The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its 2025 County Farm Families of the Year.
Since 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has helped 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; and
To disseminate information on improved farm practices and management.
Selection criteria for the 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. Farm Family of the Year participation is open to all counties and is voluntary. Each year participation varies, which is why there's not always a recipient for each county.
The county Farm Families of the Year are:
Arkansas, North – Matthew and Sally Feilke, Stuttgart
Arkansas, South – Eric and Jennifer Smith, Almyra
Benton – The Harris family, Gravette
Boone – Michael Watkins family, Harrison
Bradley – Richard and Karen McDougald, Sumpter community
Calhoun – Keith Gresham/Gresham family, Thornton
Carroll – John Asbury family, Oak Grove
Clark – Matt and Kim Wingfield, Okolona
Clay – Casey and Jade Simpson, Rector
Cleburne – G.L. and Angela Sutherland, Drasco
Cleveland – Diana Watts, New Edinburg
Columbia – Josh and Melissa Smith, Waldo
Conway – Hill families, Springfield
Craighead – Christian Family Farm, Cash
Crawford – Brandon James, Mulberry
Crittenden – Dusty Carlson, Marion
Cross – Ryan and Chris McGruder, Wynne
Desha – Randy, Kendall and Stella Cox, McGehee
Drew – Chuck Hoover, Monticello
Faulkner – Charlie Parsons and Sons, Vilonia
Franklin – Cody Fox, Charleston, Charleston
Fulton – Jason and Tricia Guffey family, Viola
Garland – The Carl Hawthorne family, Hot Springs
Grant – Blake and Emily Barnes, Sheridan
Greene – Felty/Rowe families, Delaplaine
Hempstead – Johnny and Priscilla Johnson, Hope
Hot Spring – Benji and Kayla Cranford, Malvern
Howard – Jared and Cathren Smith, Dierks
Independence – Nathan, Kimberly, Kallie and Nash Crouch, Newark
Izard – Ryan and Sabra Smith, Violet Hill
Johnson – Mike Meek, Clarksville
Lawrence – Richey and Doty families, Walnut Ridge
Little River – Lockeby Farms, Ashdown
Logan – Bruce and Laura Staton, Magazine
Lonoke – Freeze and Summerside families, Keo
Madison – Elmer and Mackenzie Robertson, Huntsville
Mississippi – Dalton and Skiver Dilldine, Blytheville
Monroe – R.P. George and family, Clarendon
Montgomery – T.J. Wilson family, Mt. Ida
Newton – Philip and Julie Campbell, Vendor
Perry – Fred and Brandi Nutt, Bigelow
Phillips – Brian Chastain, Poplar Bluff
Poinsett – Joe, Wade and Will Drace, Tyronza
Polk – Jimmy Morris, Cove
Pope – Duffey and Kaylynn Rye, Russellville
Prairie – Drew and Luke Mitchell families, Des Arc
Pulaski – Tyler and Laura Beaudreau, Roland
Randolph – Kent and Blake Bennett, Pocahontas
Searcy – Adam and Briana Redman, Marshall
Sebastian – Paul and Amy King, Huntington
Sevier – Julian Dorse family, De Queen
Sharp – Bryan and Mary Ellen Henley, Evening Shade
St. Francis – Ryan Carey, Marion
Stone – Tracy Verser family, Edgemont
Van Buren – Clay and Chalet Gustafson, Bee Branch
Washington – Randy, Dawna and Mack Spears, Fayetteville
White – Brandon and Lauren Martin, Judsonia
Woodruff – William Brant and Jessica Burkett, Wynne
Yell – Michelle and Steven Blankenship, Ola
The families will be visited by a set of judges to determine eight District Farm Families of the Year, which will be announced June 9. The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year will be announced in December at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon, who then represent Arkansas at the Southeastern Expo Farmer of the Year event in Georgia. Arkansas has had three Southeast Farmer of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008, Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016 and the Cobb, Lyerly and Owen Family/Partnership of Craighead County in 2023.
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 more than 180,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.
