County Farm Families of the Year announced
LITTLE ROCK – The 76th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its 2023 County Farm Families of the Year.
Since 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has helped 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.
Selection criteria for the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year includes efficiency of production, conservation of energy and resources, leadership in agricultural and community affairs, home and farm improvement, and home and farm management.
The county Farm Families of the Year are:
- Nevada – Brandon & Megan Tullis family; Prescott
- Hempstead – Mark & Judy Anderson; AA Farms; Hope
- Clark – Robert & Kristy Benight; 3B Farms; Okolona
- Columbia – Chad & Jamie Daniel; 777 Farms; Magnolia
- Clark – Robert & Kristy Benight; 3B Farms; Okolona
- Howard – Mark & Sarah Myers; Nashville
- Lafayette – Reid & Abby Hays; Hays Farms; Bradley
- Little River – Tyler Davis family; Tyler Davis Family Farm; Ashdown
- Nevada – Brandon & Megan Tullis family; Prescott
- Sevier – Steven Wagner; DeQueen
The families will be visited by a set of judges to determine eight District Farm Families of the Year, which will be announced June 13. The state Farm Family of the Year will be announced in December at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon, who then represent Arkansas at the Southeastern Expo Farmer of the Year event in Georgia. Arkansas has had two Southeast Farmer of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016.
Sponsors of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program are Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Additionally, support for the program is provided by the Arkansas Agriculture Department, Arkansas Department of Career Education, Arkansas Press Association, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development.
Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of almost 190,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.
