Arkansas Farm Bureau has promoted Ashley Wallace to the role of social media specialist and hired Matthew Magdefrau as visual production specialist.

Clayton Holderfield of Cabot (Lonoke County) is the 2019 recipient of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Marvin Vines Memorial Scholarship. The award was announced at Arkansas State University’s Department of Media Student Honors Banquet in Jonesboro on April 4.

Arkansas Farm Bureau announced Tuesday its support for changes made Monday by legislators to SB 550 that would transfer liquid animal waste permitting authority to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC).

Applications are now available to high school students for the summer Medical Applications of Science for Health (M*A*S*H) camps. These two-week M*A*S*H camps will be offered at 35 different medical facilities throughout Arkansas and are designed to expose rising high-school juniors and seniors to healthcare-related careers.

Farm Bureaus across the country are making safety a top priority this spring through the Agricultural Safety Awareness Program (ASAP). As a part of ASAP, March 3-9 has been designated as Agricultural Safety Awareness Week. During this week and throughout the year, Arkansas Farm Bureau is encouraging farmers and ranchers to make safety a priority on the farm.

Arkansas Farm Bureau announced Monday its support for House Bill 1117, as written, a bill that would restructure the Arkansas Agriculture Department. The agricultural advocacy organization’s state board of directors met Friday to review policy positions affirmed by its members at its most recent state convention. HB 1117, part of a broader effort by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to streamline state government, has been referred to the House State Agencies Committee.

Jessica Clowser has been hired as the Director of Commodity Activities and Economics for Aquaculture, Forestry and Specialty Crops at Arkansas Farm Bureau, where she is responsible for directing commodity-specific programs and activities. She will address legislative, regulatory and economic affairs important to Farm Bureau members and manage administrative functions for commodity check-off boards.

The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame has announced plans to induct five individuals whose leadership and service have brought distinction to the state’s largest business sector. The newest class includes retired University of Arkansas educator Dr. L.B. (Bernie) Daniels of Fayetteville Ed Fryar of Rogers, the founder of Ozark Mountain Poultry; UA professor Dr. Donna Graham of Fayetteville; UA distinguished professor Dr. Terry Siebenmorgen of Fayetteville; and David Walt of Dumas, a retired soybean farmer.

Chris and Judy Isbell of Humnoke (Lonoke County) are the 2018 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. The honor was announced today at the annual luncheon honoring the county and district Farm Families of the Year.

Randy Veach and Rich Hillman will continue as president and vice president, respectively, of Arkansas Farm Bureau following their re-election Friday. Delegates also elected seven other board members during the final day of the organization’s 84th annual convention at the Hot Springs Convention Center.