Farmer of Howard County chosen by the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program
The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its 2024 County Farm Families of the Year. 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 are:
- • Howard – Billy Barton
- • Hempstead – Curtis & Melissa Bobo
- • Nevada – Damon Williams
- • Little River – Mark & Patty Welch
- • Lafayette – Stephen & Cindy Burton
The families will be visited by a set of judges to determine eight District Farm Families of the Year, which will be announced June 17. 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 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016 and the Cobb, Lyerly and Owen Family/Partnership of Craighead County in 2023.
