Johnny and Priscilla Johnson of Hope named Hempstead County Farm Family of Year

LITTLE ROCK – 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 in the area are:

Hempstead – Johnny and Priscilla Johnson, Hope
Clark – Matt and Kim Wingfield, Okolona
Howard – Jared and Cathren Smith, Dierks
Little River – Lockeby Farms, Ashdown
Sevier – Julian Dorse family, De Queen

(No selections from Nevada or Lafayette Counties.)

The families will be visited by a set of judges to determine eight District Farm Families of the Year, which will be announced June 9. The Arkansas 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 three Southeast Farmer of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008, Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016 and the Cobb, Lyerly and Owen Family/Partnership of Craighead County in 2023. Farm Family of the Year participation is open to all counties and is voluntary. Each year participation varies, which is why there’s not always a recipient for each county.

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.