Presenting the 2021 Farm Bureau Farm Families of the Year

Each of Arkansas’ 75 counties represented in annual honors

By RALPH HARDIN Evening Times Editor

County families for the 74th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program have been selected.

Since 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program has served as a vehicle to recognize outstanding farm families throughout the state. The objectives of the Farm Family of the Year program are: To give recognition and encouragement to farm families who are doing an outstanding job on their farm and in their community; to recognize the importance of agriculture in the community and state; and to disseminate information on improved farm practices and management.

The county winners are:

East Central District

Lee County: Justin Higgins family of Marianna Lonoke County: Brad Whitehead Farms of England Monroe County: Tyler Pettigrew and family of Clarendon Prairie County: Roger Lisko of Hazen Pulaski County: Margie Raimondo of Little Rock St. Francis County: Cottonwood Farms of Widener Saline County: Connell Berry Farm of Benton White County: Brandon Gordon family of Bradford Woodruff County: Chappell Brothers Farm LLC of Cotton Plant

North Central District

Baxter County: Cody and Hannah Walker family of Henderson Cleburne County: Bill and Gail Davis of Concord Fulton County: Michael and Duana Batterton family of Viola Independence County: Dennis Broadwater family of Batesville Izard County: Tyler and Whitney Cooper of Melbourne Marion County: Heath and Emily Smith of Yellville Searcy County: Fon Cash family of Everton Sharp County: Twin Oakes Farms LLC of Cave City Stone County: Keith and Cindy Branscum of Fifty-Six Van Buren County: Ronnie and Kerri Jones family of Scotland

Northeast District

Clay County: Gerald and Michelle Hartsfield of Rector Craighead County: Cobb/Lyerly/Owens Farms of Lake City Crittenden County: Spence and Jenni Held of Earle Cross County: Danny Voyles Family Farms of Wynne Greene County: Eason Farms of Jonesboro Jackson County: William

and Courtney Tate of Amagon Lawrence County: Andrew and Kristal Jones of Alicia Mississippi County: Tim Griggs Farms Partnership of Blytheville Poinsett County: Joey Mc-Corkle family of Tyronza Randolph County: Chad and Brandi Chester family of Pocahontas

Northwest District

Benton County: Kaleb and Chrisie Smith of Gentry Boone County: Richard and Gina Blevins Farm of Omaha Carroll County: Fred and Mitzi Worley of Berryville Crawford County: Scott and Tanya Rogers of Alma Franklin County: Mark and Becky Campbell of Ozark Johnson County: Chris and Brooklyn Heiser of Lamar Madison County: Jack and Brook Hudgins of Huntsville Newton County: Dustin Cowell family of Mt. Judea Sebastian County: Woody Hester family of Hartford Washington County: Froud Farms of Springdale

Southeast District

Arkansas County (North): Kirk and Krista Keller of Stuttgart Arkansas County (South): Jay and Megan McLain of DeWitt Ashley County: Kyle Harriman family of Hamburg Chicot County: Joshua and Bailey Lingo Partnership of Lake Village Desha County: Layne and Ryane Miles of McGehee Drew County: Jeff and Christine Felts family of Tillar Jefferson County: S& L Farms of Sheridan Lincoln County: Joey and Rhonda Ratterree of Star City Phillips County: Jackie Swindle Farms of Elaine

Southwest District

Bradley County: Jacob and Jamie Courtney of Warren Calhoun County: Woody’s Peach Orchard of Hampton Columbia County: Hugh and Lindsay Bragg of Magnolia Hempstead County: Cody and Ashlee Askew of Hope Miller County: Rushing Farms, LLC – Patsy and Troy Rushing of Fouke Nevada County: Leslie Bullock family of Prescott Union County: Rhett and Holly Hanry of El Dorado

Western District

Conway County: Foshee Family Farms of Atkins Faulkner County: Tim and Judith Allen of Mayflower Logan County: Whitaker Farms of Booneville Montgomery County: Perry and Paula Sing of Oden Perry County: Tim Hubbard family of Adona Polk County: James and Janet Watkins of Vandervoort Pope County: Jason and Becky Smith of Atkins Yell County: Ernest Doyle Buckman III of Havana

West Central District

Clark County: Kent and Anita Malcom of Okolona Cleveland County: Stephen Boyd family of Rison Dallas County: William H.

Sullivent family of Sparkman Garland County: Roger Hutter family of Pearcy Grant County: Bradley and Kerri Warren of Poyen Hot Spring County: Whitley Farms of Malvern Howard County: Newton Cheatham family of Mineral Springs Sevier County: Will Pickering family of DeQueen “Each year, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program recognizes the outstanding farmers and ranchers who make up our state,” said Rich Hillman of Carlisle, president of Arkansas Farm Bureau.

“These families are involved in essential work, not only providing food for my family and yours, but also serving as the ultimate stewards of the land and water resources.”

Submitted Photos