In Farm Bureau New incentives program At the April meeting of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s State board of directors, action was taken on a modified incentive package available to county Farm Bureaus. Action 1 – The quota award for membership year 2017 will be raised from $1,000 to $2,000 for counties achieving their quota. In addition, any county that meets the criteria for attaining 70 points on the quota portion of the Gold Star Program will receive $750. Action 2 – County Farm Bureaus can qualify for bonus dollars by participating in and hosting activities associated with the list below. Counties that complete the activities in the current membership year can qualify for an incentive of $0.50 per member or a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $5,000. All activities must be documented and completed before Oct. 31. The activities include hosting/ conducting an annual meeting, policy development meeting, legislative activity (breakfast, appreciation dinner, etc.),
Sec. of Agriculture Sonny Perdue (right) met ArFB President Randy Veach and Vice President Rich Hillman May 7 while in Arkansas to review flooding impacts. Perdue vowed to use everything within his powers at USDA to help Arkansas farmers, saying “I want your farmers in Arkansas to know the resources of the USDA are at their disposal ... They may be covered in water now, but they’re going to be back out there as soon as this water recedes … feeding a hungry world.” YF&R or women’s activity (promotional, membership, youth, etc.) and a publicrelations promotional activity (County Advertising Rebate Program, etc.). A form will be provided to document the activities. Action 3 – Effective immediately, the County Advertising Rebate Program will increase from $0.20 to $0.25 per member with a minimum of $500 available to each county.
Brandy Jones (right), a fifthgrade teacher at Woods Elementary in Fort Smith, was all smiles after being recognized by Andy Guffey, ArFB’s director of Education and Outreach, as the 2017 Arkansas Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teaching of the Year. Jones won a $1,000 stipend and a scholarship to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference this summer.
STEVE EDDINGTON photo
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Action 4 – Beginning with the 2018 fiscal year, the state office will cover the cost of the counties’ Directors & Officers Liability Policy. Action 5 – Effective immediately, the registration fees that have been charged for the YF&R and Women’s conferences will be eliminated. “We hope the counties will find these actions beneficial,” said Chuck Tucker, ArFB’s senior vice president of
MOLLIE DYKES photo
A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
May 12, 2017 • Vol. 20, No. 10