9800 www.fordofwestmemphis.com

Vaughn Ford Sales, Inc. 106 Hwy 63 West Marked Tree, AR 72365 870-358-2822 www.vaughnford.com

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Vaughn Ford Marked Tree Ford of West Memphis West Memphis

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De Queen Auto Group De Queen

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Ryburn Motor Co. Monticello

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H Featured Dealership Locations

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Dealership Locations

ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU â&#x20AC;¢ SPRING 2020

Knee Pain?

Knee Pain Relief Without Drugs, Shots, Or Surgery...

Finally...A Nonsurgical, NonSteroid Knee Pain treatment system is available in Arkansas that targets the root cause of knee pain. This breakthrough treatment approach u�lizes a combina�on of nonsurgical laser and a proprietary treatment the developers call SynDAS, which stands for Synovial Dynamic Axial S�mula�on.

The deep penetra�ng laser provides a strong cellular an�-inflammatory ac�on while simultaneously s�mula�ng the healing of damaged �ssue. Normal knee joints contain synovial fluid which serves as a shock absorber and a lubricant. SynDAS helps improve knee joint func�on by s�mula�ng synovial fluid movement in the knee. This nonsurgical treatment has helped thousands of knee pain sufferers get out of pain. A FREE Informa�on Packet is available that reveals how knee pain sufferers can eliminate or greatly reduce knee pain. To receive

your FREE Informa�on Packet Call Toll Free (888) 233-3893.

Hurry, supplies are limited.

(24 hour recorded message) © RMG

GET THE POWER TO

PRESERVE AIR, LAND, AND WATER SOLAR POWER + BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE + ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS + MORE Whether you are looking to save green environmentally or economically, you can get the power to do both with Today’s Power: Your energy partner. With more utility-scale projects commissioned than any other Arkansas-based company, we are confident we bring the expertise to design, low-cost and clean energy systems while creating economic development and committed partnerships.

@TODAYSPOWER

CONTACT US

7300 INDUSTRY DR. NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72117 (888) 322-4275 customerservice@todayspower.com

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

27

Combining Comfort Food Favorites

28

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU â&#x20AC;¢ SPRING 2020

S

tressful times call for less stressful meals. In fact, there’s probably never been a better time to try out some comfort food favorites for you and your family, particularly if one of those comfort foods is beef. May has been National Beef Month and, despite recent supply chain challenges, Google Trend statistics show Arkansas residents made “hamburger” their top reciperelated online search during the COVID-19 outbreak period.

That’s why we reached out to our friends at the Arkansas Beef Council and the Beef Checkoff for this extremely easy recipe that combines two comfort food favorites, macaroni and cheese and beef!

1.

Cheeseburger Mac

Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 1¾ cups water 1 cup dry elbow macaroni 6 ounces processed cheese spread, cut into cubes 8 to 10 dill pickle slices (optional) Cooking: 1. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot.

Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally.

2. Stir in water and macaroni; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 9 to 11 minutes or until macaroni is tender.

3. Stir in cheese cubes. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

4. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve beef mixture topped with pickle slices, if desired.

2.

*Cook’s Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

I

e t s Ta ansas k r A

3.

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

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FOOD + FUEL

U.S. soybean farmers grow versatile and renewable soybeans to help meet food, feed and fuel demand globally.

Soybeans are one of many choices we have to meet a range of needs for protein, as well as fats and oils. That’s good news, because when it comes to providing food or renewable alternatives to petroleum, we don’t have to choose.

Here’s a look at how soybeans in the United States are being used.

80 % MEAL

The primary component of soybeans is meal.

20 % OIL

The other soybean component is oil.

61% FOOD

97%

ANIMAL FEED

Sixty-one percent of soybean oil is used for frying and baking food, as a vegetable oil and as an ingredient in foods such as salad dressings and margarines.

Ninety-seven percent of U.S. soybean meal is used to feed poultry and livestock.

31% BIODIESEL & BIOHEAT

®

3%

FOOD PRODUCTS

Thirty-one percent of soybean oil is used for biodiesel and Bioheat.

Three percent of soybean meal is used in food products such as protein alternatives and soybean milk.

8% INDUSTRIAL USES

Less than 8% of soybean oil is converted into industrial uses such as paints, plastics and cleaners.

Source: USB Market View Database, 2017/2018. © 2020 United Soybean Board 59824-2

We are proud to be Arkansas’s insurance company.

ARMLPR44419

For more than 70 years, Farm Bureau Insurance has been helping our friends & neighbors thrive here in Arkansas—the home we share. Our local agents are members of your community, and their service to you has made us the largest property & casualty company headquartered in the state. Call today to discuss your insurance— and get a FREE no obligation quote.

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

*Farm Bureau® Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc. *Southern Farm Bureau® Casualty Insurance Company *Southern Farm Bureau® Life Insurance Company, Jackson, MS

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Delta Dental of Arkansas Provides Financial Assistance to Arkansas Dental Practices and Qualifying Non-Profits Amid COVID-19 Crisis Delta Dental of Arkansas and the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation are providing some much-needed assistance to dental clinics and non-profit organizations that are helping communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. We’ve committed a total of $6.5 million in emergency financial assistance to dental practices in Arkansas.

Delta Dental of Arkansas Advance Receipts Program will provide financial support to dental practices, who are limited to providing only emergency services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, which is the organization’s charitable giving arm, will offer a total of $500,000 in grants to community organizations for projects directly related to COVID-19.

“We have worked closely with dentists in our state to improve the oral health of all Arkansans for almost 40 years,” said Delta Dental of Arkansas President and CEO Ed Choate. “These two initiatives are a way for us to provide financial support to dental providers during a time when their practices are under significant financial stress and to non-profit organizations who need financial assistance to continue to be the safety net that many people rely upon.”

More information about these programs and how to apply can be found at

www.DeltaDentalAR.com

CULTURE ART FOOD LANDSCAPES AUTHENTIC ARKANSAS

history MUSIC ADVENTURE PEOPLE

Authentic Arkansas has a rich heritage.

We are here to bring that story to life.

Arkansas Arts Council Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Arkansas State Archives

32

Delta Cultural Center Historic Arkansas Museum Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Old State House Museum

ArkansasHeritage.com

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

LCLUSS01018

WWW.SFBLI.COM

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU â&#x20AC;¢ SPRING 2020

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O UP OER W CO

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

America’s Original We go the extra mile.

Large Enough to Serve...

Small Enough to Care

Field and Brush Mower!

FIELD...

...and BRUSH!

Towable and PTO models too!

CLEAR 8' TALL GRASS & WEEDS with 26", 30", or 34" cut!

866-479-7870

Over 30 years of service Gravette, AR www.MARATHONMETAL.COM

sales@Marathonmetal.com

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POWER & PRECISION with engines up to 20 HP and power steering for fingertip control.

FREE SHIPPING 6 MONTH TRIAL

ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • SPRING 2020

SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY Go online or call for details.

1B0EAX © 2020

• Red Iron Buildings • All Steel Structures • All Bolt-Up Structures • Engineered Buildings

CHEW THROUGH BRUSH including saplings up to 3" thick!

Go Online or Call for FREE Info Kit!

DRfieldbrush.com TOLL FREE

888-208-5278

* Assembled in the USA using domestic & foreign parts.

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36

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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU â&#x20AC;¢ SPRING 2020

The everyday card for Farm Bureau members.

Farm Bureau® Member Rewards Mastercard®

Carry the card that rewards Farm Bureau® membership!

Use our card every day and earn triple, double, or single points on select purchases1. Plus, we’ll pay your Farm Bureau membership renewal dues!2 Contact your local agent to apply!

farmbureau.bank 866.644.2535

Eligible purchases mean any signature or pin-based, online, phone or mail-order purchase made with the Farm Bureau Member Rewards MasterCard. Offer excludes Cash Advances, Balance Transfers, credits and returns.

Points expire after four full years. Program may change or be cancelled at anytime. Triple reward points on qualifying transactions based on merchant code, up to $1,500 quarterly. Credit Card plastic design may vary based on member’s qualification.

2 State eligibility and minimum annual spend requirements for membership dues reimbursement vary by state and can be found on farmbureau.bank. Please see Terms and Conditions on farmbureau.bank for additional details about the Farm Bureau Member Rewards MasterCard. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from, the American Farm Bureau Federation.FBMRMC_05.2020 1