Hempstead County Family Named Southwest District Farm Family of the Year

LITTLE ROCK – The 77th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its eight district farm families, representing a wide variety of Arkansas agriculture, the state’s largest industry.

Judges will visit farms to determine the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, who will be announced Dec. 13.

The Southwest District Farm Family is Curtis and Melissa Bobo of Hope.   Curtis and Melissa Bobo have been farming for eight years. They raise cattle and poultry on 253 acres. They have eight children: Abigail, Titus, Hali, Chloe, Tapley, Trace, Timber, and Traeger.

The Farm Family of the Year program annually begins with the selection of top farm families in each county and culminates in December with the selection of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, who then represents Arkansas at the Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition. Arkansas has had three Southeast Farmer of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey (Clark County), 2008; Wildy Family Farms (Mississippi County), 2016; and the Cobb, Lyerly and Owen Family/Partnership (Craighead County), 2023.

Families are judged on farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership.

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.

# # #