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By Karen Rice
The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its 2024 County Farm Families of the Year. We are proud to tell their inspiring stories in this special section. Each one conveys the perseverance and hard work that makes America’ s family farms a unique part of the rich tapestry that makes up our great country.
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
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outstanding job on their farm and in their community.
• To recognize the importance of agriculture in the community and state.
• 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 Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley are:
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• Benton – Michael and Phillip Fletcher
• Boone – Billy Jack Burns
• Carroll – Tom and Neeley Butler
• Crawford – Jamie Marion
• Madison – Kenny and Rebecca Emitt
• Sebastian – Joel Brent Cooper
• Washington – Larry and BeAnn Walker
The Farm Family of the Year program begins each year with the selection of top farm families in each county and culminates in December with the selection of the Arkanasas Farm Family of the Year,
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who will then go on to represent Arkansas at the Southeastern Expo Farmer of the Year event in Georgia.
Sponsors of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program are the Arkansas Farm Bureau, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Additionally, support for the program is provided by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, 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.
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