1

L abor Day has come and gone and school is back underway! I hope everyone had an enjoyable

summer and are already planning Ag in the Classroom activities with your local schools. It’s also county fair time and I know many of you will be involved promoting Farm Bureau and your local agriculture.

Your state committee was very busy this summer. We attended the national Ag in the Classroom conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and came back with some great ideas to share with you. We have also met to discuss our ac-tivity at the State

Fair, which includes judging the Rice Recipe contest. The annual convention is scheduled for Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. I encourage all of you to start making plans now to attend.

When it comes to educating your lo-cal students about agriculture and where their food comes from Arkansas Farm Bureau has many tools available for you to take advantage of. This includes the Mobile Ag Experience trailer, Milking Cow and Combine Simulator. I encour-age you to contact Andy Guffey to inquire about their availability this fall.

Thanks again for all you do to pro-mote agriculture in your local commu-nities. I’ll look forward to seeing you at convention in Little Rock!

committee comments

Sue Billiot,chairwoman

®

Third Quarter 2011

a r k a n s a s f a r m b u r e a u

keith sutton photo

On Sept. 7, in a ceremony with Brittney Johnson of Cherry Valley, this year’s Miss Arkansas Rice, Gov. Mike Beebe signed a proclamation officially declaring September Arkansas Rice Month in recognition of the rice industry’s significant contributions to the state’s economy. Gov. Beebe and Miss Johnson were joined by rice-industry leaders, including representatives of the ArFB, USA Rice Federa-tion, Ark. Rice Council and Ark. Rice Federation.

continued on page 2

county activities

Arkansas: The committee provided a meal for the FFA Alumni dinner and arranged for a Stroke Detection Plus screening in Stuttgart.

Baxter: The committee arranged for the Mobile Ag Experience Trailer to visit Hackler Inter-mediate School in Mountain Home. Matt Jackson demonstrated the cotton gin and rice miller.

The committee also arranged for safety coordina-tor Jason Kaufman to present an ATV safety program to first and second grade students at Della Ruth Herron elementary school.

Benton: The committee participated in a Farm Expo at Centerton Elementary school which reached 130 fourth grade students. They rotated through 10 stations where they learned about beef, dairy, poultry, food safety, and water quality. The expo also featured the milk cow and combine simulator.

A committee member made a presentation about dairy farming in Benton county to the Rogers Kiwanis Club.

Boone: The committee served lunch to more than 60 people attending the Rotational Graz-ing field day at Rick Crunkleton’s farm.

The following activity summaries were submitted by the county Farm Bureau Women’s Committees:

2

Carroll: The committee arranged a program for the Mobile Ag Experience trailer at Green Forest where students learned about Arkansas commodities and saw the rice mill, cotton gin and milking cow. Ag readers deal-ing with beef, dairy, poultry and soybeans were handed to the students. The committee also conducted a program with the trailer at Berryville for 175 third graders.

The committee also led a “Wagonmasters” pro-gram for Berryville 5th grade students. As part of the program the students learn how people bartered for food in the settling of the western U.S. and the com-modities produced at the time, including beef. Carroll County ranks third in beef production in Arkansas.

Chicot: The committee conducted a “Kids in the Kitchen” program that involved exercise, taught them about food safety and food preparation. Students participated in two hands-on cooking demonstrations and received a cookbook of recipes prepared.

Clark: The committee purchased and delivered ice cream to area daycare programs and con-ducted programs on the dairy industry. The committee also promoted National Dairy and Ice Cream days on local radio broadcasts.

The committee also recognized National Teacher Day by presenting area teachers with gift bags.

Cleburne: A committee member read the book “Grow Smarter” to 40 second grade students at Concord Elementary School.

Conway: The committee sponsored a field trip to Heifer International headquarters in Little Rock for county 4-H members. The children learned about crops grown in other countries and how Heifer donates animals and helps people in other countries produce their own food.

The committee also participated in a youth camp where children learned about local agriculture and where their food comes from through various livestock and horticulture projects.

Craighead: Committee members donated ag literature and commodity materials includ-ing the Farm Bureau Ag-tivities workbook, the Garden Chef book, Good Things from Arkansas book, and Ag Readers on cotton, beef, dairy, corn, soybeans, poultry and forestry to six schools in the county.

The committee conducted the 2011 Miss Craighead County Rice contest and supported the winner by helping her obtain and prepare promotional materials including recipe cards and make presentations in the local community.

Crawford: The committee furnished coloring books and crayons for the Ag Day at the Ag

Station event and provided tractor rides for children who participated.

Cross: The committee participated in the 4-H day fishing derby and distributed coloring books and brochures promoting local commodities at the Wynne Farm Fest.

Faulkner: The committee conducted a program on “Growing a Garden” for some 400 students at Ellen Smith school.

The committee also participated in a local “Pizza Ranch” event which educates students about how the ingredients in a pizza are grown and produced, includ-ing wheat and dairy products. Some 1,600 students took part.

Garland: The committee conducted a Farm Safety event for students at Lake Hamilton Inter-mediate School which featured 11 different stations dealing with farm and personal safety.

The committee also sponsored a field trip to the Britt livestock farm for Lake Hamilton fifth grade students.

Howard: The committee sponsored the annual 4-H egg and dairy foods recipe contest. A monetary donation was made to help award prizes. Approximately 30 children participated. Winners in each category represented the county in the state competition.

Committee members also volunteered in the “Real

arfb state women’s committee

A s your state women’s com-mittee, we are here to be a resource and assist you in

your ag promotion activities. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Sue BilliotchairwomanSharp County, District 2870-528-3617kajunsue@centurytel.net

Janice MarShvice chairwomanWoodruff County, District 2870-731-5660rmarsh@centurytel.net

DeBorah DoolyColumbia County, District 7870-547-2437debdooly@hotmail.com

Sherry FeltSMississippi County, District 1870-537-4772

Jeannie hornSByWashington County, District 3479-549-4273jhornsby@uark.edu

linDa PariShScott County, District 4479-928-5098jlparish@juno.com

cara ParkerLonoke County, District 6870-552-7090parker@arkansasducks.com

renee thraShFaulkner County, District 5501-336-9652thrashr@conwayschools.net

®

county activities

continued on page 42

clark co. fb photo

Charles Failla (left), a representa-tive of Great Beginnings Learning Enrichment Center in Gurdon, presented Becky Baumgardner with a Community Service Award at the organization’s graduation. Becky was representing the Women’s committee of clark co. fb, which educates area residents on the many benefits and healthy life-style available through agriculture.

EXCLUSIVE $500 SAVINGS FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS

Ford Motor Company is pleased to announce an exclusive offer for Arkansas Farm Bureau members: $500 Bonus Cash* savings off vehicle MSRP toward the purchase or lease of any eligible 2010/2011/2012 Ford or Lincoln vehicle.

With this valuable offer, you can enjoy savings on the vehicle of your choice from our exciting new lineup of hard-working and technologically-advanced cars and trucks — including the Ford F-150 with its impressive power, fuel efficiency** and best-in-class trailer towing capacity.***

* Program #33466: $500 Bonus Cash offer exclusively for active Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee Farm Bureau members who are residents of the United States. Offer is valid from 1/4/2011 through 1/3/2012 for the purchase or lease of a new eligible 2010/2011/2012 model year Ford or Lincoln vehicle excluding Mustang Shelby GT/GT500, Edge SE AWD, F-150 Raptor and Taurus SE. This offer may not be used in conjunction with other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. Some customer and purchase eligibility restrictions apply. You must be an eligible Farm Bureau member for at least 60 consecutive days and must show proof of membership. Limit one $500 Bonus Cash offer per vehicle purchase or lease. Limit of five new eligible vehicle purchases or leases per Association member during program period. See your Ford or Lincoln Dealer for complete details and qualifications.

** EPA estimated 16 city/23 highway/19 combined MPG 3.7L V6 4x2. *** Class is full size pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR, non-hybrid.

Take advantage of this special $500 offer today by visiting www.fordspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/ar

2011 Ford Fiesta

2011 Ford F-150 2011 Lincoln MKX

17146_FDspo_FarmBureau_AdARK_ASRLSD.indd 1 1/3/11 2:22 PM

4

Deal” career financial program for students at Nashville Junior High School. The program is designed to help students learn to budget and their manage their finances wisely.

Independence: The committee conducted a CPR certification program. 48 - 6th grade students were certified in American Red Cross CPR.

A committee member hosted visitors from Cali-fornia who toured a local poultry and cattle farm and learned about hay and forage production.

Jackson: The committee participated in an ag day event at Castleberry Elementary school. Committee members distributed 400 gift bags which included coloring books and soy crayons. They ar-ranged for the Farm Bureau milking cow and Mobile Ag Experience trailer to be a part of the event.

The committee also arranged for safety coordina-tor Jason Kaufman to conduct an ATV safety program for local 4-H members.

Lee: The committee assisted Miss Lee County Rice by distributing her rice recipes and helping ar-range her speaking engagements.

Lonoke: The committee conducted the Miss Lonoke County Rice contest.

Miller: The committee again participated in the “Back to Nature” summer field day at the Turner Farm which reached 165 children. Numerous county and state agencies participate including Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Beef Council, Ark Game and Fish Commission, Corps of Engineers and local Conservation District. The prepared and helped serve lunch to all of the participants.

Monroe: The committee sponsored an agriculture education program as part of the Brinkley library’s summer reading program. The committee arranged for the combine simulator and Farm Bureau milking cow to be part of the program.

Committee members also assisted with a bicycle safety program and contest at the Clarendon “Rolling on the River” festival. 30 young people completed an obstacle course and winners received a new bike.

Montgomery: The committee participated in the annual Ag Fair at the county fairgrounds in Mt. Ida. 211 students from Oden, Caddo Hills and Mt. Ida took part. The fair included a variety of demonstrations including the portable rice mill and cotton gin, mobile dairy, and sessions on poultry and how to grow healthy foods.

The committee also donated the books, “Clarabelle Making Milk and so Much More” and “Good Things Come From Arkansas” to the Montgomery County Library and Oden first grade.

North Logan: The committee submitted article to the Paris newspaper promoting the benefits of milk and dairy products during dairy month.

The committee also sponsored the “Body Walk” program for students at Scranton Elementary. Com-mittee members supplied water for all the workers at the event.

Newton : The committee promoted dairy and poultry products by sponsoring a county-wide brunch at the Farm Bureau office. Recipes were provided for the dishes that were served.

The committee also supported the Extension Service in teaching nutrition classes for local residents.

Perry: Committee members informed county elementary school teachers about the materials available to them through the Ag in the Classroom program. The committee also assisted in selecting recipients of the county Farm Bureau scholarship.

Phillips: The committee sponsored bicycle and internet safety programs for elementary school students and a drinking and driving safety program at the Phillips County library.

Polk: Committee chair Rita Keener attended training for the Arkansas Crisis Response Team to learn how to offer assistance to victims following natural or man-made disasters. She also provided assistance following the Franklin County tornado.

Pope: The committee sponsored a Stroke Prevention screening program which attracted 30 area residents.

Prairie: The committee assisted Miss Prairie County Rice in her activities by attending the Rice Expo in Stuttgart where she had samples of her rice dish and handed out recipes. The committee provided her with Rice Krispie Treats which she handed out to children attending the Zoo Animals day at the Hazen Library.

The committee also donated more than 100 ice cream cups to the three county libraries to promote dairy month.

Pulaski: The committee conducted gardening projects at College Station Elementary and Mabelvale Magnet Schools. They also sponsored a Stroke Prevention Plus program at the county office.

South Logan: The committee presented a program on the importance of cotton to students at Magazine Elementary school. The com-mittee also sponsored the mobile dairy at two county schools and helped harvest the produce garden at Booneville Elementary.

South Mississippi: The com-mittee purchased and donated supplies to area schools for students who are unable to purchase their own.

county activities

continued on page 5

craighead co. fb photo

At a special rice tasting held at Regions Bank in Jonesboro Sept. 2, Craighead County Judge Ed Hill (fourth from left) signed a proc-lamation declaring September as national rice Month. In atten-dance were Regions Bank execu-tive vice president Jim Tubbs (left), several members of Craighead Co. FB’s Women’s Committee and Miss Craighead County Rice, Lexie McEntire.

Mississippi co. fb photo

Darlene Musick (left), co-chairwom-an of Mississippi Co. FB’s Womens Committee, presented a check for $4,000 to President Benton Felts. The contribution will support the county’s Joe Musick Memorial scholarship fund in memory of Mrs. Musick’s late husband, a respected farmer and educator who was past president of the county FB and first to suggest the establish-ment of a scholarship foundation.

5

Saline: The committee purchased and donated art supplies to a local school.

Scott: The committee is working with local elementary schools and organized materials for teachers to order from the committee as needed. The committee is also planning the upcoming elementary fair day.

Searcy: The committee donated the “Grow Smarter” book to area schools and the Searcy County library for the summer reading program.

The committee also assisted in serving breakfast during the “Spring Fling” to benefit the county’s Veter-ans Memorial and helped 4-H members place flags on veteran’s graves in the cemetery.

Sharp: The committee set up and manned booths promoting Farm Bureau and the Beef Industry at the county fair. Distributed beef recipes and information about Farm Bureau member programs.

Sue and Ken Billiot attended the Louisiana Farm Bureau annual convention where they obtained ideas and information about getting more young farmers involved in their county organization.

Van Buren: The committee arranged for Sean Blackburn, a professional forester to assist committee chair Cindy Wilson in presenting classes on forestry to 110, 4th grade students at Clinton Intermedi-ate school. The students learned about the similarities

to crop farming and about the various aspects of forest management including thinning, clear cutting, and prescribed burns. Blackburn also demonstrated how to identify different tree varieties and a tree’s age.

The committee conducted a reception honoring the county’s Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, Marilyn pond of Shirley High School, as well as two Family and Consumer Science teachers who retired from Clinton and Southside Bee Branch High Schools. The committee compiled photo books spotlighting the activities they participated in with the committee over the years and awarded them as gifts.

Washington: The committee con-ducted numerous activities during the period. Some of these included taking a horse to Walker Elementary and conducting a session on equine and horse safety for first graders; presented a $500 garden grant to T.J. Smith Elementary; assisted the YF&R committee in a tractor rollover and emergency rescue activity where EMTs learned how to extract victims from rollovers and other farm equipment accidents; and co-sponsored the county 4-H breads contest and awarded cash prizes to the winners

White: The committee participated in a local “Day of Caring” event where they distributed a variety of school supplies to students who attended. Child Safety and Booster seats were displayed with information about how to purchase them.

The committee also conducted a program on soil conservation and planting seeds for area students. They read the books “Grow Smarter” and “Oh Say Can

You Seed” and gave demonstrations on erosion and how plants emerge.

Woodruff: The committee conducted a Stroke Detection Plus screening for local residents at the county office and distributed Fun on the Farm coloring books and crayons to students at Augusta Elementary school.

Yell: The committee conducted a workshop on biofuels and demonstrated how biofuels are produced for more than 60 area students.

county activities

staff contacts

• Harry Willems, associate director of O&MP501-228-1247, harry.willems@arfb.com

• Autumn Wood, O&MP special programs assistant501-228-1306, autumn.wood@arfb.com

Washington co. fb photo

At the county fair Aug. 31, Washington co. fb’s Women’s committee recog-nized Lisa Taylor (holding sign), a fourth-grade teacher at Willis D. Shaw Elemen-tary in Springdale, for being selected ArFB’s 2011 Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. Standing with Taylor are Women’s Committee members LaJoyce Duncan (left) and Barbara Horn.

van buren co. photo

On Aug. 24 and 25, the Van Buren Co. FB Women’s Committee hosted appreciation “coffees” in Fairfield Bay and Clinton to recognize lo-cal media representatives for their support of Farm Bureau. At Fairfield Bay, committee chair Cindy Wilson (left) and her husband Leon (blue shirt), president of Van Buren Co. FB, welcomed Bob Connell (brown shirt), general manager of radio station KFFB 106.1, and Fairfield Bay Newsmanaging editor Dan Feuer.

6

activity spotlight

Fun with Seed PacksUse a simple seed pack to engage students in

interdisciplinary lessons involving science, math, and language arts

What’s Growing on in Your Window?

Objective: Germinate your seed inside the seed pack

Supplies: Seed packs, cotton balls, scissors, wa-ter, tape, jewelry-sized plastic baggies, snack-sized plastic baggies

How To:1. Carefully cut the top of the seed pack open.

Empty seeds into a snack-sized baggie, reserving 2-3.

2. Cut along the right side and bottom of the pack, so that it now opens like a book.

3. Cut a square out in the middle of the front of the pack.

4. Place a moistened cotton ball in the jewelry-sized baggie. Place 2-3 seeds on top. Zip up the baggie.

5. Tape the baggie behind the window so that the seed can be viewed.

6. Tape up the sides of the seed pack.7. Watch your seed begin to grow!Extension: Before re-taping the seed pack, glue

graph paper behind the baggie to graph the plant’s growth.

Seed Stories

Objective: Record the progress of your plant in a seed pack

Supplies: Seed packs, paper, scissors, stapler or rubber bands

How To:1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above.2. Fold paper and trim to fit inside your seed pack

like a book.3. Secure paper using a rubber band or by sta-

pling it.4. Use your seed journal to track a seed’s germi-

nation progress. This can be down through pictures, sentences, or graphs.

Extension: After tracking your seed’s germina-tion in the journal, turn it into a descriptive para-graph titled “This Seed’s Life.”

Connect with Arkansas

Ag in the Classroom on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/arkansasagintheclassroom

6

7

arfb women’s committee calendar

Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat.

2

2 3 4 6 7 8

9 10columbus day

11 12 13 14gold star

application deadline

15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26deadline for

resolutions from county farm bureaus

27 29

30 31halloween

2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11veterans day

12

13 14 15yf&r

excellence in ag applications due

16 17 18aitc poster

contest deadline

19

20 21 22 23yf&r

discussion meet entry deadline

24thanksgiving

25fb center closed for thanksgiving holiday

26

27 29 30 2 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23fb center closed for

christmas holiday

24

5

28

28

7

25christmas

26fb center closed for

christmas holiday

27 28 29 30 31new year’s eve

october 1national

pork month

november 1

december 1

ArkAnsAs stAte FAir in LittLe rock

ArkAnsAs stAte FAir in LittLe rock

ArkAnsAs stAte FAir

Sunbelt Ag expo in Moultrie, gA.

How to win an ElEction SEminar in littlE rock

State ReSolutionS Committee in nlR

ArFB’s 77th AnnuAl Convention

Jan. 8-11, 2012 — aFBF 93rd annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii

ArFB BoArd meeting

AFBF BoArd meeting

YF&R Committee tRip to Washington, D.C.

8

C O U N T Y c l o S e - u P S

Stone (Fishing derby)

White (Ag in the Classroom) Baxter (Honeybee lesson)

Howard (Egg and dairy foods contest)

Independence (CPR class)

S. Logan Co. (Cotton lesson)

Carroll (Ag day)