2022 County Farm Family of the Year program salutes five farms from the area

The 75th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has named the 2022 County Farm Families of the Year. The families will be visited by a set of judges to determine eight District Farm Families of the Year. The State Farm Family of the Year will be announced in December at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon.

Since 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program has served as a vehicle 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; • To disseminate information on improved farm practices and management.

Selection as 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 are:

• Benton County– Jim and Michele Pigeon

• Boone County – Josh and Amber Thomason

• Crawford County – Eddie and Brenda Tweedy

• Madison County– Brent Hargis Family, Ozark Mountain Produce

• Washington County– Tim and Tyler Whorton

We are proud to tell their stories in this special section. They are inspiring and heartwarming. Each one conveys the perseverance and hard work that has made America’s family farms a unique part of the rich tapestry that makes up our great country.

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 State Farm Family of the Year, who then go on to represent Arkansas at the Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Arkansas has had two Southeast Farm of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016.

Sponsors of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program are Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Additionally, support for the program is provided by the Arkansas Agriculture Department, 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.

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of almost 190,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.