Wins organization’s President’s Award

LITTLE ROCK – White County is the state’s top county Farm Bureau organization for 2017. Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach and Vice President Rich Hillman presented the President’s Award Nov. 30 to county president Michael Oxner at the organization’s 83rd annual convention at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

“I was surprised,” Oxner said. “Our county worked hard, but this is not something you expect to win. But I’ve got to say that our women’s committee pulled us through. They made sure to document everything we did and made sure all of the necessary forms were completed.”

Counties competing for the President’s Award must earn a Gold Star in each of 10 categories and be a top scorer in their respective membership category. The 10 Gold Star categories are membership acquisition, organization, public relations, commodity services, governmental affairs, women’s activities, Young Farmers & Ranchers activities, member services, safety and youth.

The other finalists for the President’s Award included Cross, Stone, Garland and Baxter counties.

The Membership Retention Award went to Cleveland County. The award goes to the county with the highest membership retention percentage in the state. Cleveland County had a retention rate of 95.53 percent. County Farm Bureau president Bryan Swinney and agency manager Terry Sipes received the award from Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach.

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of more than 191,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.

For more information, contact:

Rob Anderson
(501) 228-1640
rob.anderson@arfb.com

 or

Gregg Patterson
(501) 228-1282
gregg.patterson@arfb.com

Arkansas Farm Bureau Vice President Rich Hillman (left) and President Randy Veach (right) present White County FB President Michael Oxner with the President's Award as the state's top county.

Arkansas Farm Bureau Vice President Rich Hillman (left) and President Randy Veach (right) present Cleveland County FB Agency Manager Terry Sipes (second left) and county president Bryan Swinney (second right) with the Membership Retention Award.