Issuu

arkansas

farm

bureau

afbf women’s leadership committee

committee comments

he “Sweet Story Of Agriculture” was the theme of the Ag in the Classroom conference this summer in Hershey, Penn. We stayed at the Hershey Lodge and were hosted by the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation, which is a charitable organization supported by Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Seven members of our state committee, Sue Billiot, our southern representative on the AFBF women’s leadership committee, and two staff members attended. We had the pleasure of having two of our state teachers as presenters at the conference. Sarah Glenn and Lisa Taylor presented two sessions on “Sweet Ways to Integrate Agriculture and the Environment in the Classroom.” We brought back some great ideas for our annual conference in March. The Officers and Leaders Conference in July was all about being Janice Marsh “Engaged” in agriculture. chairwoman The women’s committee strives to engage people about our industry. Farm Bureau gives us all the tools and resources we need to promote agriculture. If you need any resource please don’t hesitate to contact your county Farm Bureau or the state office. Peggy Miller and I attended the Arkansas Rice Expo in Stuttgart on Aug. 1. This was a wonderful opportunity to distribute Ag in the Classroom materials and to tell about our commodities. Once again we participated in the Farmers’ Market in downtown Little Rock the first of August. We gave away bags of rice and Ag in the Classroom information to more than 200 people who visited our location. It was an excellent opportunity to connect with people who don’t know much about agriculture and to tell our story. With school started, we look forward to our coloring book and poster contests and donating art supplies to local schools. I encourage our county committees to get involved in these worthy activities. And plan on attending the state convention in December. Thanks for all you do to promote Arkansas agriculture!

The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee met July 27-29, in St. Louis. Sue Billiot of Smithville (Sharp County), is a member of the committee which toured Monsanto’s Chesterfield plant and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The committee had an outstanding learning opportunity with Monsanto. Billiot shared that she is, “Farm Bureau Proud” of the work the committee did to make sure agriculture’s balanced message is shared and that customers’ concerns were addressed. With that in mind, AFBF will host its eighth annual Farm Bureau Women’s Communications Boot Camp Oct. 7-10, in Washington, D.C., gaining confidence in sharing agriculture’s message with the public is important and the training is open to all women who are members of Farm Bureau and interested in developing their communication and leadership skills. A maximum of 15 applicants Sue Billiot will be selected to participate. Make plans now to attend the AFBF Annual Convention Jan. 9-13, 2015 in San Diego. Programs of special interest to women include Friday night’s VIP preview of the IDEAg Tradeshow and the State Chair Networking activity; the Saturday morning caucuses and annual meeting of the American Farm Bureau Women; and Sunday’s Leadership Luncheon and vespers service. The convention offers some exciting opportunities for all volunteer leaders. Looking ahead to February, the dates for the AFBF 2015 FUSION Conference have been announced. FUSION stands for Farmers United: Skills, Inspiration, Outreach and Networking. The conference will be held Feb. 13-16, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. FUSION is the new name for the conference previously referred to as the Engagement Conference and brings together Farm Bureau women and Young Farmers and Ranchers every other year.

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

Arkansas: The committee sponsored

and assisted with the growth of a rice plot at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie to spotlight the importance of rice in Arkansas for the museum’s visitors. The committee also sponsored Miss Arkansas County Rice in the Miss Arkansas Rice Queen contest and made a donation to 4-H.

Baxter: The committee arranged for the

Farm Bureau Ag Experience Trailer and milk cow to be part of a program at Hackler Intermediate School with FFA students conducting the program

for third graders. The committee also sponsored a booth at the FFA Auction with Ag in the Classroom material handed out to the kids. It also included a section on poultry and baby chicks for children to see and learn about through activity sheets and a question and answer session. The booth also featured large posters on cattle, chickens, wheat, rice, etc., and brochures about member benefits and the new Savings Plus program.

Benton: The committee conducted a Farm

Expo at Russell Jones Elementary in Rogers. 160 fourth and fifth grade students participated. There were nine stations consisting of baby chicks, the importance of water, poultry bingo, beef by-products, food safety, dairy, rice milling, and cotton ginning, all to educate students on the continued on page 2

Third Quarter 2014 ®

2014

county activities

arfb state

women’s committee

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

Craighead County (Poster Contest)

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

PEGGY MILLER vice chairwoman Chicot County, District 7 870-265-5151 peggymiller2@gmail.com SUE BILLIOT ex-officio Sharp County, District 2 870-528-3617 kajunsue@centurytel.net ROBIN C. WILLIAMS St. Francis County, District 1 870-633-8783 creses528@yahoo.com DANA D. STEWART White County, District 2 501-278-9132 danadianestewart@gmail.com

KEITH SUTTON photo

Baxter County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee members (l to r) Jackie Morrison and Sarah Everett of Mtn. Home, and Roberta Golmon of Norfork were among the 150 women who attended the Arkansas Farm Bureau Statewide Women’s Conference March 7-8 in Little Rock. Featured speakers included Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach of Manila; and Diamond Award-winning Chef Jason Knapp. The two-day conference included a variety of educational workshops about Farm Bureau programs, health issues, committee work and more.

importance of Arkansas and Benton County agriculture. The committee also participated in Dairy Days which attracted 60 exhibitors from Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas for a total of 250 people. The committee secured meals for the three day event.

ROBERTA GOLMON Baxter County, District 3 870-499-3130 robertafoxtrot@gmail.com ANGELA K. JONES Sebastian County, District 4 479-462-3369 akjones31@gmail.com SARA N. LOE Garland County, District 5 501-545-1572 snwasl143@aol.com 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 2

Van Buren County (Food for Life donation)

Boone: The committee supported the board

in acquiring a trailer from a local dealership for FFA students to utilize in their project areas. The committee also arranged for two board members to speak about professions in agriculture at a local school and assist with a hands-on activity planting bean seeds in cups so that students could watch them grow. There was much discussion about that and other crops. The county also had several girls participate in the county dairy foods contest, with one, Addie Blankenship, placing second in the Party Ideas category at the statewide competition.

Craighead County (Miss Craighead Co. Rice)

Washington County (M*A*S*H)

Carroll: The committee scheduled and arranged

BOONE CO. FB

Boone County’s Dairy Foods Contest participants, from left to right, Ka’Chena Moore won 1st place in main dish and 3rd place in party dish; Hannah Martin placed 2nd in main dish; Addie Blankenship won 1st place in party dish (also went to state competition and won 2nd place), and Nellie Jennings placed 2nd in party dish.

a program featuring the Ag Experience trailer which promotes dairy, rice, soybeans, beef, poultry, and cotton for 140 students at Berryville and 100 students at Eureka Springs. Wagonmaster is an economic program that the committee presented to 139 students at Berryville High School and 99 students at Eureka Springs, teaching them how to barter and trade to get the necessary supplies they need and not be short changed. The committee also arranged a bicycle safety program for students in Eureka Springs.

continued on page 4

Clay County (Rice Month)

Independence County (Food Donation) 3

county activities Chicot: The committee conducted a Miss Chicot

County Rice contest and presented the winner with a check to help her promote rice in the county. Committee members also went to Lake Village and Dermott Elementary schools and judged the tomato project. The committee also awarded monetary gifts from Farm Bureau to the top three participants in each grade K-2, 3-4, 5-6 at both schools.

Clark: Committee members hosted students

on a field trip to a local dairy, attended the beef cattle commodity meeting in Little Rock and promoted rice, beef, eggs, calcium, cauliflower, blueberries, squash, blackberries, peaches, pears and apples. The committee also arranged for the milking cow and combine simulator to be part of the elementary school summer program. Committee members read dairy story books at the summer daycare program and provided ice cream to promote dairy products in local daycares. The committee also arranged for the Mobile Ag Experience trailer and combine simulator to be at the county’s Ag Appreciation Day.

Clay: The committee provided information to

local students on the importance of growing soybeans, wheat, rice, and cotton. Committee members also provided information to teachers at Piggott Elementary to enhance their teaching on agriculture.

Cleburne: Committee members taught lessons

on the importance of agriculture at a 4-H Cloverbud Day Camp and read the book “Who Grew My Soup.” Committee members also led sessions on understanding the importance of agriculture and Arkansas crops at the Cleburne County Jr. and Sr. 4-H Summer Camp.

Columbia: The committee purchased pizzas

for 77 Emerson Elementary students who participated in the county Safety Poster competition. Six certificates were given to the top two in three grades. The committee also supplied fruits, snacks and water for the local M*A*S*H program.

Conway: The committee arranged for students

from Morrilton, Wonderview and Nemo Vista schools to take part in the “Farm to You” activity where they learned about where their food is produced and how it impacts their bodies. Elementary students from Wonderview and Morrilton schools learned about Arkansas fruits and vegetables and had the option of tasting the produce they were learning about. Students also listened to committee members read “Seed, Soil, Sun, Earth’s Recipe for Food.” Youth attending 4-H camps and the local Safe Haven summer learning programs learned the importance of summer safety. Students took part in hands-on activities that ranged from skin care while being in the sun, to bicycle, water and boating along with ATV safety. 4

county activities

Craighead: The committee sponsored a

Jackson: The committee handed out 900 bags of

county wide Dairy Foods Contest where members presented prizes to the first-place winners. Committee members assisted 2014 Miss Craighead County Rice Brittany Roedel in her numerous rice promotion activities during the period. These included attending a pre-4th of July event for local veterans, where she served “Brittany’s Country Casserole” to everyone. They also assisted in distributing her recipe cards in local churches and businesses. Committee member Debbie DeRossitte created a learning session featuring “Good things from Arkansas” and presented six sessions at ASU’s Farmers’ Market.

rice, corn, soybean, and forestry Fun on the Farm coloring books for Agri Day at Newport schools. They also handed out 25 bags at the youth fishing derby. The committee arranged for Arkansas Farm Bureau Safety Coordinator Jason Kaufman to present a program on “Where Your Food Comes From” at the youth fishing derby.

Jefferson: The committee joined the county

board in donating $600 for students to attend the local M*A*S*H camp. The committee also helped select students majoring in agriculture to be recipients of the Jefferson County $1,000 scholarship.

Crawford: The committee conducted an

Lafayette: The committee assisted in collecting

incubation program and hatched chicks for fourth grade students at Mulberry Elementary.

and loading a trailer with supplies for the tornado victims in Central Arkansas. More than 600 items and $1,000 was donated in early May. Also, committee member Geri Lofton and her grandson walked for Farm Bureau in the “Relay for Life.”

Cross: Committee members educated residents

at River Ridge Nursing home as to the health benefits of rice. The committee arranged for the Farm Bureau Ag Simulator and milk cow to be at the Wynne Farm Fest event. Committee members participated in the Body Walk at Wynne High School and Miss Cross County Rice read to children at the library and the Wynne Elementary Class and served her dish at the Cross County Farm Bureau annual meeting.

Dallas: The committee sponsored a first responder

HOWARD CO FB photo

The Howard County Women’s Committee sponsored Zack Williams in the State Dairy Contest. Zack placed 3rd in the Main Dish Category. The annual State Dairy Contest was held June 4th in Little Rock, Arkansas.

dinner for Dallas County firemen and police officers.

Faulkner: Committee members were involved

in a number of activities during the period. They included attending and assisting at the Pizza Ranch event in Little Rock, which reached 2100 students from across central Arkansas; conducting a taste testing activity at Wooster and Greenbrier Eastside Elementary schools with produce from the school garden; conducting a nutrition education program for 75 students at Wooster Elementary school and conducting a food preservation workshop for 11 people in July.

Grant: The committee was involved in a number

of activities during the period. They included participating in a wildlife camp; conducting a nutrition presentation for seniors; an ATV safety program; yoga for kids; setting up a nutrition exhibit at the local health dept; and conducting a food demonstration with the Hometown Health Coalition. The committee also supported the Feed the Children summer lunch program.

Greene: The committee donated coloring books

and crayons to the kindergarten class at Marmaduke to help them finish up the year with an activity from Farm Bureau. In November the county had the state winner for the K-2 coloring contest. Committee members also attended the graduation ceremony of the local M*A*S*H program and donated $100 toward the purchase of a

pool table for the seniors to enjoy at the Chateau on the Ridge retirement home

Howard: The committee sponsored Zack

Williams in the State Dairy Foods Contest. Zack placed third in the Main Dish Category. The annual State Dairy Contest was held in June in Little Rock.

Independence: The committee conducted

a number of Ag in the Classroom and safety activities during the period. They included taking local children on a variety of farm tours, showing them the stages of a chicken’s life and then gathering eggs; learning about blueberries and kohlrabi and how they are grown in Arkansas; growing and transplanting blueberries for a home garden; encouraging use of local produce and picked blueberries, squash, and corn; visited a ranch to see cattle, horses, and forage; and visited a local poultry farm to see how chickens are raised as layers. Each month the committee donates a basket of healthy snacks to the hospital ICU waiting room for families and visitors.

Izard: The committee conducted a county Sew

with Cotton contest and provided judges and prizes for the activity. continued on page 5

Little River: The committee helped kindergar-

ten and first-grade students with an ATV safety day and donated crayons and coloring sheets for the students. The committee also donated drinks and helped serve fish for a political rally at the Little River County Courthouse.

Madison: The committee arranged for Arkansas

Farm Bureau Rural Health Specialist Jennifer Victory to speak about a new safety program at the county board meeting. The committee also supported the M*A*S*H program with a donation and sponsored the Poker Run for the Madison County Rodeo.

Miller: Members of the committee assisted the lo-

cal 4-H club with the fishing derby in June. The committee arranged for Arkansas Farm Bureau Safety Coordinator Amanda Williams to conduct a fire safety program at College Hill Elementary school for 350 children in the first through fourth grades. Barbara and Nedra helped with the annual Back to Nature activity. They passed out tee shirts, helped serve lunch and held a safety program for 120 children. Other activities included Doug Cherry from the Forestry Commission explaining how to judge the age of a tree, Rodger Gold from the Natural Resources Commission taught the children about soils in Arkansas, and the Game and Fish Commission brought its mobile fish tank.

Monroe: The committee was involved in a

number of activities during the period. They included, “Farm Day” in Clarendon at the Monroe County Library summer reading program. Children dressed in farm hats, caps, jeans & boots. Miss Monroe County Rice explained how rice is planted, grown and showed examples of rice in different stages. She gave a rice coloring book to each child. Matt Jackson of ARFB read “The Cow in Patrick

WASHINGTON CO FB photo

Mary Smith (left) and Jeannie Hornsby with the Washington County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee demonstrating the preparation of a dish during “Girls Nite Out.” Approximately 20 guests were in attendance for the demonstration on preparing several Mexican‐themed dishes. This event was held July 29th at Washington County Farm Bureau’s Fayetteville office.

O’Shanahan’s Kitchen,” then donated the book to the library. The children also took turns riding in the combine simulator. The children were given a paper cup that they put soil in then planted a turnip or marigold seed, watered it and took it home. A committee member spoke to the children about rice and how it is planted, watered, and harvested.

Newton: Members of the committee conducted

an Ag in the Classroom activity at Deer Schools. A committee member read the book “Grow Smarter” to first grade classes. The committee also presented a program on soybeans to second and third grade classes. A committee member distributed information about corn production and made corn stalks out of newspapers. The committee returned safety posters to schools and presented winners with prize money. The committee arranged for Arkansas Farm Bureau Safety Coordinator Jason Kaufman to conduct a “Distracted and Drunk Driving” safety program at Mt. Judea schools.

North Logan: A committee member wrote

applications and presented them to the board for their selection of recipients.

Pike: The committee conducted Ag in The Classroom programs at the Murfreesboro City Park and the Pike County Fair Grounds in Glenwood for third and fourth grade students. There were stations dealing with animal science, the Farm Bureau milk cow, and the combine simulator. Animals were shown by the 4-H members and a farm safety program was given by Mike McCarter, county agent.

Pope: The committee was involved in a number of

activities during the period. These included an Ag in the Classroom program, “Piddlin’ Days at Potts Inn.” The Krazy Kritters 4-H Club brought animals for us to use and Farm Bureau provided the Ag Experience trailer including the milk cow, cotton gin, and other ag displays. Committee members demonstrated how to make butter and gave the children a cracker with churned butter to taste. A similar activity was the “Hector Play Day-Butter Demonstration.” A total of 130 kindergarteners, first and second graders attended.

articles for the Paris Express promoting Dairy Month and the health benefits of milk. The committee chairman presented a program on cotton to 19 Extension Homemakers at their May meeting. This information will be used for the county Farm Bureau’s fair booth.

Prairie: The committee conducted a county dairy

Perry: The committee answered questions from

Scott: The committee conducted and assisted with a

local teachers regarding materials available through Farm Bureau. The committee also made plans to assist with the next safety poster contest, helped gather scholarship

foods contest for 4-H, donated awards and judged the entries.

number of educational activities during the period. These continued on page 6

county activities

county activities included, the 2nd annual Farm Day Tour for seven classes of Waldron Elementary third grade students. There were eight stations where the students learned about different aspects of animal agriculture including beef cattle, equine, and poultry; A Forestry Field Day hosted by our local Forest Service at Waldron Middle School. Committee members spoke with 10 classes of fifth grade students about the many products we get from trees and how important the timber industry is to our county; and the committee conducted a beef presentation for two classes of children at the Giddy-Up Grow Pre-School in honor of Beef Month.

flours to see if they yielded a difference in the recipe. The second day members taught cooking 101, which featured chicken spaghetti, roasted veggies, and apple pie using Arkansas grown products. Senior citizens learned about the importance of dairy, beef, and grains during three meetings taught by a committee member.

Van Buren: The committee was very active

during the period. Some of the programs conducted included sponsoring 11 students to the local M*A*S*H camp. County President Stephen Matthews spoke at the graduation ceremony at the conclusion of the two week camp. A news release was written and published by local newspapers. Committee members serve on an advisory committee for South Side (Bee Branch) High School and Clinton High School. Curriculum plans for the upcoming school year are discussed as well as, ideas and plans for community and Farm Bureau involvement; the committee also supported the Master Gardner Plant Sale at Fairfield Bay with Janet Carson as the guest speaker.

Sharp: Members of the committee manned the

Farm Bureau booth at the county fair with board members working the booth and handing out information pertaining to Farm Bureau. Each night the committee gave a weather radio to one lucky winner. The committee also helped man the Beef Booth at the fair, handing out beef recipes and brochures. The committee also distributed bookmarks to around 1,000 students, also donated a book to the school library in May during reading month.

Washington: The committee was very active

South Logan: Committee member Ruby

Jackson read the book, “The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen” to a kindergarten class and afterward furnished french toast to the students. She also read the book to a group of day care children, ages 2 through 4. Committee members also checked and harvested produce from raised bed gardens planted by third grade students at Booneville and Magazine Elementary schools. Ruby Jackson represented Farm Bureau at the annual trike-a-thon put on by the Joyful Days Daycare in Booneville. The event is to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

South Mississippi: The committee

packed and distributed 150 bags promoting rice, dairy, beef, soybeans, fruits and vegetables to fifth and sixth grade students in Manila and arranged for the Ag Experience Trailer to be a part of the program. The committee also purchased backpacks for students.

St. Francis: The committee promoted local

WASHINGTON CO. FB photo

On May 9, at an award ceremony at Springdale High School, Washington Co. FB Women’s Committee member Barbara Horn (center) presented $1,000 scholarships to seniors Christina Perez-Espinoza (left) and Taylor Wyatt. This year, Washington Co. FB presented a total of 15 $1,000 scholarships to local students planning to attend college this fall.

commodities using coloring pages for children during an Ag-in-the-Classroom activity including rice, cotton and soybeans. The committee concluded activity for the school year with a coloring contest, read books and handed out coloring pages for different commodities. Committee members also discussed bicycle safety for summer activities healthy eating habits for the summer with the students. Committee members also conducted a M*A*S*H camp meeting for students and their parents to give them information they needed for the camp and

participated in the camp by driving the students to different hospitals for activities.

Union: Committee members were involved in a

number of activities during the period. These included, making 50 cotton pillowcases to donate to developing countries. Members worked on this project for more than three months; Local youth participated in three days of cooking classes. The first day they made yeast bread. They experimented with all purpose, wheat, and bread

during the period. Activities included sponsoring a campaign to have area businesses place signs on their marquees stating, “If you ate today, thank a farmer.”The committee sponsored the third annual “Girls Nite Out,” invited non-agricultural guests, demonstrated how to cook several dishes, then served the food; and participated in a Dutch Oven demonstration in Rogers. The committee served samples of beef tips, hot rolls, brownies, and soft drinks to approximately 100 people; and donated the book, “The Cow in Mr. Shanahan’s Kitchen” to numerous elementary school and public libraries.

White: The committee conducted a local dairy

foods contest and the winner, Hope McAlee, of McRae, won first place in the Main Dish category at the state contest. The committee also conducted an Ag in the Classroom activity at Beebe Elementary School. They presented the “Be a Farmer for a Day” program to second through fourth grade students discussing row crop agriculture, livestock production and ag exhibits. Committee members participated in “Here’s the Deal Get Real”

KEITH SUTTON photo

Janice Marsh (left) of McCrory, chair of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s State Women’s Committee, and Peggy Miller of Lake Village, vice chair of the committee, visited with hundreds of guests at the Farm Bureau booth set up at the Arkansas Rice Expo in Stuttgart. The ladies answered questions and distributed literature about agriculture and Farm Bureau programs.

financial program at Bald Knob High School and a career fair at Southwest Middle School.

Woodruff: Committee chair Janice Marsh also

serves as chair of the state women’s committee. During the period she represented the county committee by appearing on KAIT Channel 8 in Jonesboro and Channel 7 in Little Rock to promote rice. She also attended the Rice Expo in Stuttgart and helped man a booth promoting Arkansas commodities. The committee donated the book, “The Cow Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen” to all third grade

teachers in county schools and to county, city and school libraries. Janice also attended the national Ag in the Classroom conference in Hershey, Penn.

Yell: The committee conducted several activities during the period including: a poultry incubator program which reached 64 children; a progressive agriculture safety day which included 135 students and nine teachers; and a “Speak Up, Speak Out” contest for all seventh and eighth grade students in the county.

staff contacts

• Harry Willems, director, Organization & Member Progams, 501-228-1247, harry.willems@arfb.com

What is SavingsPlus?

• Autumn Wood, Organization & Member Progams assistant, 501-228-1306, autumn.wood@arfb.com

SavingsPlus is an exclusive benefit for Arkansas Farm Bureau members. Using the nation’s largest private discount network, you’ll find savings on everyday necessities like food, clothing, car care, plus more. In fact, you’ll save enough to offset the entire cost of your membership ... and beyond!

Thousands of locations i n Arkansas, and more than 100,000 locations nationwide. 7

arfb women’s committee calendar Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thu.

Fri.

Sat.

October 1

Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock

Deadline for Submitting Resolutions to ARFB

National Boss Day

Gold Star Deadline

Arkansas State Fair Columbus day

2 November 1

Arkansas State Fair

26 Deadline to register to vote in the General Election

State Resolutions Committee Meeting

General Election Day

Daylight Savings Ends

Halloween

11 Veteran’s Day

FB Offices Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

2 December 1

ARFB 80th Annual Meeting in Hot Springs 7

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

First day of Winter

Christmas Eve

FB Offices Closed for Christmas Holiday

Christmas

31 New Year’s Eve