/womensnewsletter_1Q2012

arkansas

farm

bureau

committee comments

H

ello everyone!

Food Check-Out week was celebrated with 23 counties donating more than $6000 worth of food to local food pantries and shelters. Your state women’s committee once again donated more than three months worth of food to the Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock. This was the 15th year for the committee to stock the pantry and the event was again broadcast live on statewide television.

Thanks to everyone for your hard work in commemorating Sue Billiot, Food Check-Out chairwoman Week and informing consumers in your communities about how they can enjoy healthy meals on a budget.

It was great to see everyone at the recent statewide Women’s Conference. I want to thank you for taking time to attend. I hope the conference gave you new ideas to promote and educate others about the importance of agriculture.

I hope everyone has made arrangements to conduct an Ag in the Classroom event at your local schools and include the Ag Experience trailer. With school winding down I know many already have.

If you haven’t, you need to contact Matt Jackson or Andy Guffey at the state office to see if there are dates available.

Thank you again for all you do in your counties to promote agriculture. I hope you’re making plans now to attend the Officers and Leaders conference, July 23-24 in Springdale. Have a great summer!

KEITH SUTTON photo

On Feb. 22, in honor of Food Check-Out Week, the ArFB State Women’s Committee donated $4,000 worth of food to Little Rock’s Ronald McDonald House to benefit families staying there. Pictured (from left) with Ronald McDonald are committee chair Sue Billiot, Sherry Feltner, Janice Marsh, Meredith Baker, Peggy Miller, Linda Parish and Carole Lichti.

county activities The following activity summaries were submitted by the county Farm Bureau Women’s Committees:

Arkansas: The committee made contributions to the Gillett Farmers and Businessman’s group to fund local scholarships and to the Caring and Sharing Food Pantry.

Baxter: The committee arranged for James Rhein to present a glass hive for viewing at the White County Historical Days, the Marion County Historical Society and the Baxter County Master Gardeners Training Session. He discussed with attendees honeybees, beekeeping and the importance of honeybees and their products.

First Quarter 2012 ®

Benton: The committee assisted setting up for a “Body Walk” event at Centerton Elementary School. The committee also donated 130 Farm Bureau activity books for third graders at Sugar Creek Elementary and donated art supplies to Decatur Elementary.

Calhoun: The committee conducted an Ag in the Classroom coloring book contest for K-2nd grade students and awarded prizes to the 1st through 3rd place winners.

Carroll: The committee conducted a program on wheat and how bread to is made continued on page 2

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county activities ®

2012 arfb state women’s committee

A

s your state women’s committee, we are here to be a resource and assist you in your ag promotion activities. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

SUE BILLIOT chairwoman Sharp County, District 2 870-528-3617 kajunsue@centurytel.net JANICE MARSH vice chairwoman Woodruff County, District 2 870-731-5660 rmarsh@centurytel.net SHERRY FELTS Mississippi County, District 1 870-537-4772 sherry.felts@yahoo.com CAROLE LICHTI Carroll County, District 3 870-545-3371 charleslichti@windstream.net

from wheat to students in Berryville. The committee also participated in the Coloring Contest with Green Forest Elementary for 220 first and second grade students. Art supplies, including soy crayons were donated to participating schools for the participating teachers.

Chicot: The committee met with EHC ladies and discussed how stress affects each of us differently and different ways to cope with it. Stress is detrimental to our health and the ladies talked about objectives to let individuals know what causes it. The committee also had a class for child care providers. 89 attended and the committee discussed different types of medicine for children and how to help them develop compassion for others.

Clark: The committee made fleece blankets and donated them along with stockings, story books and teaching dolls to Children’s Hospital. The committee also delivered apple sauce, ramen noodles and ravioli to the back pack school program and assisted with the School Bus Safety Program at Gurdon Elementary School.

Cleburne: A member of the committee helped judge a 4-H dairy contest.

Columbia: The committee assists with the county’s Sew with Cotton program each week.

Conway: The committee conducted an Ag-in-the-classroom Coloring, Poster, and Essay contest. Committee members went to area schools to

LINDA PARISH Scott County, District 4 479-928-5098 jlparish@juno.com RENEE THRASH Faulkner County, District 5 501-336-9652 thrashr@conwayschools.net MEREDITH BAKER Jefferson County, District 6 870-536-3459 meredithbaker@hughes.net PEGGY MILLER Chicot County, District 7 870-265-5151 peggymiller2@gmail.com

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COLUMBIA CO. FB photo

During Farm Bureau Week, Feb. 6-10, Columbia Co. FB’s Women’s Committee members read to children in Magnolia. Here, Deborah Reynolds, a Columbia Co. membership service representative, reads “Grow Smarter,” a book emphasizing the importance of agriculture in Arkansas, to 22 students at Miss Mandy’s Learnin Center.

CLARK CO. FB photo

Lauren Frisby (center) of Gurdon, an eighth-grade student at Cabe Middle School, won first place in the ArFB Ag in the Classroom Essay Contest. Lauren represented Clark Co. FB in the competition. Her award was presented by Clark Co. FB Women’s Committee co-chair Becky Baumgardner (left) and her sponsoring teacher, Tammy Shumate.

promote Arkansas agriculture to elementary students.

County winners were sent to the state for judging.

Libby Shipp won 1st place on the state level with her poster and received $100 from the state Farm Bureau.

The committee donated a total of $100 to this program and the winners.

The committee also presented a program to local Kiwanis Club discussing the importance of educating the public and youth about agriculture. The Kiwanis Club members were shown samples of educational materials that are used in the Ag in the Classroom program.

Craighead: The committee conducted an Ag in the Classroom program at Buffalo Island Central-West Elementary in Monette. A total of 95 students in K-2nd grades were reached with a lesson featuring the book, “Good Things from Arkansas” and a reinforcement activity created by a committee member to go with the story.

The committee also conducted a Farm to Fork event for 99 students in grades 3-5. Two committee members, five Cooperative Extension agents, and six volunteers staffed six exhibits including: Good Things from Arkansas, Poultry farming, Aquaculture, Dairy Farming, Row Crop agriculture (RICE), and the 100 Mile Meal (horticulture). Ten minute presentations were made at each station. Exhibitors utilized Farm Bureau bags, placemats, pencils, Pizza AgMags and Poultry AgMags.

Crawford: The committee conducted a soybeans show & tell program for first grade students continued on page 4

2012 ARFB Statewide Women’s Conference

W

omen’s Committee members from across the state visited Little Rock from March 9–10 to attend the annual ARFB Statewide Women’s Conference.

Themed “Legacy,” this year’s conference featured entertainment, multiple workshops and informational meetings.

Sue Billiot, ArFB State Women’s Committee chairwoman, spoke to attendees about telling the story of agriculture.

Above, Nita Cooper (left), member of the Boone Co. FB Women’s Committee, and Janice Shofner, member of the Benton Co. FB Women’s Committee, share a laugh during the conference’s Ag in the Classroom workshop. At top right, Washington Co. FB had the most attendees of any county. At right, ArFB President Randy Veach talked to the group about the importance of the work they do and the crucial role that FB women’s committees serve in the organization.

From left, LaJoyce Duncan and Jewell Proctor of the Washington Co. FB Women’s Committee and Renee Thrash, member of the ArFB State Women’s Committee, have some fun during a balloon race.

Magen Allen (right), member of the Hot Spring Co. FB Women’s Committee, and Lori Henley, chairwoman of the Lincoln Co. FB Women’s Committee, worked in the Ag in the Classroom workshop.

• photos by keith sutton •

county activities at Alma Elementary School. Showed them soybutter, crayons, candles, pictures of soybean fields & harvest and let them taste roasted soybeans. Three committee members, 200 first grade students and several teachers took part.

The committee also conducted Ag Awareness Career Day programs involving producers of commodities such as rice, soybeans and wheat for fourth grade students at Van Buren and Coleman Middle School.

Two committee members led the program which involved 60 students.

Cross: The committee judged the county coloring book contest and sent the winners to the state office. One student placed third in the state competition.

Drew: The committee purchased art supplies for Monticello Elementary School. The teacher planned a collaborative art project for the 1st and 2nd grades. Each class created a mosaic tile that will be part of a bigger project to be permanently displayed at the school.

The committee also sent a representative to the National Convention to network with women’s committee members from across the country.

Faulkner: The committee Pre-school program at Florence Mattison Elementary School 22 youth learned about fruits and vegetables grown in Arkansas. Two Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members assisted with this program.

The committee also participated in the Body Walk Program at Greenbrier’s Westside Elementary School

SCOTT CO. FB photo

The Scott Co. FB Women’s Committee recently donated food to the Ronald McDonald House at Ft. Smith’s St. Edward Hospital.

Pictured (l to r) are Gina Thompson, Ronald McDonald charities coordinator; committee member Belinda Wright; Women’s Committee cochairs Laurie Richardson and Angie Hunsucker; Zoe Richardson; and State Women’s Committee member Linda Parish.

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providing support for volunteers and parents. More than 400 students in k-5th grade participated.

Garland: The committee conducted an Ag Safety Day training program for area schools and participated in the Jessieville after school program.

Hot Spring: The committee participated in a safety program at Bismarck High School which focused on drinking and distracted driving. The committee also purchased and donated a gift through the Angel Tree program.

Howard: The committee volunteered at the Real Deal Program for Nashville Junior High students. The program was conducted by the Howard County Extension Service. The program is designed to present students with an opportunity to make financial decisions about real life situations.

The committee also volunteered at The Bread of Life. Committee members organized canned goods and bagged groceries for the organization.

Independence: A member of the

committee read the book “What is That Doing in My lunch box?” to 43 kindergarten and first graders. They were given clementines to eat and enjoy as part of the story. A member of the committee also read the book “Pinkalicious” about growing apples to 20 Pre-School students.

The committee also donate a food basket each month to the ICU waiting room containing healthy fruit and vegetable snacks and whole wheat crackers to help families under stress.

Izard: The committee conducted and awarded prizes for countywide coloring book and poster contests. There were 225 1st-3rd graders who entered the Ag in the Classroom coloring contest. The winning entries were sent to the state competition and recognized in the local newspaper. 150 4th-6th graders entered the poster contest. Prizes were awarded and winning entries were sent to the state competition, and recognized in the local newspaper.

The committee also presented the local battered and abused women’s shelter with “essential bags” to be presented when women seek shelter and have nothing with them.

Jackson: The committee conducted a coloring, poster and essay contest for students in countywide elementary schools.

Lafayette: The committee donated several can food products to a food drive held at BancorpSouth branch in Lewisville.

Lee: The committee donated crayons and

PULASKI CO. FB photo

Pulaski Co. FB donated groceries to Dorcas House as part of Food Check-out Day on Feb. 29. Pictured (l to r) are Julie Mesa, Crystal Smith, Women’s Committee co-chair Debbie Moreland, President Tracey Bemis, Women’s Committee co-chair Betty Oliver, Lakesha Smart, Rebecca Soggins and Karen Smith.

coloring books to local elementary schools.

Lincoln: The committee a local FFA chapter with its beef and poultry judging competitions. The committee also taught a group of pre-school children how to make butter.

Lonoke: The committee donated $350 to the Lonoke County 4-H cooking contest.

Miller: A committee member met with Texarkana Union Elementary School principal Mrs. Thelma Forte’ to help plan her ag-in-classroom program for the coming year. The committee will help 20 students and work with them in an agriculture project this spring.

In December two members of the committee helped deliver and stock the senior citizen food pantry.

Mississippi: The committee conducted, judged entries and awarded prizes in an Ag in the Classroom poster contest. Photos of the winning entry were taken and published in the local newspaper and that student took second place in the statewide contest.

Montgomery: The committee cosponsored the 4-H bread contest. There were six entries and each were presented prize money. The committee also attended the county Cattlemen’s Association meeting and presented the Farm Family of the Year with a plaque.

Newton: The committee distributed information for a coloring book contest and purchased continued on page 5

county activities art supplies for classrooms and distributed them to county schools. The committee also distributed safety poster information to area schools and helped judge the entries.

The committee also hosted a legislative/membership appreciation dinner and invited local media and state senators and representatives.

North Logan: The committee conducted, judged and awarded prizes for an Ag in the Classroom coloring, poster and essay contest. The committee also donated phone books, the “Growing Smarter” book and pledge of allegiance books to Scranton Elementary School.

Pike: The committee conducted a county Sew with Cotton contest and the winner entered the statewide contest. Eight members of the committee attended the state convention and women’s luncheon.

Poinsett: The committee conducted a coloring book contest. Winners were presented with certificates and cash awards. The coloring book that was judged to be the overall winner was sent to Little Rock for judging in the statewide contest.

Polk: A member of the committee read the book “Grow Smarter” to first grade students and gave

GREGG PATTERSON photo

The 93rd Annual Convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation took place Jan. 8-11 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Among the Arkansas delegates at the Women’s Leadership Recognition Luncheon there were (L-R) Jeannie Hornsby of Siloam Springs, Melissa Cooper of Melbourne, Querita Faddis of Prairie Grove, Louise Runyan of Swifton, Teresa Fawcett of Ashdown, Debbie Dooly of Emerson and Linda Parish of Mansfield. each one a book. The committee also arranged for Matt Jackson to conduct an Ag in the Classroom program featuring the milking cow for after-school students.

Highland Schools. Cash prizes were awarded to the winners. The committee also distributed coloring books to pre-K students at Evening Shade.

Pope: The committee donated a gift for the Ag in the Classroom silent auction at the state convention. The committee also sponsored a Stroke Detection Plus screening program, and the Body Walk program for 800 third and fourth grade students in Russellville.

South Logan: The committee presented a program on cotton to second and third grade students at Magazine elementary. The committee also conducted a program on safe drinking water sources and water pollution and read the book, “River ran Wild” to students at Booneville and Magazine elementary schools. Art supplies were also donated to both schools.

Prairie: The committee donated rice and other food products to local food pantries. The committee also donated $250 worth of art supplies to Hazen and Des Arc art classes and participated in the Angel Tree program by purchasing gifts for two area children totaling $300.

Scott: The committee arranged for safety education coordinator Jason Kaufman to present a program on skin cancer prevention, “Distracted Driving,” ATV safety and “Where your food comes from” for students at Mansfield High School.

ArFB photo

Sarah Glenn of Huntsville, a fourth-grade teacher at Huntsville Intermediate School, was recently recognized by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for promoting agricultural literacy.

Searcy: The committee donated non-perishable items to the food pantry in Leslie, participated in the Angel Tree program by purchasing and presenting gifts to two local children, and donated art supplies to area schools.

Sharp: The committee conducted a coloring book contest for elementary students at Cave City and

Stone: The committee donated $50 worth of non-perishable food items to the Stone County food bank. The committee also arranged for an Internet Safety program to be presented to 5th and 6th grade students at Mountain View Elementary school. The committee also conducts a weekly diabetes program for senior citizens.

Union: The committee conducted and participated in a number of community outreach programs.

These included a holiday stress program at Morning Star Head Start with 34 parents participating; ringing the Salvation Army Bell and collecting pet food for the local shelter; participated in A Day of service honoring volunteer firefighters by providing meals for them; carried treats to a local nursing home involving 17 area youth; donated candy to the ICU waiting room of local continued on page 6 5

county activities hospital; and, participated in a coat drive for the Liberty Crisis Center and collected 30 coats.

Van Buren: The committee conducted a dairy recipe and cooking contest in conjunction with the family and consumer science instructors at local high schools. It was scheduled to coincide with the schools’ cooking classes in the fall. The contest was held Nov 3rd at the Petit Jean Electric Community Room.

Southside-Bee Branch high school competed ,as well as 4-H and homeschool students. The result was 12 colorful, creative table displays and tasty dishes judged by women’s committee members and county board members. Cash prizes in the amount of $20, $15, and $10 were awarded in each category. A news release with photos were sent to and published in the local newspapers. This year’s dairy commodity promotion tripled the student participation from the previous year.

The committee also arranged for Matt Jackson to present an Ag in the Classroom education program, featuring the Milking Cow and Ag Experience trailer to Van Buren County third grade students over a period of two days. In all a total of 188 students were reached through the program. As a science lesson Matt showed the students how to plant wheat seed in a clear plastic cup.

Each student planted the seed and took the cup back to class as a science experiment to watch a seedling sprout.

Photos were taken and news releases were sent to the local papers and Farm Bureau Press.

Washington: The committee cosponsored and arranged for two safety programs at Springdale Har-ber high school. The committee also participated in a number of other activities including: Distributing 27 “Good Things from Arkansas” books to area schools; conducting the Farm Bureau poster contest; donated $300 worth of art supplies and contest rules to area schools; conducted the annual coloring book, poster and essay contest and awarded cash prizes to the winners.

White: The committee scheduled a “Distracted Driving” safety program at Searcy High School.

Safety Coordinator Jason Kaufman told the students that cell phone usage, talking, texting, eating, drinking, reading, grooming, videos, CD’s all can cause a driver to be distracted for a few seconds resulting in serious injury or a fatality.

The committee also met with county extension agent Keith Martin and his committee to discuss how the extension service can help farmers with their crop production this year.

Woodruff: A member of the com-

mittee attended the USA Rice Federation meeting in Austin, Texas and participated in the annual statewide Thanksgiving Dinner meal cost survey. The committee also donated art supplies to county schools, conducted 6

VAN BUREN CO. FB photo

To promote Food Check-Out Week, Earlene Brecheen (right) and other members of the Van Buren Co. FB Women’s Committee talked with shoppers at a Clinton grocery store, promoting Arkansas commodities and showing how to purchase and prepare healthy, nutritious meals on a budget.

a safety poster contest for elementary schools and donated a gift basket for the Ag in the Classroom silent auction at the state convention.

Yell: The committee conducted a nutrition

class on beef and gave participants a crockpot roast, carrots and potatoes so they may prepare the meal at home. The committee also donated art supplies to Western Yell County Elementary school.

staff contacts • Harry Willems, associate director of O&MP 501-228-1247, harry.willems@arfb.com • Autumn Wood, O&MP special programs assistant 501-228-1306, autumn.wood@arfb.com

arfb women’s committee calendar Sun.

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FB Offices closed for Good Friday

Palm Sunday

Easter

Earth Day

Administrative Professional’s Day

May Day

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National Day of Prayer

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Mother’s Day

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Armed Forces Day

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FB Offices closed for Memorial Day

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National Leadership Forum in Searcy 10

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12 Preferential Primary Run-Off Election Day

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Father’s Day

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First Day of Summer

Flag Day

Teen Challenge Camp in Ferndale

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July 23-24

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is the

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Officers & Leaders Conference

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in

Springdale! July 27-28

is the

Statewide YF&R Conference!

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Van Buren (Newspaper ad design contest participants)

Benton (Ag in the Classroom)

C O U N T Y C L O S E - U P S

Scott (Safety program)

Mississippi (Planning meeting)

Independence (Ag in the Classroom)

Clark (Art supply donation)