Womensnewsletter 2q2014

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It was wonderful to see so many women at our annual statewide women’s conference. I want to

thank everyone again for coming and participating. I hope you gathered ideas for ag education and promo-tion projects in your counties. I look forward to reading all about your activities.

I hope you’ve had time to review the new “Our Food Link” program from American Farm Bureau. This is a planning toolkit for activities every month. Please keep us informed and send in pictures anytime you have an activity.

Arkansas Farm Bureau has kicked off summer commodity division meetings. I hope you had a chance to attend the meeting pertaining to your interest.

I want to thank each of you who worked so hard this spring finishing school projects and recruiting young people for our summer camps. I ap-preciate your dedication to the educa-tion of our children and leading them toward an interest in agriculture.

I appreciate all the opportunities Arkansas Farm Bureau gives us and I am looking forward to seeing every-one in Springdale July 21-22 at our Officers and Leaders Conference. Have a safe and wonderful summer.

committee comments

Janice Marshchairwoman

®

Second Quarter 2014

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

IN MEMORIAMElla Mae Carroll: 1930-2014

Ella Mae Harrison Carroll, age 83, died April 6 in Brinkley. The widow of James H. “Jimmy” Carroll Jr., she was an ex-officio member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation state board for 26 years. Her son, Jon Carroll, is a current ArFB board member and her daughter, Janice Marsh, serves as chair of the state women’s com-mittee. Her other son, Jim Carroll, serves on the United Soybean board of directors.

Mrs. Carroll served on the Brinkley School Board, Leadership Arkansas for Community Development and the President’s Arkansas Advisory Council for Winrock International. She was a 70-year member of Brinkley First United

Methodist Church, where she served as Sunday school teacher, pianist and member of the hand-bell choir.

Farm Bureau extends its deepest sympathies to the Carroll and Marsh families.

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county activities

Arkansas: The committee sponsored the planting of a rice plot at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie to further education on the rice growing process for the museum’s visitors. The committee also donated to Acres of Help, which sponsors the backpack program at the DeWitt and Gillett schools.

Baxter: The committee planned and conducted the county Dairy Foods Contest. A committee member took the contest rules to the Extension Office and had them included in the monthly 4-H newsletter and the Baxter Bulletin.

The contest was held in the Farm Bureau board room. Winners were awarded cash prizes and participants received goodie bags. The commit-tee also conducted a poultry incubator program at Mountain Home and Norfork elementary schools. Students learned about poultry and how baby chicks are hatched.

Benton: The committee conducted a History of Arkansas Agriculture presentation to 5th graders atDecatur Elementary. The committee also donated the book, “The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen” to a pre-K class and library at Decatur Elementary. The committee also supported the

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

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Mom’s on the Farm tour – Susan Anglin hosted the 30 participants for a tour of her dairy farm. The commit-tee also assisted ArFB with a special screening of the documentary “Farmland” in Rogers.

Boone: The committee conducted a Food Check-Out Week activity in February. The committee donated food to the local Share & Care Pantry and Sanctuary Women’s Shelter and Hospice House. The activity raised awareness and got board members involved by insert-

ing a flyer in the monthly board packet to bring food items to their next meeting. More than 350 pounds of food was collected and donated. The committee also partnered with Valley Springs FFA on a food collection project. The committee set up a display with educational literature on food labels, the food pyramid and where food is grown.

Calhoun: The committee distributed health materials at Hogskin Holidays. The committee also en-tered flowers and won first place in the plant contest. Committee members furnished lunch for 4-H kids at a district wide contest.

Carroll: The committee promoted poultry in local schools during March. Had Berryville kindergarten students watch a Magic School Bus video on how chickens lay eggs, then it shows the development process of the chicken life cycle. In April the conducted a program on row crops and explained the process of how a seed grows. Again students watched a Magic School Bus video on how a plant grows, develops and gets its nourishment. Students in some classes extended the learning process by planting flowers for their mother’s day project.

Chicot: The committee conducted the annual to-mato project for Dermott 3-6 grades, Eudora K-3 grades and Lakeside 3-5 grades. Committee members taught students how to plant, water and fertilize their plants.

county activities

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BOONE CO FB photo

During Food Check-Out Week the Boone county women’s committee set up a display with educational litera-ture on food labels, the food pyramid and where food is grown.

2014 arfb state women’s committee

A s your state women’s committee, we are here to be a resource and assist

you in your ag promotion activi-ties. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

JANICE MARSHchairwomanWoodruff County, District [email protected]

PEGGY MILLERvice chairwomanChicot County, District [email protected]

SUE BILLIOTex-officioSharp County, District [email protected]

ROBIN C. WILLIAMSSt. Francis County, District 1 [email protected]

DANA D. STEWARTWhite County, District [email protected]

ROBERTA GOLMONBaxter County, District [email protected]

ANGELA K. JONESSebastian County, District [email protected]

SARA N. LOEGarland County, District [email protected]

DONNA BEMISPulaski County, District [email protected]

SONYA HARRELLCalhoun County, District [email protected]

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®

POPE CO FB photo

In March, members of the Pope Co. FB Women’s Committee served as judges for a dairy contest sponsored by the Dover 4-H chapter. Among those who assisted were (left to right) Ida Ruth Jones of Pottsville, Benita Drew of Pottsville, Lisa Smith of Dover, Pat Bocksnick of Dover and Sue Berkemeyer of Atkins.

C O U N T Y C L O S E - U P S

Independence (Farm to You)

Boone (Food Check-Out Week) Howard (Baking workshop)

Monroe (Dairy contest)

Polk (Breakfast food donation)

Sharp (Dairy Foods Contest)3

The project lasted eight weeks and included 200 students. The committee also conducted a Food Check- Out week event at a local grocery store. Committee members distributed farm fact sheets and information about food safety.

Clark: The committee prepared breakfast for the county board monthly meeting. The committee also purchased numerous food items to fill backpacks for the local school program. Other projects during the period included purchasing and delivering items to the Tornado Disaster Relief effort in Ferndale, assisting the county Farm Bureau Relay For Life booth, helping plan the pancake breakfast, assisting with the UAMS health screenings at Walmart by supplying snacks and other assistance.

Cleburne: The committee organized and judged a county dairy foods contest.

Cleveland: A member of the committee read the book, “The Cow in Patrick O’Shanahan’s Kitchen” to Bonnie Gavin’s class at Woodlawn Elementary School.

Columbia: Deborah Reynolds and Deborah Dooly presented an Ag in the Classroom workshop to240 children at Magnolia Kindergarten. Deborah Reynolds and Shirley Hopkins attended the Family Fun Day at Magnolia and Walker schools. The committee also sponsored a safety program for Emerson Schools on Fire Prevention. 100 Students took part. Safety co-ordinator Amanda Williams also presented a program on Internet Safety for 75 students.

Conway: The committee conducted programs at Wonderview, Nemo Vista and Morrilton Schools where students learned about fruits and vegetables grown in Arkansas, where the produce comes from and how it is grown. Students sampled fresh fruits and vegetables, and planted seeds. Students so they could observe the process of germination in the weeks to fol-low. Committee members also assisted with the U of A Division Of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Services Farm to You program at the Morrilton Elementary School. Students took part in the exhibit, learning about Arkansas agriculture and how to maintain a healthy body.

Craighead: The committee provided rice snacks for the Measure-the-Candidate forum. Miss Craighead County Rice, Brittany Roedel introduced herself to the attendees and explained a few of her duties and why rice is important in everyone’s diet. This forum was streamed LIVE on KAIT8-TV. Committee member Debbie Smith contacted area radio stations and the newspaper and asked them to make public service announcements about the free Grain Bin Safety training workshop. She also contacted the county Emergency

Management team leader and emailed him about the upcoming training. He notified area fire stations including the volunteer stations in Craighead County. KAIT8 televised the event on the 5, 6 and 10pm news segments. The Jonesboro Sun also featured photos and news articles.

Crawford: The committee conducted the annual “Fun day on the farm” at Randy Arnolds farm. The categories were Hamburger, Beef Cattle, Bees, Strawberries, and Chickens. The children milked the Farm Bureau cow, went through the strawberry patch then to the chicken house and through the barn and saw sheep, horses and goats. There were also programs on ATV & Bus Safety. Two committee members went to Mulberry, Mountainburg, Alma, and Van Buren Senior Inns and arranged for Amanda Williams to present a program on property protection.

Cross: The committee planned and conducted the Miss Cross County Rice Contest, a 4-H safety class, and safety poster contest. Members of the committee attended the YF&R Conference and participated in the Body Walk at Wynne School.

Dallas: The committee conducted a Food Check-Out Week activity at a local supermarket.

Drew: The committee sponsored a fruit and veg-etable eating campaign at the Monticello Elementary School. Students and families who participated sampled zucchini slices and then committed to eat more fruit or vegetables during the following week. Pictures of each

fruit and vegetables chosen were posted on the “healthy habits” bulletin board near the school cafeteria to re-mind students of this commitment. $1,000 was donated by the committee to sponsor this campaign.

Faulkner: Committee members participated in the annual Faulkner County Farm RoundUp. The activity reached 1,200 students over two days. The committee also assisted with the county Master Gardener youth garden. This included sessions on nutrition education and hands-on instruction.

Garland: The committee planned and conduct-ed a soybean promotion at Gardner Magnet School. This included an activity with K-2 and taught 329 students how to make soybean crayons. The event also included making soybean chapstick for 250 3rd and 4th grade students and an activity for all students in grades k-4 about different products containing soybeans and soy byproducts. The committee, along with National Park Community College, co-sponsored the county Meet the Candidate Forum. The committee was in charge of the hospitality room for the candidates and their families. We made a large variety of finger foods for 100 people. This was a great event for Farm Bureau.

Grant: The committee conducted a nutrition pro-gram at Poyen and Sheridan Elementary, and Sheridan Intermediate schools. The committee also conducted a Listen to Your Heart Program, Nutrition Program, Fam-ily Fitness and Nutrition, Hometown Health Coalition

county activities

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KEITH SUTTON photo

Students at Gardner Magnet School in Hot Springs had the opportunity to learn about horses, donkeys, rabbits, cows, chickens and other farm animals as part of Arkansas Ag-riculture Day. Members of the Garland Co. FB Women’s Committee conducted the event with assistance from several mentor students and local farmers and ranchers.

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and Feed the Kids Summer program.

Greene: The committee attended the Greene County Tech Arkansas Day. Committee members ran the combine simulator and spoke to kids while they stood in line about the importance of rice, wheat, soybeans, wheat, corn, timber and cotton. Committee members also promoted the Grain Bin Safety workshop in Jonesboro by contacting local fire, rescue, sheriff’s dept., and ambulance service. Around 60 farmers and first responders from the county took part.

Hot Spring: The committee assisted with the Meet The Candidates Political Rally April 25th at the 4-H Center in Malvern.

Howard: The committee sponsored the annual 4H Dairy Contest. Cash prizes were awarded to division winners in each category. The overall winner of each category will have the opportunity to represent Howard County at the state contest in June. The committee also sponsored a bread workshop. The sponsorship helped cover the cost of supplies necessary for demonstrating bread and muffin making methods. The workshop was open to all area youth and was intended to help prepare them for the upcoming bread and cookie making contest.

Independence: The committee read the ‘Bee Man’ book to three classes of third graders and also made Grandma’s Apple and Honey Muffins to give to students afterwards. The students were fascinated about bees and how they are so helpful to us ‘humans’. The committee also conducted a fun tasting for learning activity for 50 first graders. Tried a new fruit SAPOTE, a fruit from Florida smells like pumpkin and tastes like coconut. The committee also conducted a Farm to You program. 220 students from 10 classes walked through 10 stations learning how foods are grown and end up on our table.

Izard: The committee provided prizes for the 4H-O’rama Egg Photography contest and provided judges and prizes for the county Dairy Foods contest. The committee also contacted schools in the county and gave them information about National Ag week and encouraged the schools to announce this celebration over their intercom systems.

Jackson: The committee participated in an Ag Day event at Newport Elementary School. Committee members distributed 900 Bags of AG READERS about Rice, Corn, Soybeans. The bags also contained soy cray-ons and coloring books. The committee arranged for the Farm Bureau milk cow and mobile ag experience trailer to be there. The committee conducted a similar event at Tuckerman Elementary which involved 270 students.

Lee: The committee donated $200 to the Arkansas Food Bank and conducted a Miss Lee County Rice contest.

Little River: The committee helped with the booths and activities at the elementary school’s Spring Fling fund raiser. The committee also donated money and helped with the booths at the health fair in April at the courthouse and co-sponsored a political rally at the courthouse.

Lonoke: The committee donated non-perishable items to the Open Arms Shelter in Lonoke for Food Check-Out Week and conducted the Miss Lonoke County Rice Contest in April.

Madison: The committee donated $200 worth of food to the local food pantry during Food Check-Out Week. Committee members also planted seeds with 350 1st & 2nd graders, provided 4th graders with Ag Readers, presented $500 to Watson Primary School for its garden and $250 to Huntsville Intermediate School for its garden.

Miller: Committee members met with Farm Bureau agent Melinda Young and the Genoa seniors. Melinda conducted a class on bicycle, ATV, tractor safety and defensive driving and showed the students charts on the cost of insurance plans, and the value of having a good insurance. Barbara Sutton met with Genoa high school students and introduced them to the MASH program, Teen Challenge and scholarships that Farm Bureau offers.

Monroe: The committee conducted the Miss

Monroe County Rice contest. Madison Coleman won the contest and the local newspaper covered the competition and published photos. The committee also conducted a Food Check-Out Week promotion at the Kroger store in Brinkley. The committee donated $200 worth of groceries and a check for $400 to the Brinkley Food Pantry. The local newspaper covered the event with a photo and article.

Montgomery: The committee conducted the “Farm to You” program at Mt. Ida, Ouachita River and Caddo Hills Schools for grades K-6 with 600 children participating. A school garden program was presented for elementary students at Mt. Ida and Ouachita River schools.

Nevada: Members of the committee read the book “Oh Say Can You Seed” to the classes at Prescott elementary school.

Newton: Members of the committee spoke to the Newton County Hometown Health Group anddistributed Farm Bureau Rice and Dairy recipes. The committee also conducted a county dairy recipe contest and submitted the winning entries to the state contest, judged the county safety poster contest and spoke to a second group of 30 people concerning the Best Care Pro-gram at North Arkansas Community College in Harrison.

North Logan: The committee conducted a Food Check-Out Week activity at a local supermarket. A poster was displayed in CV’s Family Foods. Articles were

county activities

MILLER CO FB photo

Ashley Nailling (center), a senior at Arkansas High School in Texarkana, received a $1,000 scholarship presented by Miller Co. FB Women’s Committee members Nedra Turney (left) and Barbara Sutton. Ashley is the daughter of Mark and Dawn Santifer and granddaughter of Charles Santifer, all of whom served on the Miller Co. FB board.

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published in the Paris Express about agriculture, Food Checkout Week and National Ag Week. The committee also supplied judges and prizes for a county dairy recipe contest at Paris.

Perry: The committee assisted with the county Safety Poster Contest and with finding applicants for Teen Challenge Camp and the National Leadership Forum.

Pike: The committee conducted a Food Check-Out Week project. An information booth wasplaced in the CADC Senior Citizen Center to supply information for residents and visitors. A monetary donation was made to food pantry sites in Glenwood and Murfreesboro. The committee also assisted the County Extension Agent with the county 4-H Dairy Recipe Contest. The committee judged the entries and provided money to purchase aprons for the participants in the contest. The winners will represent the county at the state contet. Also, a recipe book was compiled and printed.

Polk: The committee conducted a county Dairy Foods contest and a Financial Awareness Class to senior high students at Mena High School.

Pope: The committee conducted and judged the county Dairy Recipe Contest. A committee member read the book “Who Grew My Soup” to Pottsville elementary students. Photos and articles were published in the local newspapers. The committee also cooked for the Dover FFA fundraiser and donated $100 to the Battered Women’s Shelter. The committee attended the county 4-H banquet where members were awarded the Friend of 4-H award.

Prairie: The committee donated more than $200 worth of food to a local food bank during Food Check-Out Week and conducted a county safety poster contest for students at Hazen and Des Arc elementary schools.

Saline: The committee sent rules and deadline information for the county safety poster contest to all

local elementary schools. The committee also prepared and provided a lunch for the county office member ser-vice representatives for Administrative Assistants Day.

Scott: The committee made a donation of food and personal items to the Ronald McDonald Room at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Smith in honor of Food Check-Out Week. The committee also set up a booth at the Mansfield Health Fair addressing the truth about hormones in meat. The committee used a great visual of M&M’s in

pint jars to show how many nanograms of hormone is in some vegetables as compared to beef, poultry, and pork. This project reached 350 k-4 students, 300 5th through 8th grade students, and 250 high school students for a total of 900.

Searcy: The committee made a donation to the local food pantry during Food Check-Out Week.Two committee members judged a student barbecu-ing a chicken at the county Extension Homemakers

county activities

STEVE HIGNIGHT photo

On March 21, Carole Lichti, Carroll Co. FB Women’s Committee chairwoman, visited with Jamie Hussey from radio station KTHS about Ag in the Classroom materials the Women’s Committee uses in area schools. Hussey was attending the county’s annual media appreciation luncheon held at the Carroll Co. FB office in Berryville.

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staff contacts

• Harry Willems, associate director of O&MP, 501-228-1247, [email protected]

• Autumn Wood, O&MP special programs assistant, 501-228-1306, [email protected]

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Building. Members of the committee attended the Beef Cook-off in Conway and the committee provided hot dogs, chips and drinks for the CASA Program held on the Marshall town square.

Sevier: The committee conducted a program on the importance of crops, livestock, and other agricul-tutral commodities at local schools. The committee also presented information on GMOs for use in high school Biology classes. Committee members recruited students to attend the local MASH camp.

Sharp: The committee conducted and judged a county dairy recipe contest in April. The committee also planted trees in honor of Arbor Day in March. Third through 6th grade students at Cave City School received the Forestry Ag Readers. The committee also donated $200 worth of food to the Food Pantry in Sharp Co. during Food Check-Out Week.

South Logan: Committee members helped third grade students at Booneville and Magazine Elementary schools plant raised bed gardens. With five classes in Booneville it took two afternoons to plant their five beds. The garden project also included two first grade classes and a second grade class. Committee member Ruby Jackson, along with Sarah Whitaker of the county extension office, discussed Arbor Day with first grade students at Booneville Elementary. Ms. Jack-son demonstrated the use of trees grown in Arkansas to make products we use every day. She then read The Tree Farmer to the students and had them make ‘a tree’ out of green construction paper.

South Mississippi: The committee bought groceries for Food Check-Out Week promot-ing beef, dairy, rice, fruit, and vegetables. Committee members delivered the food to a local church pantry and explained to told staff members about Arkansas’ safe, abundant and affordable food supply. Committee members also distributed brochures promoting rice, dairy and beef. The committee also conducted a safety poster contest and submitted the winners to the state office. The county had a winner in the state competition.

St. Francis: The committee collected canned goods during Food Check-Out Week and donated them to the local food pantry. Committee members also participated in the county Dairy Foods recipe contest. The committee promoted cotton during our annual Administrative Professionals Cotton Fashion Show and Luncheon. The committee donated items for door prizes that were 100% cotton. The committee purchased art supplies and books to donate to local schools and students for upcoming projects. Committee members participated in Wildlife Day hosted by the extension ser-vice for 4-H members and served lunch to 150 students.

Stone: The committee conducted and judged the county Dairy Recipe contest. It was sponsored by

Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Southwest Dairy Museum, and Arkansas Dairy Cooperative. Six county 4-H mem-bers competed. The committee also conducted a Food Check-Out Week activity and donated $200 worth of food to the Stone County Community Food Ministry. The Ministry serves about 525 families each year. Committee member Pat Stewart presented a gardening program about Heirloom, Hybrids and GMO Seeds where she explained the difference between the seeds.

Union: 800 first through third grade students from five elementary schools attended the annual Farm Fair at the Union County fairgrounds. Committee members taught lessons on poultry, beef, dairy cows, pork, sheep, goats, vegetables, rice, honey, forestry, and soybeans. Children also saw a demonstration on spinning wool and had an opportunity to milk the Farm Bureau “cow”. The committee also conducted the annual “Tomato Project” for students in grades 4-6 at Smack-over Elementary. Students were taught to plant seeds in HICO soil, and plants were judged after several weeks. Prize money, seeds, soil and cups were donated by the committee. Photos of the winning plants and students were published in the local papers.

Van Buren: Committee members met with the Food Service Director of Clinton Elementary Schools and planned an event for School Nutrition Week March 3rd-7th. Provided ag-related giveaways for the students in addition to brochures, booklets and coloring books. The committee also contacted all eight Van Buren County 4-H leaders to encourage participation in the Dairy Foods Recipe Contest. The committee conducted and judged entries in the contest. Photos were taken of the winners and a news release was produced and sent to local media. Committee members also donated perennials for the annual Master Gardner Plant Sale in Fairfield Bay and the

Extension Homemakers and Plant Sale in Clinton.

Washington: The committee was very active during the period. Activities included: Providing curriculum guides for local teachers; selecting county scholarship recipients; putting together 200 teacher packets for the annual “Farm Friends” event which at-tracted more than 2,100 children, teachers and parents during the day and another 680 for the evening session. The committee also conducted the annual safety poster contest, dairy foods recipe contest, participated in the annual “Moms on the Farm” tour, and purchased hygiene products for a local shelter.

White: The committee conducted and judged the county 4H Dairy Foods recipe contest. The committee also conducted a Food Check-Out Week event at a local supermarket and made a donation to the Hope’s Cottage Women’s Shelter. Committee members participated in an ag program at the ASU Beebe Farm in February and presented the, “Get Real, Here’s the Deal” financial train-ing seminar at White County Central School to 5th and 6th Grade classes. The committee also arranged for a Distracted Driving program to be presented at Pangburn High School.

Woodruff: Committee chair Janice Marsh also serves as chair of the state women’s committee. During the period she represented the county committee by attending numerous meetings including: the state winter commodity division meeting, the USA Rice Council meet-ing on implementation of the new Farm Bill, appearing on KATV Channel 7 to promote rice, chicken and edaname, and helping with a food donation to the Woodruff County Food Pantry and to Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock during Food Check-Out Week. She also flew to Washing-ton, DC for the AFBF women’s meeting.

MONROE CO FB photo

LeAnn Wilkison (left), Valerie Turner (second from right) and Sandra Kemmer pose with Madison Coleman after she was named Miss Monroe County Rice following their county contest in Brinkley April 1.

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arfb women’s committee calendar

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

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6 7 8

Policy DeveloPment viDeoconference

10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 2

3 4 6 7 8 9

Miss Arkansas RiceContest

10 11 12 13 14

Ag Luncheon

15third Quarter

women’s Quarterly report deadline

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17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 30

31 2 3 4 5 6

7

GranDParent’s Day

8 9 10 11

Patriot’s Day

12 13

14 15 16 17 18 10 20

21 22 23

first Day of autumn

24 25 26 27

9

2

2

28 29 30

July 1

auGust 1

2 3 4

inDePenDence Day

fB offices closeD

5

sePtemBer 1Labor Day

fB offices closeD

OFFICERS & LEADERS CONFERENCEin Springdale

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PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

ArFB BOARD MEETING

STATE BOARD MEETINGS