2023 County Farm Family of the Year program salutes six farms from the area

The 76th annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced the 2023 County Farm Families of the Year. The Farm Family of the Year program begins each year with the selection of the top farm families in each county and culminates in December with the selection of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, who will then go on to represent the state at the Southeastern Expo Farmer of the Year event in Georgia.

Arkansas has had two Southeastern Farm Family of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016.

Since 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has served as a vehicle 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 of the 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.

The 2023 County Farm Families of the Year in Northwest Arkansas are:

• Benton County – Wes and Laura

Evans, Evans Farms in Gentry

• Boone County – Brian and Tammy Lemon, Lemon Farm in Lead Hill

• Crawford County – Jared and Jessie Williams, Williams Farms in Mulberry

• Madison County – Kenny and Megan Harris, Harris Farm in Huntsville

• Sebastian County – Tracy and Julie Leonard, Leonard Farm in Huntington

• Washington County – Travis and Ashley Appel, Appel Farms in Elm Springs

We are proud to tell their inspiring and heartwarming stories in this special section. Each one conveys the perseverance and hard work that has made America’s family farms a unique part of the rich tapestry that makes up our great country.

Sponsors of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program are Arkansas Farm Bureau, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and 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 almost 190,000 families throughout the state who are working to improve farm and rural life.