Page 3 - AR Farm Families 2020

Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sunday, December 20, 2020 • Salute to Farm Families • 3N
has been one of the most challenging years for Arkansas farmers and ranchers because they’ve had to deal with disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sweats have demonstrated resiliency by persevering through these challenges, while continuing to build their business and serve the farming and ranching community of southwest Arkansas.”
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, this year’s official state Farm Family of the Year announcement was made virtually, and video of the event can be viewed at www. arfb.com/farmfamily.
The program, now in its 73rd year, is the longest- running farm-family recognition program of its type in the United States. It begins with selection of the top farm family in each county. Then eight district Farm Families of the Year are selected. The competition is judged on production, efficiency and management of farm operations, family life, and rural/community leadership and values.
The Sweats were the Southwest District Farm Family of the year and competed against these seven other district winners for the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year honor:
➤ Brad and Tara Peacock (White County) in the East Central District: The Peacocks grow soybeans and rice on 1,000 acres. In their nine years of farming, Brad and Tara have worked closely with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service to continually
improve their crops. They have a 1-year-old son, Silas.
➤ Shane and Ashley Mason (Cleburne County) in the North Central District: Shane Mason and his wife, Ashley, own 300 acres, where they, along with their children — Paige, Stormy, Ava, Talyn and Holden — raise cattle, hogs, chickens and dairy goats. The Mason family has been farming for 17 years.
➤ The Senter Family (Mississippi County) in the Northeast District: Travis Senter II and his wife, Bridget, as well as Travis Senter Sr. and his wife, Edra, operate Senter Farms. They grow cotton, soybeans, long-grain rice and corn on 8,800 acres. Combined, the couples have been farming for 65 years.
➤ e Stone Family (Carroll County) in the Northwest District: Mark Stone and his wife, Leah, raise cattle and poultry on 960 acres. e Stones have been farming for 28 years and have three children: Garrett, Landon and Marlea.
➤ Chad and Dawn Render (Jefferson County) in the Southeast District: The Render family grows irrigated corn, rice and soybeans on 6,200 acres. Chad Render and his wife, Dawn, have farmed for 21 years, 19 of which have been in Jefferson County. They have two daughters: Mary-Keaton and Stella.
➤ James and Tiffany Miller (Yell County) in the Western District: James Miller and his wife, Tiffany, have been farming for 14 years. They, along with their children, Maeleigh and Chap, raise cattle and hogs
on 630 acres. James and Tiffany take part in their family processing business, Miller Quality Processing. ➤ Hunter and Jennifer Phelps (Grant County) in the West Central District: The Phelps operate a 170-acre cattle farm. Along with their daughters, Lea and Anna, the couple raise cattle for both livestock and 4-H events, as well as meat production. “ e impact of our farm families is immeasurable,” said Rich Hillman, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. “ e contributions made to our communities, state and
economy by our state’s farm families are astounding. “Agriculture is Arkansas’ No. 1 industry. Our farmers and ranchers, and their families, work tirelessly to provide not only for themselves, but for the people of Arkansas. These families represent the best of the best in
Arkansas agriculture.”
Sponsors of the Farm Family of the Year program are
the Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and the three Farm Credit agencies that serve Arkansas: AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas and Farm Credit Midsouth. Additionally, support for the program is provided by the Arkansas Agriculture Department, the Arkansas Department of Career Education, the Arkansas Press Association, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development.
Erika Ross Gee egee@wlj.com 501.212.1305
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