womensnewsletter_2Q2013

arkansas

farm

bureau

committee comments

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n April, Arkansas Farm Bureau Women were invited to the National Women’s Leadership Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Five members of our state women’s committee attended the conference. Workshops were presented on business planning, transition planning, social media, plus an excellent workshop on “Why I’m Not Wonder Woman.” We also enjoyed Janice Marsh a full day of chairwoman travel, visiting area farms and learning about local agriculture.

Arkansas Farm Bureau women also manned an exhibit June 1 in the Farmers Market at Little Rock’s River Market.We handed out informational literature about soybeans, beef, and rice. We also gave soy crayons and coloring books to the children and rice bags to the adults. We touched over 200 consumers that day with our story about Arkansas agriculture.

I want to thank all the ladies for taking time to tell our ag story this spring in their local schools. Telling this story, along with hands-on

South Logan co fb photo

Booneville Elementary third-grade students planting their six raised bed gardens. They planted potatoes, cabbage, turnips, onions, beets and snow peas.

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

Arkansas: The committee donated $100 to the local food pantry. The committee also sponsored a legislative breakfast in February at the state capitol.

Ashley: The committee arranged for a safety presentation and the Farm Bureau combine simulator at the county Ag Festival.

Baxter: The committee set up the

county Food Check-Out Week display at Harps Grocery in Mountain Home and gave Butterball coupons, recipes, 20 different vegetable and fruit pamphlets with tips and recipes, ag

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placemats, ag bookmarks, and food check-out handouts to local shoppers. The collected a large grocery cart of non-perishable food items to donate to the Serenity House women’s shelter. The committee conducted a second Food Check-Out Week activity at the Town and Country Grocery store and handed out recipes, coupons, vegetable and fruit pamphlets, ag placemats and bookmarks. The committee had a map displayed of the counties and what is grown in each one.

The committee donated 10 cases of canned goods and other non-perishable food items to the Gamma House shelter for abused women and children. The committee also delivered a $500 Outdoor Classroom Garden Mini-Grant to Hackler Elementary School in Mountain Home.

Second Quarter 2013

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county activities ®

2013 arfb state women’s committee

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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.

Janice Marsh chairwoman Woodruff County, District 2 870-731-5660 rmarsh@centurytel.net Sherry Felts vice chairwoman Mississippi County, District 1 870-537-4772 sherry.felts@yahoo.com Sue Billiot ex-officio Sharp County 870-528-3617 kajunsue@centurytel.net Robin Williams St. Francis County, District 1 870-633-8783 dana stewart White County, District 2 501-278-9132 danadianestewart@gmail.com

keith sutton photo

4-H members participated in a dairy foods contest sponsored by the Sharp Co. FB Women’s Committee and the Cooperative Extension Service. The contest promotes the use of dairy ingredients in cooking and encourages the 4-H mission of “learn by doing.”

Benton: The committee conducted a dairy

recipe contest and judged 36 entries. The committee conducted a dairy farm tour for University of Arkansas food students and observed Food Check-Out Week by making a donation to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. The committee recognized Earth Day at Old High Middle School in Bentonville by sponsoring a display on water quality and recycling.

Carole Lichti Carroll County, District 3 870-545-3371 charleslichti@windstream.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 2

recipe contest and participated with Bergman FFA students to raise awareness of our food supply during Food Check-Out Week. The committee set up food collection boxes at prime locations in town with informational literature on ag commodities available as well.

Calhoun: The committee conducted a

safety poster contest for elementary school students and helped feed students who participated in a Calhoun County Forestry contest.

Carroll: The committee manned a booth at

Angela jones Sebastian County, District 4 479-462-3369 ajones@greenwood.k12.ar.us sara loe Garland County, District 5 501-545-1572 snwasl143@aol.com

Boone: The committee conducted a dairy

Columbia Co. FB photo

Nine-year-old Anna Dooley (left), a member of the Community Kids 4-H Club, won “best overall” for a garment she made for the local 4-H Fashion Review in Magnolia on March 14. Members of the Columbia Co. FB Women’s Committee, including Deborah Reynolds who presented Anna’s sewing machine prize, served as contest judges.

local grocery store during Food Check-Out Week and distributed out commodity brochures, awarded door prizes and presented a check to the local food pantry.

The committee also conducted a media appreciation luncheon at the Farm Bureau office with local newspaper and radio station representatives in attendance.

Tables were set up promoting activities and programs conducted by the committee.

Chicot: The committee conducted a tomato

project at Eudora Christian school for approximately 40 Students and at Eudora & Lakeside elementary schools for more than 400 students. Committee members returned to the schools every week and conducted programs on how to take care of tomatoes, such as continued on page 4

Clark (blanket donations)

Faulkner (food check-out)

C O U N T Y c l o s e - u p s

Pag

Fwd: Scott County Womens Committee Belinda Wright to: autumn.wood 05/06/2013 02:58 PM Hide Details From: Belinda Wright <blenwright@gmail.com> To: autumn.wood@arfb.com

Independence (fashion reeview)

Boone (dairy contest)

Monroe (food check-out)

Here are pictures from activities of the Scott County Women's Committee

Dairy Day at "Giddy Up Grow"

Scott County Women's Committee "Miss Bessie", greeting the kids at Giddy Up Grow Daycare

Scott (dairy day)

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county activities watering, fertilizing, staking and removing suckers.

The committee also conducted a medicine ball exercise program every Tuesday and Thursday in February, March and April at the Community Outreach center.

Over 100 people participated. In March the committee conducted a seminar on living well with diabetes where committee members discussed proper meal planning, diabetes and exercise.

Clark: Committee co-chairman Karen Kirkpat-

rick delivered blankets to Arkansas Children’s Hospital which will be used to meet the needs of children who are currently patients at the hospital. Clark County Farm Bureau is a proud promoter of the many benefits of health and safety in our local community. The committee also coordinated the Elementary School Drug Walk & served refreshments to participants.

Clay: The committee arranged for the combine simulator and milk cow to be part of an Ag in the Classroom program at Piggott Elementary and sponsored a bicycle safety program at Central Elementary in Corning.

Columbia: Members of the committee donated $200 worth of food to the Southern Christian Mission and Battered Women’s Shelter during Food Check-Out Week. The committee also conducted and judged entries in the safety poster contest, provided pizzas and awarded certificates to 4th, 5th and 6th grade students at Emerson Elementary School. The committee also conducted a dairy recipe contest and

pope co. fb photo

Sue Burkemeyer (left) and Ida Ruth Jones, members of Pope Co. FB’s Women’s Committee, had the difficult but pleasant task of judging the county’s dairy recipe contest held April 6 in Russellville.

presented Farm Bureau Back Packs to the top two winners.

Conway: The committee conducted Ag in the Classroom programs at Wonderview and Morrilton Elementary Schools where kindergarten students learned about fruits and vegetables grown in Arkansas, where the produce comes from and how it is grown. Students sampled fresh fruits and vegetables, along with planting seeds. Students were then able to observe the process of germination. The committee also donated $500 to The Safe Place, a local women’s shelter. The center will use the money to purchase much needed items for the women and children it serves, along with providing educational training for them.

Craighead: Committee member Jane Cure-

wASHINGTON cO fb photo

Taylor McCuin, granddaughter of Washington Co. FB Women’s Committee member LaJoyce Duncan, went to Moore, Okla. to help distribute backpacks filled with coloring books, crayons, snacks, water and other items donated by the Women’s Committee, office staff and businesses to aid tornado victims.

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ton was featured on KAIT Region 8 news segments which reported on her inviting a health inspector to inspect her kitchen as he would a local restaurant to see if it would pass inspection. Several promotional spots were featured on the ABC channel about the upcoming segments.

Committee member Karie Gibson and 4Her, Madison Gibson volunteered at the Rice Depot in Little Rock filling over 2,450 bags of rice. The committee also delivered Ag in the Classroom supplies to Tiffany Patterson, a 3rd grade teacher at Westside Elementary. Items included the books of “Seed, Soil, and Sun,”“How did that get in my lunch box?”, and “My American Farm Coloring Book.”

Crawford: The committee delivered chicken incubators to kindergarten and 4th grade classes at Mulberry elementary school. The committee also spon-

sored a Fun on the Farm event at Randy Arnold’s farm.

500 students from Alma and Mulberry kindergarten classes attended. The committee prepared goodie bags and a picnic lunch. The children toured a poultry house learned about beekeeping, saw astrawberry patch, milked the Farm Bureau cow, drove the combine simulator, and learned what hamburgers are made of. The committee also participated in the annual Leadership Crawford County farm and industry tour for business and industry leaders in the community.

Cross: The committee conducted a dairy recipe

and the annual Miss Cross County rice contest. The committee also participated in the Cross County Farm Expo and conducted the program, “Here’s the Deal, Life is Real” at Wynne High School.

Dallas: The committee conducted a farm safety poster contest and participated in Food Check-Out Week at a local supermarket by promoting agriculatural commodities and collecting and donating food for a local pantry.

Drew: The committee assisted with an activity sponsored by a grant from the Blue and You Foundation in which 118 Intermediate students were taken to a local produce farm where they learned how how to plant tomatoes, first in a greenhouse then in a garden.

They were given samples of strawberries and salad greens and learned the benefits of a healthy diet. At the end of the field trip, they were presented a gift continued on page 5

county activities bag from the committee containing packets of seed and other items. The committee also presented a check in the amount of $180 to the Monticello Middle School Garden Project for the purchase of two wagons to use in the garden. The Monticello Schools also received a $10,000 grant from Monsanto for the Learning Garden.

A Farm Bureau Board Member was one of the individuals making the application for the grant.

Faulkner: The committee sponsored and

manned a display at a local supermarket during Food Check-Out Week to inform shoppers how they can prepare healthy meals on a budget. They also gave away recipes and donated non-perishable food items to the Bethlehem House shelter. The committee also conducted numerous Ag in the Classroom activities and along with the county Extension Service, sponsored the annual Faulkner County Farm Roundup. More than 900 students attended and more than 200 volunteers helped educate them about Arkansas agriculture and where their food comes from.

Garland: The committee conducted Ag in the Classroom programs at Gardner Elementary School for 429 students in grades K-4 and Lake Hamilton Intermediate School for 328 4th grade students. The committee also conducted a “Pick a Better Snack” nutrition lesson at Lake Hamilton Intermediate School which reached 649 4th and 5th grade students. In addition, committee members taught nutrition and physical activity lessons to senior adults at the Mountain View Towers and at the Department of Community Corrections.

Greene: The committee arranged for sod

farmer Kenneth Pegg to demonstrate his turf care business with a display and turf samples for 25 students.

The committee also conducted an incubator program for second and third grade students during their poultry unit. The committee arranged for the Farm Bureau milking cow as part of an Ag in the Classroom program for 550 elementary students.

Hempstead: The committee participated

in a food drive and donated non-perishable food items to the local food bank, “Hope In Action.” The committee also assisted the county extension agent in teaching preschoolers at Blevins Head Start where vegetables come from. The students learned to plant tomato seeds in a cup and how to care for them. They also learned how to thin out the tomato plants. The students took the plants home and are able to watch them grow.

Howard: The committee sponsored the

annual 4H Egg and Dairy Contest. Prizes were awarded to the overall winners, as well as to the winners of each age division and category. The overall winners will go on to represent Howard County in the State Contest. The committee also conducted a bread and cookie contest.

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clark co. fb photo

Clark Co. FB Women’s Committee members Karen Kirkpatrick (right) and Jane Helms served Kool-Aid, water and cookies to Perritt Drug Walk participants on April 12. Clark Co. FB supports this annual school event that teaches children to avoid drug-abuse problems.

The committee participated in this year’s Food CheckOut Week by purchasing and donating non-perishable food items to the First Baptist Church Food Pantry.

Independence: The committee conducted a dairy recipe contest. Prizes were awarded to the overall winners. The young people who participated learned about dairy products and their nutritional benefits. The committee also participated in the Nutrition Olympics and 263 students took part. One of the booths featured the Farm Bureau Milk Cow. This event features different areas of health including nutrition foods and where the foods come from. The committee also participated in the Cedar Ridge Health Fair which attracted 400 students.

Izard: The committee put up displays in two local supermarkets promoting Food Check-Out Week. The committee donated $100 worth of supplies to the I.C. Housing Authority. The donation was publicized in the local newspaper.

Jackson: The committee set up Food checkOut Week displays at a local supermarket and made a donation to the local food pantry. The committee also conducted a dairy recipe contest, a safety program was conducted by Amada Williams at Newport Junior High, nutrition food tip sheets were taken to the county’s “Free Health Clinic” and the committee furnished food for an Extension Service cooking class for senior citizens.

Jefferson: The committee sponsored a booth at the Jefferson County 2013 Home & Garden Show at

the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Displayed posters & handed out brochures on Food Check-Out Week & foods grown in Arkansas. The Farm Bureau Milking Cow was also on display. The committee purchased $211 worth of groceries and donated the food to the “Neighbor to Neighbor” pantry in Pine Bluff for Food Check-Out Week.

Lee: The committee commemorated Food Check-

Out Week by collecting and donating non-perishable food items to the Marianna/Lee County Dream Pantry.

The committee also Sponsored a Drunk Driving/Prom Safety event with Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Amanda Williams and Arkansas State Police Troop D at Lee Academy in Marianna. The drunk driving googles which simulate impaired driving and a golf cart were used to demonstrate the effects of drinking and driving.

Lonoke: The committee conducted a Miss

Lonoke County Rice contest in April. The committee also donated the book “Who Grew My Soup” to the public libraries in Lonoke, Cabot, Carlisle, and England. The committee conducted a safety poster contest in three elementary schools and sponsored safety programs in the Cabot school district. The committee donated nonperishable food items to a local women and children’s shelter for Food Check-Out Week.

Madison: The committee, along with the YF&R chairman and the county extension agent, planted pea seeds with 160 first graders at Watson Primary School in Huntsville. The students were taught about continued on page 6

county activities what a seed needs to grow and how it turns into a plant.

The students were given a cup, some soil, and pea seeds to plant so they could observe the seeds grow into a plant. The committee chairman planted beans, carrots, and radishes with a first grade classroom. The book “Oh Say Can You Seed” was then read to the class.

Miller: The committee participated in the annual Agri Expo at the 4-States fairgrounds. Committee members registered farmers, help cook and serve meals for over 260 people. The committee also sponsored a display where they distributed ValuePlus information brochures.

Committee members met with the county’s scholarship committee and selected three students to award scholarships to. The committee met with county board members at the WJ Ranch in April. The ranch is a therapeutic riding center for special needs children and adults. Committee members met with the children, watched their progress riding horses, and joined the board in making a cash donation to the ranch during the meal.

Monroe: Two committee members joined a

county board director at local grocery store in Clarendon to promote Food Check-Out Week. The committee bought $612 worth of groceries and stocked the local food pantry. The local newspaper published a photo of the activity on the front page. The committee also donated $50 to the Clarendon community easter egg hunt and donated $200 to the American Legion Auxiliary to send a county girl to Girl’s State.

Newton: Committee members read the books

“Seed, Soil and Sun” and “Grow Smarter” to 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade classes at the Deer elementary school. The committee also donated agricultural bookmarks to the Jasper School.

The ladies also distributed “10 tips on Got Your Diary?” to two health classes at Jasper School. The committee also arranged a tornado, fire and bus safety program by Amanda Williams at the Deer School. The committee conducted a safety poster contest and distributed “Healthy Role Models for Children” brochures to the Jasper school for children to take to their parents. The committee also purchased and donated food to the Newton County Food Room.

North Logan: The committee arranged for

safety programs on school bus safety and fire prevention to be presented to local Bear Cub Scouts and Tiger Cub Scouts of Paris. The committee also conducted a safety poster contest at three area schools. The posters were judged and the winner was sent to the State Contest. The committee also promoted Food Check- Out Week. A poster was put up in CV’s store and an article was published in the Paris Express newspaper.

Perry: The committee helped collect and judge

safety posters for the county contest and assisted in collecting scholarship applications.

Pike: The committee assisted in judging the

county dairy foods contest and conducted an Ag in the Classroom program which 65 kids attended.

Pope: Members of the committee helped judge

the dairy recipe contest, awarded prize money and a photo was placed in the local newspaper. Two committee members participated in the “Piddlin at Potts Inn” activity, where students and visitors were shown how to milk a cow and make butter. Committee members also shared the water Lesson from the spring meeting with a 4th grade teacher and introduced a teacher to MyAmericanFarm.org for games and information about farms and farming. Donated the book “Guardian Farm” to the Pottsville Elementary school.

Prairie: The committee promoted Food Check-

Out Week, conducted a Miss Prairie County Rice contest, sold rice treats and cotton t-shirts for the Relay for Life, conducted a dairy recipe contest, donated rice bags for prizes to Walk Across Arkansas, published a rice dish recipe in the local paper and conducted a safety poster contest in local elementary schools.

Saline: The committee visited local schools

and distributed applications for the Outdoor Classroom Garden Mini-Grant program. The committee also prepared and served guests at the legislative appreciation dinner, in addition to cooking and delivering food to the Community Christian Outreach which provides food and medical care to homeless and poverty level families.

Scott: The committee donated $200 in food

Montgomery: The committee sponsored a dairy recipe contest which attracted 10 contestants and a bread making contest with 12 contestants.

The committee also donated $50 to the Montgomery County Food Pantry.

contest, set up a Food Check-Out Week display at Union Bank, assisted with a financial planning program at Mena High School, conducted a safety poster contest and handed out brochures at a tornado safety program at Van Cove Elementary School.

and supplies to the Ronald McDonald Rooms at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Smith to commemorate Food Check-Out Week. The committee also conducted a presentation for third graders at Waldron Elementary School on farm safety to prepare them for the poster contest. Committee members read the “Good Things From Arkansas” book to seven classes of kindergarteners at Waldron

committee comments

connected. I hope everyone is planning on attending the Officers and Leaders Conference July 22-23 at Hot Springs. Our committee will be meet-

ing to start planning our involvement at the Arkansas State Fair and the annual meeting in December. Hoping and praying for a safe and fun summer.

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activities for the children, keeps us

Polk: The committee conducted a dairy recipe

staff contacts County Activities of Excellence

• 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

The AFBF County Activities of Excellence (CAE) Awards are designed to celebrate and recognize unique volunteer-driven programming at the local level. We want to recognize and share successful county Farm Bureau programs and activities to help generate even more activity at the county level. With a focus on the priority issues of the organization, the program categorizes activities into to the following areas: Education and Ag Promotion, Member Services, Public Relations and Information, Leadership Development, and Policy Implementation.

For contest information and applications go to www.fb.org/programs/countyx.

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Elementary School. The committee also arranged for the Farm Bureau Milking Cow to be at the Giddy Up Grow Pre-School. Three classes of preschoolers enjoyed a cheese snack and learned where milk and other dairy products come from. Matt Jackson was on hand to show the students how to milk the cow.

Searcy: The committee donated $50 to the

Marshall Food Pantry during Food Check-Out Week. The committee also donated 63 of the “Who Grew My Soup” books to first grade students at Marshall and St Joe Elementary schools. Committee members also provided hot dogs, chips and drinks for the CASA organization program held in Marshall on the town square.

Sebastian: The committee sponsored a

texting and driving safety program for area students in April.

Sevier: The committee assisted students in the

Pre-Advanced Placement Biology class at DeQueen High School in starting a container garden. This garden used recycle tubs (containers that were used on farms which contained protein and fly control products). Several students have harvested herbs and strawberries, while tomato and pepper plants are blooming. Each student will take their container home at the end of the school year. 20 students are involved in the project. The area where the garden is located is also used to raise ducks and chickens.

These animals were hatched by the vo-ag classes.

ties included: delivering rice coloring and activity books to Keiser for the after school program; donating the American Farm Bureau Book of the Year “ The Guardian Team” to the Blytheville and Gosnell Primary Schools; mailed information for the safety poster contest to area schools, judged the posters and sent winning poster to Little Rock. Presented winners of the contest with prize money and took photos to the local newspaper.

St. Francis: The committee participated in Food Check-Out Week with a booth set up in a local grocery store. The committee also conducted the annual Miss St. Francis County Rice contest. Other activities included: Serving lunch to over 300 4-H students; Reading books on Arkansas commodities to county elementary students; conducting a coloring contest and awarding prizes to the winners; and conducting a flower planting project where students act as the bees and track them from seed to flower.

Stone: The committee conducted the county dairy recipe contest. The committee had its largest participation yet with ten 4-H members. Holly Moore won overall 1st place in party dish category for Blackberry Pie recipe. Mikaela Battaglear won overall 1st place for main dish with a Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheddar Frittata recipe. The overall winners are entered to compete in the State Dairy Foods Contest. The committee also ordered books for county elementary schools and presented them to the first grade classrooms.

Sharp: The committee conducted its dairy recipe Union: The committee purchased tomato seeds contest in April with 32 participants. The committee also arranged for Matt Jackson to conduct a program with the Mobile Ag Experience Trailer for K- 2nd grade students at Highland Elementary School. The committee conducted a safety poster contest for students at the Cave City School and made a donation to a local food bank in honor of Food Check-Out Week.

South Logan: Committee members presented $100 checks to the Magazine and Booneville School Districts for the Backpack Program at each school in commemoration of Food Check-Out Week.

Committee members presented a program on cotton production and use in the 21st century. The program was for fifth grade gifted and talented (ELP) students at Booneville Elementary. JoAnn Malena demonstrated how she picked and pulled cotton when she was the students’ age. Products using cotton were shown to the students with discussion on the importance of cotton production. The committee also helped students at Booneville and Magazine Elementary schools plant raised bed gardens.

South Mississippi: The committee participated in Food Check-Out Week by promoting dairy, beef, poultry, rice, corn, potatoes, and wheat. The committee also donated $315 worth of non-perishable food items to the Methodist Church pantry. Other activi7

and taught lessons on container gardening, My Plate and nutrients in tomatoes for students at Smackover Elementary, Junction City Elementary and Strong Elementary schools with 400 participants. The committee also commemorated Food Check-Out Week by donating more than $340 worth of non-perishable food items to the Liberty Crisis Center. A news release and photo were sent to local newspapers. County Farm Bureau president Warner Brown and state board member Johnny Loftin judged the 4-H broiler barbeque. The women’s committee purchased the broilers for the competition and prizes. All participants received an apron. An article and photo were published in local newspapers. Committee members used Farm Bureau grant money to build a raised bed garden for the Smackover Special Education Department. Thirty children helped build the frame, mix soil, and plant beans, tomatoes and lettuce.

Van Buren: The committee conducted a Food Check-Out Week promotional activity at the Clinton Thriftway Supermarket. The committee invited the Food and Consumer Science teachers at county high schools to have their nutrition students talk to consumers at the supermarket. Students from Shirley, South Side and Clinton took part. The committee set up Food Check-Out displays and a tasting station in the produce department. The students and their teachers received an education on healthy eating from the store manager

and tasted fruits and vegetables they had never been exposed to before. The students met with shoppers and handed out brochures on fruits & vegetables and recipes of Arkansas commodities. They talked about the importance of agriculture and our safe, abundant food.

Shoppers were able to taste carrot juice, and an assortment of raw fruits & vegetables. A news release and photos were sent to the newspapers and to Farm Bureau Press. The committee conducted numerous other activities during the period.

Washington: The committee conducted

and participated in numerous activities during the period.

They included the annual “Farm Friends” event at the Pauline Whitaker Center. The committee purchased and served drinks and beans during the evening portion of the event. This annual activity, which is co-sponsored by the Washington County Extension Service, reaches several thousand children and their parents. Other activities include: Purchasing and donating food to Life Ministries to commemorate Food Check-Out Week; Helping plan, attend, and serve as the photographer for the second Moms on the Farm tour; and attended an Ag in the Classroom program at Prairie Grove Elementary school which included Farm Bureau’s Mobile Ag Experience Trailer. This program reached 150 4th and 5th graders.

White: The committee conducted and partici-

pated in numerous activities during the period. These include: a program with the Beebe Kiwanis Club “Where Does our Food Come From”; a committee member read the book, “Who Grew My Soup?” to local elementary students. Committee members also participated in a a “Distracted Driving” program presented at Searcy High School. This included drivers using cell phones, texting, or dialing. Drivers on phones are more impaired than those with a .08 blood alcohol content. It was also noted how costly alcohol consumption is in fines, jail time and death. One person is killed in a drunk driving accident every 52 minutes.

Woodruff: The committee donated books to Extension for youth at Cotton Plant. Committee members also helped with the McCrory High School FFA Auction and donated food to the Woodruff County Food Pantry to commemorate Food Check-Out Week. Janice Marsh, chair of the state women’s committee attended a number of conferences and events including: the ArFB Farmers Day at Legislature, State Women’s Conference, Agriculture Hall of Fame induction luncheon, American Farm Bureau Leadership Conference in Arizona and the AFBF Women’s Leadership Conference in Las Vegas.

Yell: The committee conducted a Poultry Workshop for a 4-H group teaching them how to care for baby chicks. The committee also conducted two embryology programs and a soils program for 2nd graders at Danville Elementary. A total of 164 students attended the programs. Committee members also conducted a gardening program for local residents at the Dardanelle Library.

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arfb women’s committee calendar Sun.

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New Year 2’s Day, FB Offices closed

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Deadline for YF&R Achievement Award Applications

Policy Development Videoconference

O&L Conference in Hot Springs Earth Day

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August 1

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Third-Quarter Womens’ Quarterly Report Deadline

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Labor Day FB Offices Closed

Patriots’ Day

Grandparents’ Day

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First Day of Autumn

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