Tichnor Family Named Farm Family Of The Year

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by Roby Brock ([email protected]) December 10, 2011 9:30 am 171 views 

Heath and Betsy Long of Tichnor (Arkansas Co.) are the 2011 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year.

The Farm Family of the Year program, now in its 66th year, begins with selection of the top farm family in each county. Then, eight district Farm Families of the Year are selected. The process concludes with the selection of the state Farm Family of the Year. The competition is judged on production, efficiency and management of farm operations, family life and rural/community leadership and values.

This year’s winners own Long Planting Company, a rice, soybean and wheat operation near the community of Tichnor, south of DeWitt. Their farm consists of 2,230 acres of rented land, with 1,137 acres dedicated to soybeans, 869 acres of rice, and 198 acres of wheat. Heath is a fourth-generation farmer and was raised on the family farm.

“The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program is the longest-running farm family recognition program of its type in the United States,” said Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach, a cotton farmer from Manila (Mississippi Co.). “We are happy to recognize the fine men and women who work daily to raise crops and care for their livestock, while feeding a growing world population. We congratulate each of the county and district Farm Families of the Year.”

The 2011 District Farm Family of the Year winners included:

  • Jerry and Renee Boeckmann of Wynne (Cross Co.), Northeast District.
  • Darick and Leesa Brown of Viola (Fulton Co.), North Central District.
  • GC Farms Partnership of Augusta (Woodruff Co.), East Central District.
  • Maury and Daleen Hill of Fayetteville (Washington Co.), Northwest District.
  • Leslie and Melissa Oates of Pottsville (Pope Co.) Western District.
  • Ken and Rhonda Rudder of El Dorado (Union Co.), Southwest District.
  • Chris and Lesley Simmons of Arkadelphia (Clark Co.), West Central District.

The Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Press Association, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, AgHeritage FCS, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, and Farm Credit MidSouth are sponsors of the annual Farm Family recognition program.

Additional program support is provided by the Arkansas Department of Career Education; the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service; and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development.