The 76th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has named its 2023 County Farm Families of the Year.

Leigh Pruss has been promoted to vice president of finance at the Arkansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest membership organization and the leading advocate for agriculture and rural Arkansas.

The Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation is partnering with Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (AHFH), with an initial gift of $25,000 that could triple with contributions from others. The program adds to the hunger relief efforts that ArFB and county Farm Bureaus have supported to fight food insecurity in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Farm Bureau (ArFB) Federation announced that Bryan Pistole has been promoted to Director of Public Relations. The promotion comes after eight years with the Federation, where he most recently served as creative director. Pistole has more than 30 years of experience in graphic design, video production, web services and event management.

Huneycutt Farms in Arkadelphia (Clark County) was named today as the 2022 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. The honor was announced at a luncheon in Little Rock honoring the county and district Farm Families of the Year.

HOT SPRINGS — Rich Hillman of Carlisle was re-elected as Arkansas Farm Bureau’s president and Mike Freeze of Little Rock will continue as vice president for the agriculture advocacy organization. Both were elected Friday morning at Farm Bureau’s 88th Annual Convention at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Delegates also elected six board members during the final day of the meeting, including three new board members.

HOT SPRINGS – Craighead County is the state’s top county Farm Bureau organization for 2022. Arkansas Farm Bureau President Rich Hillman and Vice President Mike Freeze presented the organization’s President’s Award to Craighead Farm Bureau President Drew Davis on Dec. 1 at the 88th Annual Arkansas Farm Bureau Convention at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

HOT SPRINGS — The Women’s Leadership Committee from Craighead County is the Outstanding County Women’s Program award winner for 2022. The group was recognized Dec. 1 during Arkansas Farm Bureau’s 88th Annual Conference at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Committee chair Brittany Barnes accepted the award for Craighead County.

HOT SPRINGS — Rachel Bearden won the Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet at the Arkansas Farm Bureau 88th Annual Convention on Thursday in Hot Springs. Bearden will now compete at the American Farm Bureau Federation conference scheduled for January in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

HOT SPRINGS – Arkansas Farm Bureau recognized Darren Hawkins of Beebe High School in White County as its Outstanding Ag Educator. Concord High School’s Caleb Payton earned the Outstanding New Ag Educator Award, and Cedar Ridge High School grabbed the top spot as the Outstanding Ag Education Program. All were recognized at Farm Bureau’s 88th Annual Convention, Nov. 30, at the Hot Springs Convention Center.