Womensnewsletter 2q2015

arkansas

farm

bureau

committee comments

T

his spring, the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Committee donated $4,000 to Ronald McDonald House in observance of Farmers Feeding Families, formerly known as Food Check-Out Week. It is always heartwarming to be able to visit with the facility managers and hear how our donation keeps them supplied with fresh meat, milk, and produce during times when they need it most. The committee also matched 50 percent, up to $100, the amount counties donated to a local shelter or backpack program at their local school. A total of $3,900 was donated by our county women’s committees.

The state committee will attend the National Ag in the Classroom conference June 16-20. We Janice Marsh are excited about bringing chairwoman new ideas back home and also hearing how the teachers are incorporating agriculture into their lesson plans. I encourage you to use the Mobile Ag Experience trailers, which are part of our ag education program. They are available for use at county fairs and special events in your communities. They are very popular, so schedule them well in advance.

I encourage all county leaders to work with your extension homemakers, 4-H clubs, and Family and Consumer Science teachers to obtain entries and conduct a Sew With Cotton Contest. This year we have added a winning quilt and wall hanging division. The deadline for the statewide contest is Oct. 26.

The entries will be modeled at the women’s luncheon at the annual convention.

I want to thank everyone who worked so hard with their spring projects. I appreciate all the opportunities Arkansas Farm Bureau gives us to promote agriculture. I look forward to seeing everyone July 20-21 in Hot Springs for the Officers & Leaders Conference. Have a safe summer.

KEITH SUTTON photo

On May 19, at Benton Co. FB’s Farm Expo, Susan Anglin of Bentonville, chairman of ArFB’s Dairy Division, discussed dairy cattle and farming at Grace Hill Elementary in Rogers. More than 250 fourth-grade students participated in the event, learning about cotton, rice, cattle, garden vegetables and other agricultural topics.

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

Arkansas: The committee donated $1,000 to the Acres of Help charity; prepared a meal for a legislative event and YF&R luncheon; and donated food to the Donna’s House charity.

Benton: The committee conducted embryology classes for kindergarten students at Centerton, Pea Ridge and Sugar Creek elementary schools; conducted a county dairy recipe contest; conducted an Enviroscape program in recognition of Earth Day at Old High Middle School; and a committee member participated in the Moms on the Farm tour by hosting the participants at her dairy farm.

The committee also donated $200 worth of food to a children’s shelter as part of the Farmers Feeding Families program.

Boone: The committee donated books to

nine area elementary school libraries, and made a contribution to a local food bank as part of the Farmers Feeding Families program. The committee

Second Quarter 2015 ®

also conducted a county dairy recipe contest and partnered with the Game and Fish Commission and Soil Conservation Service to man a booth promoting Arkansas agriculture for a community event at the fairgrounds.

Calhoun: The committee promoted

Arkansas agriculture during the Hogskin Holidays Festival by arranging for Farm Bureau’s Mobile Ag Experience trailer to be on display. It included the Farm Bureau cow for children to milk and a video explaining the importance of agriculture. The committee also purchased books that were donated to the local library and teachers at Hampton elementary school. A committee member completed a first aid emergency response and CPR training program provided by the Hampton School District.

Carroll: The committee conducted the

Wagonmasters economic program for fifth-grade students in Eureka Springs. The students learn about bartering for needed goods in the 1800s continued on page 2

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county activities

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2015

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 PEGGY MILLER vice chairwoman Chicot County, District 7 870-265-5151 peggymiller2@gmail.com ANGIE HODGES Craighead County, District 1 870-935-2191 hh88@windstream.net SANDRA KEMMER Monroe County, District 2 870-734-2481 kemmer@att.net ROBERTA GOLMON Baxter County, District 3 870-499-3130 robertafoxtrot@gmail.com LAURIE RICHARDSON Scott County, District 4 479-207-3954 lrichardson555@mail.com BENITA DREW Pope County, District 5 479-858-9272 benitakay@centurytel.net DONNA BEMIS Pulaski County, District 6 501-897-4931 donna@bemistreefarm.com SONYA HARRELL Calhoun County, District 7 870-798-4821

sonya.harrell@ymail.com

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Clay (Food Program donation)

JEFFERSON CO. FB photo

Independence (ICU Food basket)

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

Jefferson Co. FB Women’s Committee representatives Meredith Baker (left) and Susan Bitely (right) recently presented a $500 Ag in the Classroom Outdoor Classroom Garden Grant to Lighthouse Academy Charter School Principal Samuel Glover. The money will allow students at the school to plant an on-campus vegetable and flower garden.

and international trade. A committee member read the book, “A Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen,” to Berryville elementary school students. The committee arranged for the Mobile Ag Experience trailer to be at the three county schools and for Matt Jackson to conduct programs on Arkansas agriculture.

recipe and Sew with Cotton contests and purchased gifts for winners of the 4-H Poultry cook-off competition. The committee also conducted ag education programs for students at East Side elementary school and donated food items to the Christian Mission and Compassion Foundation.

Chicot: The committee conducted a Miss Chicot

Conway: Committee members participated in the

County Rice contest to promote the importance of rice to the county. The committee also conducted an agricultural promotional activity at a local supermarket and donated $200 worth of food products to the local food pantry as part of Food Check-Out Week.

Clark: The committee sponsored a 4-H Poultry

cookoff and judged the county dairy recipe contest. The committee also conducted a county safety poster contest; co-sponsored a local Relay for Life team; and donated food items for the local school district backpack progam during Food Check-Out Week.

Clay: The committee donated food items for the Piggott and Corning elementary school backpack programs.

The committee also conducted a safety poster contest at the Park and Central elementary schools in Corning.

Cleburne: The committee planned and conducted a county dairy recipe contest.

Cleveland: The committee assisted fifth-grade

Farmers Feeding Families program by setting up ag promotion displays throughout the community and donating $200 worth of food items to the local school backpack program. The committee also conducted a county dairy recipe contest and educational programs at Wonderview, Nemo Vista and Morrilton schools, where students learned how to grow fruits and vegetables. The committee also donated $500 to the Safe Place women’s shelter.

Boone (Farm Bureau Week)

Howard (Dairy Contest)

Craighead: The committee participated in the Farmers Feeding Families program by preparing and serving rice soup, crackers and rice casseroles for agency staff and board members. The committee also donated 144 pounds of food items to the Helping Neighbors Food Pantry; conducted county dairy recipe and safety poster contests; and arranged for Amanda Williams to conduct a fire prevention safety program at the Jonesboro Kindergarten Center and internet safety program at Nettleton Middle School.

Crawford: The committee obtained donations

students with farm safety programs on injuries caused by livestock for second-grade students at Woodlawn Elementary.

from Walmart and a local supermarket of bottled water and crayons for a Fun on the Farm program; provided incubators to Cedarville and Mulberry elementary schools for a poultry project; and conducted a tornado awareness

Columbia: The committee conducted dairy

continued on page 4

Van Buren (5K color run)

Monroe (Farmers Feeding Families) 3

county activities program for senior citizens.

Cross: The committee conducted a Food Check-Out

Week activity and committee members helped judge the Miss St. Francis County Rice contest. Committee members also taught Wynne elementary school students about milling rice and conducted the “Here’s the Deal, Get Real,” program at Wynne High School.

Faulkner: The committee participated in a tree

planting ceremony as part of a forestry education program and conducted a number of garden planting workshops for students in Greenbrier, Wooster and Conway and for Independent Living Services residents. Committee members also participated in the Wampus Cat Health Expo, which had 1,200 participants and conducted a county dairy recipe contest.

Garland: The committee distributed commodity

DVDs profiling corn, cotton, hay, rice, wheat, soybeans and timber to local 4-H clubs. This is an ongoing project.

The committee also distributed 50 copies of the book, “9,000,000 Changes Everything,” to doctors offices, restaurants, schools and businesses. Committee members also conducted ag literacy programs with different elementary grade levels at Gardner Magnet School and a greenhouse project with students where they fill balloons with water, soil and seeds and hang them in windows so the students can watch the plants grow.

Howard: The committee observed Food Check-Out

Week by purchasing and donating food items to local schools as part of the backpack program. The committee also conducted a county dairy recipe contest. A committee member brought a baby goat to the ABC preschool and a local elementary school in Nashville as part of a unit study on farm animals.

Independence: The committee conducted

and judged county dairy recipe and Sew with Cotton contests during the period. The committee also conducted the “Serving Up My Plate” program which involved 400 students. The students rotated through nine stations where they learned where their food comes from. The committee also participated in the Farmers Feeding Families program by distributing ag information brochures at grocery stores and the hospital.

Izard: The committee conducted a county dairy

recipe and barbecue contest and donated food items to the Manna House in commemoration of Food Check-Out Week. The committee also donated $250 to the county M*A*S*H program and a plaque to the “Most Inspirational Athlete of the Year” at the Melbourne High School athletic banquet.

Jackson: The committee promoted agriculture in a number of ways during the period. Committee members 4

distributed bags filled with commodity information, soybean crayons and rice treats to Newport preschool classes. They also donated rice dishes to the diabetes program at the hospital and judged the county dairy recipe contest. Committee members also volunteered at the Tuckerman School Ag Day where they demonstrated how to milk a cow and plant soybeans.

Jefferson: Committee members presented a

$500 Farm Bureau Outdoor Classroom Garden Grant check to the Pine Bluff Lighthouse Charter School so students can develop a flower and vegetable garden on campus.

Johnson: Committee members conducted sev-

eral Ag in the Classroom programs for kindergarten and first-grade students in Clarksville and Oark. They conducted programs on embryology and handed out Ag Readers dealing with broiler chickens and leghorns. A committee member also read the book, “The Apple Orchard Riddle,” to kindergarten students at Oark elementary.

Lafayette: The committee hosted a blood drive and provided food for the Relay for Life.

Lee: The committee conducted the Miss Lee County Rice contest.

in the Farmers Feeding Families program by donating food items to the local food pantry.

North Logan: The committee handed out commodity Ag Readers to students at St. Joseph’s school and arranged for Matt Jackson to conduct programs on dairy using the Farm Bureau milking cow and seed germination.

MONROE CO. FB photo

Five Monroe County Women’s Committee members, including one “in training,” attended the State Women’s Conference. (L- R) Libby Wilkison, LeAnn Wilkison, Lynlee Wilkison, Allison Gurley, Sandra Kemmer.

4-H broiler barbecue cook-off with four of the contestants qualifying for the 4-H district competition. The committee also conducted the Miss Monroe County Rice contest and arranged for Amanda Williams to present a tornado safety program at Clarendon and Partee elementary schools for approximately 300 students. The committee participated in the Farmers Feeding Families program by donating $600 to local food pantries and church food assistant programs.

Montgomery: The committee conducted a

county cattlemen’s meeting about the work the women’s committee is doing and helped prepare the meal. The committee also made a donation for the county health fair.

county dairy recipe contest; participated in the Farmers Feeding Families program by donating food items to the Montgomery County Food Pantry; and presented gardening lessons to students at Oden and Mt. Ida elementary schools.

Lonoke: The committee made a food donation to the

Newton: The committee conducted the “Farm to

Little River: A committee member spoke at the

Open Arms Shelter in Lonoke and Food Bank in England to commemorate Food Check-Out Week. The committee also conducted a county dairy recipe contest and Ag in the Classroom programs educating students about rice, dairy, forestry and soybeans. Committee members helped students plant a school garden and taught them about the importance of beekeeping in agriculture. The committee also took 18 students on a tour of the Heifer Ranch.

You” program at elementary schools in the county which featured the Farm Bureau milking cow. The committee also read several books to students are Mt. Judea elementary school including, “Where the Wild Apples Grow,” “Spring Comes to the Forest,” and “One Fine Day.”The committee conducted a safety poster contest and participated

Polk: The committee donated packages of oatmeal to include in the local school’s backpack program.

Pope: The committee conducted a Food Check-Out

Week event and county ATV safety poster contest. The committee also arranged for Matt Jackson to conduct a program on dairy using the Farm Bureau milking cow, as well as fire and ATV safety programs. Committee members also donated to the backpack program at Dover and Hector schools and the Battered Women’s shelter.

Prairie: The committee conducted and judged a Miss Prairie County Rice and safety poster contest. The committee also donated $200 worth of food items to local food banks and prize money for the county dairy recipe contest.

Pulaski: The committee made a food donation to

the Dorcas House in Little Rock in commemoration of Food Check-Out Week.

Saline: Committee members distributed ag promo-

tion materials at an Earth Day event at Paron school.

The committee also donated ag map placemats and “Good Things from Arkansas” books to a third-grade class at East End elementary. Committee members prepared and served breakfast at a legislative breakfast meeting and distributed commodity promotion materials at the local farmers market.

Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen,” to the Mansfield and Waldron elementary school libraries and participated in the Read Across America progam by reading it and the book, “The Beeman,” to elementary students at the two schools.

The committee also conducted programs on the importance of ATV and helmet safety for Waldron elementary thirdgrade students and conducted a safety poster contest at the schools. Committee members participated in the county’s Progressive Farm Safety Day event by handing out brochures on a variety of safety programs.

Jackson to present a program with the Farm Bureau milking cow at Watson elementary school.

Miller: The committee participated in the selec-

Monroe: The committee sponsored the county

to discuss Ag in the Classroom programs and assisted with plans for a member appreciation event.

Scott: The committee donated a copy of the book, “The

Madison: The committee arranged for Matt

tion of Miller County Farm Bureau scholarship recipients.

The scholarships are worth $1,000. The committee arranged for Amanda Williams to conduct a weather safety program at Union School for more than 200 students. The committee also set up an information table at the Ag Expo with brochures on local fruit and vegetables.

Committee members helped serve lunch to farmers and vendors at the event.

Perry: Committee members met with local teachers

NEWTON CO. FB photo

Newton County SNAP-Ed Program and Farm to You exhibit with the Arkansas Farm Bureau Dairy Cow.

Searcy: The committee made a donation to the

local food pantry in observance of Food Check-Out Week; conducted a county safety poster contest; and provided a meal for the local CASA program.

county activities Sevier: The committee prepared and served lunch

to students and teachers at Horatio elementary school which included Arkansas food products. The committee also conducted a safety poster contest, participated in an art program for local schools by donating supplies for the DeQueen High School art department, and partnered with Horatio elementary in a school garden project. The committee also donated food items for the local backpack program.

Sharp: The committee conducted county dairy recipe

and safety poster contests and made a cash donation to the local foodbank in Ash Flat to commemorate Food Check-Out Week. Committee members also handed out information about soybeans to Cave City elementary third-grade students in recognition of soybean month.

South Logan: The committee conducted a

county dairy recipe contest during the 4-H O’Rama. Committee members Ruby Jackson and Robbie Love conducted a session on the parts of a plant at Booneville and Magazine elementary schools. They also discussed the importance of a healthy diet. Third-grade students at the two schools planted raised bed vegetable gardens with help from committee members, and Ruby Jackson spoke to students about ATV safety. The committee also conducted a safety poster contest at the schools.

South Mississippi: The committee

conducted a safety poster contest involving students at 10 county schools. Committee members also collected 700 coloring books and 42 posters promoting agriculture from Armorel, Blytheville, Gosnell and Manila schools.

St. Francis: The committee observed Food Check-

Out Week with an ag promotion event at the local supermarket. The committee donated $100 in canned goods to the local food pantry. The committee also conducted a Miss St. Francis County Rice contest and promoted the cotton industry with a fashion show during the annual Administrative Professionals Luncheon. Committee members also conduct Ag in the Classroom programs in local schools and assisted students with a school garden project. They also participated in the 4-H Wildlife Day event.

Stone: The committee observed Food Check-Out Week by donating $200 worth of food items to the county Community Food Ministry which serves more than 500 families each year. A committee member volunteered in the local food room as well.

Union: The committee conducted a county dairy

recipe contest; a broiler barbecue contest; and an Eggcellent Spring Recipe class featuring egg, chicken and dairy products. This class was for area youth in observance of egg month. The committee conducted a High Tunnel tour so the 50 adults in attendance could see how strawberries, cucumbers, onions and lettuce were being grown.

Committee members were also involved in a variety of Ag in

the Classroom activities including a tomato growing project involving more than 400 students.

Van Buren: The committee conducted a variety

of activities during the period. These included a “Soup as a Meal” recipe contest at South Side-Bee Branch High School.

The committee conducted a dairy recipe contest with the county winner being selected as a finalist in the state contest. Ag Safety Week and ATV safety were promoted with a county safety poster contest and National Ag Day was recognized as committee members read the book, “The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen,” to elementary students at Clinton, Shirley and South Side-Bee Branch elementary schools.

Washington: The committee partnered with

the Washington County Cooperative Extension Service to conduct the 19th annual Farm Friends Day at the Pauline Whitaker Center on the University of Arkansas campus to promote and educate the community and area students about animal agriculture. It featured live animals and agricultural products. Approximately 2,000 children preschool through second grade and their parents attended the morning session and another 600 adults, including city and county officials, enjoyed a dinner of pinto beans and cornbread during the evening session. Committee members also distributed a number of ag education books to county schools and organizations. These included, “Agriculture – The Roots of Arkansas,”“9,000,000 Changes Everything,” “Arkansas Grown,” and “The Landscape of Arkansas.”

White: The committee observed Food Check-Out

Week with a display in a local supermarket. Additionally, more than $300 was collected and used to purchase food items, which the committee donated to Jacob’s Place homeless shelter. The committee also conducted safety poster, Miss White County Rice and dairy recipe contests during the period. Committee members will also participate in a summer reading program at the Searcy Regional Library.

Woodruff: The committee conducted a Miss

Woodruff County Rice contest and committee members presented a session on cooking with soy at the State Women’s Conference. The committee made a donation to the local food pantry and contributed to the food donation by the state women’s committee to Ronald McDonald House. Janice Marsh, chair of the state women’s committee, attended numerous meetings during the period including the County President’s Tour to Washington, D.C. and Farmers’ Day at the State Capitol.

Yell: The committee conducted a dairy recipe contest

and an Ag Safety Day for fifth-graders from three schools.

This reached more than 200 students. Committee members also participated in the 4-H O’Rama.

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