Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Members of Arkansas Farm Bureau are in Little Rock this week for 

the annual convention which includes the policy development process of

the organization. One of the issues of discussion this year is in regard

to reforming Federal Milk Marketing Orders.  It's a complicated 

subject and definitely not for light dinner conversation! 

I do appreciate the importance of the Federal Orders in  providing 

 stability in the milk marketing process and ensuring that milk

 is available to consumers across the country. 

As I have been learning more about the Federal Milk Marketing 

system,my appreciation has grown for how hard our

 dairy cooperative works to market  milk for all of its members.

It's a great honor to be a dairy farmer working everyday

to produce high-quality milk for your family and mine

and

I'm thankful to 

be a member of  a cooperative that I trust to

do the very best job in marketing the milk we produce.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                 
                                         Arkansas Farm Bureau celebrated June Dairy Month
                                     by sponsoring the Dairy Foods Contest today in Little Rock.
                                            This contest has been a youth activity sponsored
                                            by Arkansas Farm Bureau  for more than 60 years.
                                     
                                         As a dairy farmer, I was honored to be one of three judges
                                               with the task of selecting the best dairy  recipe prepared
                                            and served by 4-H contestants from across the state.
                                                           It was a hard but very delightful  job!

                                        Today's first place winner of the Main Dish category
                                                              was Kalin Key of Eldorado. 
                                        Her recipe was "Almost Cajun Creamy Shrimp and Grits."
                                          I loved her explanation of the title--" I live close to the
                                                         Louisiana line, so it's almost Cajun".

                                              I'm thankful for Arkansas Farm Bureau's work
                                               to provide learning experiences for our youth

and

promotion of dairy!

                                     
                                                             

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Farmer

Ever heard of Action Jackson?

Well, this is the Arkansas Farm Bureau version of  Action Jackson,

that is, Matt Jackson, Agriculture Educator!

Kindergarten students at Pea Ridge Primary School

listened intently to all that Mr. Matt shared with them about

 the dairy cow and how to milk her. 

     My job was easy--I was the local dairy farmer

who brought Cow hats,coloring books and crayons provided by

Midwest Dairy!

Hugs and smiles from a child definitely give you star power.

                                       
                                            I'm thankful for the portion of our Farm Bureau
                                            membership dollars that are spent for educating
                                             children and  adults  and for the opportunities
                                                            to share our agriculture story.
           
                                         

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Happy National Agriculture Day!

March 14,2019

Arkansas Governor Hutchinson proclaimed Arkansas Agriculture Week and

Farmers Day at the Legislature on Tuesday.

I felt honored to stand with farmers from across Arkansas to celebrate 

Arkansas agriculture. 

It was also our opportunity to speak with our legislators on issues that impact

our family farms and the agriculture industry.

I'm thankful for my farmer friends and the

organization of Arkansas Farm Bureau

that strive everyday to advocate for agriculture

                                                                 
                                                                              and
                                                         protect our farm family values.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Last week Benton County Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee

received the title of most 

Outstanding Women's Committee for 2018

at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Hot Springs.

 Chairwoman Brenda Patton  organized our committee,

diligently reported every activity, and used her creativity to bring us 

new ideas and ways to promote,educate and inform children and adults about

 agriculture throughout Benton County.

I'm thankful for Brenda's leadership 

and 

for the years of service and friendship I have enjoyed 

with this outstanding group of women.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Farmers from across the United States gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan

this week to attend the National Commodity Conference hosted by Michigan Farm Bureau.

It's an opportunity for different commodity groups to share information, 

discuss issues that impact their farming operations,

 and develop potential policy ideas to present during the grassroots

 policy development process of Farm Bureau.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall gave us an overview 

of issues we are facing in agriculture. Things are tough in agriculture but 

President Duvall has the ability to tell the truth and

 season it with hope for our future.

I  met with the dairy commodity group for information and discussion

about trade,immigration, and milk price.

You don't find all the answers at any meeting, 

but

 we can gain strength and insight from talking

 with others on shared problems and concerns.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with others on behalf of dairy farmers,

to experience  the beauty of other places,

to learn about agriculture in other states,

and

                                             to be home  down on the Arkansas  dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Last week members of  our Benton County  Farm Bureau 

Women's Leadership Committee spent the morning at 

Mathias Elementary with 4th and 5th grade students to provide 

information about Arkansas agriculture.

It's always fun to milk Frannie the Arkansas Farm Bureau cow.

Frannie is  the perfect cow  for school visits because  she doesn't

kick or swish her tail in your face when milking!

I'm thankful for the opportunity to share how 

milk is produced on our Arkansas dairy farm

and

to live on the farm and care for the animals that

 provide high-quality nutritious milk.

Arkansas Grown Fruit Smoothie

One of our workshops at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Leadership Conference was a cooking workshop promoting the use of Arkansas grown foods.Our cooking expert, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Agent Leigh Ann Bullington, was highlighting  Arkansas fruits and vegetables. It didn't take the dairy farmers in the room too long to point out that milk was also a featured Arkansas product!

It would be hard to have a smoothie without dairy products and the featured fruit at the workshop was strawberry. The strawberry smoothie  was delicious and made us all look forward to trying all the other Arkansas fruits that will be available soon.

Arkansas Grown Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh or frozen Arkansas grown fruit

  (blackberries,blueberries,strawberries,peaches

     or other fruit of your choice) no sugar added

1 cup low fat vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup low fat milk

1/4-1/2 cup ice, to desired consistency

Directions:

Add all ingredients to the blender pitcher and mix until desired consistency.

Tip: If you think it needs to be a little sweeter, you might add a little Arkansas honey!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

"Many Farms,One Voice" 

was the theme for the 2018 Arkansas Farm Bureau  Women's

 Leadership Conference in Little Rock  last weekend.

Farm Bureau women from across the state gathered to learn more about

 how to use our collective voices in promoting agriculture and educating

 others how we work everyday on the farm to ensure we have plenty

 of food,fiber and fuel for all of our families.

I'm thankful for these women and my friends from across the state 

that choose to spend their time and talents to share their passion about 

agriculture and speak with one voice

about a subject that impacts each of us everyday.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

We kicked off our Benton County Farm Bureau membership drive this week  with the 

signing of a proclamation by Benton County Judge Barry Moerhing to declare

 February 5-9 Farm Bureau Week.

I'm thankful to serve in an organization  that 

promotes and educates about agriculture 

and 

works for all citizens through legislative activities that impact

 our everyday lives in the city, the county 

or

                                                                down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It was a week filled with listening and learning  about agriculture issues.

Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach spoke to 

agriculture and business leaders about  the impact of trade 

on Arkansas farms at the

 Arkansas World Trade Center in Rogers,

Dr. Mark Stephenson spoke about the changing landscape of dairy markets

 at the Heart of America Dairy Expo in Springfield, Missouri,

and

Arkansas Farm Bureau Vice President spoke about

the current threat to  our Right to Farm in Arkansas at the

 Winter Commodity Conference in North Little Rock.

                                         
                                          I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a member of
                                           organizations  that support our farms and farmers
                                            and for the routine days down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

How could you not love the smiles of 160  Pea Ridge kindergarten students?

That was my thought as I watched each child take their turn milking 

 Franny, the Arkansas Farm Bureau cow.

                                       
                                    I'm so thankful for opportunities to provide information
                                           about agriculture by telling our dairy story
                                                                              and
                                            for  dedicated teachers that bring hands on
                                                  learning experiences to their students.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The Arkansas Farm Bureau 82nd Annual Convention was held

 in Hot Springs last week. 

It's always great to connect with other Arkansas farmers and ranchers

  to share information and celebrate the activities

 that have occurred during the year. 

The conference theme "Our Common Ground" was a perfect fit.

I'm thankful for the many Farm Bureau  contests like Sew With Cotton 

that  highlight commodities raised in Arkansas and provide

 opportunities for competition and learning for 4-H members,

                                     
                         for the grassroots policy developed by the members of Farm Bureau,

and

 for the many volunteer opportunities allowing me to contribute

 and work with others to  benefit our  communities across Arkansas. 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Policy making time at Farm Bureau is serious business.

 It's our policy framework that guides the work of our organization. 

As stated in a recent  membership brochure-- 

"Farm Bureau policy, because it is crafted by individuals, 

reflects a wide range of needs and interests. Issues are as far-ranging as

 soil testing,production research,public education, taxes,

 roads, trespassing,health and safety."

Resolutions for policy  are presented at the county annual meeting. 

Every member who chooses to do so can have a say in our policies and programs.

It's the grassroots process of policy development that sets us apart from other organization.

Last week the State Resolutions Committee, met in Little Rock 

to discuss the presented changes or additions to the 

policy adopted at the county level.

Discussion of each issue that is presented is interesting,enlightening and

 although we may not all agree, majority rules. 

The final step in policy development will be the presentation of these 

policy changes to the Delegates at the Arkansas Farm Bureau 

Annual Meeting in December.

I'm thankful to be involved in an organization 

where membership does really matter!

Dairy Paradise

I can't think of a better way to kick-off June Dairy Month than getting to taste  delicious recipes made with a variety of dairy products at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Dairy Foods Contest in Little Rock. It truly is a dairy paradise of good eating!

Recipes are judged on the use of dairy products, originality,the availability of ingredients and preparation and  serving technique. It's always fun and rewarding to observe the contestants, who can range in age from 9 to 19, preparing their recipes for the contest.  As a Farm Bureau member I take pride in the programs that support the development of our young people because it's obvious that each one has learned a variety of life-long skills by participating in this contest.

Congratulations to this year's winner of the Party Idea category  Emma Williams of Searcy (White County). She described her recipe as a mixture of all the foods she loves. When you taste this pie, you will definitely agree it's a bit of dairy paradise!



Paradise Coconut Cream Pie

Ingredients:

Crust:

20 pecan shortbread cookies (crushed)
1 cup flaked coconut
1/3 cup butter (melted)

Filling:

1 small package vanilla instant pudding
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup sour cream
1 large banana (sliced)

Topping:

1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple (drained)
11/2 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup toasted flaked coconut

Directions:

Crust: Mix cookie crumbs, 1 cup coconut and melted butter in a small mixing bowl and blend well.
Press into a pie plate to make crust. Bake at 10 minutes at 325 degrees or until lightly browned.

Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine milk and vanilla pudding and whisk until stiffened. Fold in 1 cup coconut and sour cream until blended. Set aside. Arrange sliced bananas on the bottom of cooled crust. Cover with pudding mixture; Set aside.

Topping: Combine whipping cream in a bowl and beat until stiff. Add sugar and continue to beat until mixed. Fold drained pineapple and prepared whipping cream together, spoon over the pudding mixture of the pie and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

While working to promote Farm Bureau membership this week in our county, 

I've been thinking about all the fun I've had  in a variety of settings with consumers of all ages. 

I consider the Farm Bureau Cow part of my family!

                                        I'm thankful to be a Farm Bureau member and  for the
                                                 opportunities I've had to share our dairy story.

Arkansas Dairy Ambassador 2015

Just when you thought nothing else could fit into the schedule of activities at the 4-State Dairy Days--

we had the Arkansas Dairy Ambassador contest!

The Dairy Ambassador Program criteria consists of three levels: promotion activities, an interview with a panel of judges, and an oral presentation.

I'll be the first to admit, the conditions  for doing an oral presentation with cows mooing and fans blowing to keep everyone comfortable are not ideal,  but the setting is perfect for the topic of

 "What's so Great about Dairy!"

Prior to the interview and presentation, the contestants have also participated in a Farm Bureau  dairy recipe contest in their county and promoted dairy in a second activity.

It takes enthusiasm and interest in dairy cows and the dairy industry to be named the Arkansas Dairy Ambassador!

Congratulations to

Colte Mosher

 Arkansas Dairy Ambassador 2015

A special thanks to Arkansas Farm Bureau for supporting this youth program!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

What's not fun about milking a cow or planting a seed?

The students at Grace Hill Elementary learned about Arkansas agriculture from members of the Benton County Farm Bureau Women's Committee and our friends from Arkansas Farm Bureau this week. 

I'm thankful for all of my friends who generously give of their time each year to tell the the great  story of agriculture!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

As we kick off our Benton County Farm Bureau Membership Campaign with a proclamation from Benton County Judge Bob Clinard recognizing the importance of agriculture in our community, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve my community through the volunteer activities of Benton County Farm Bureau.

                                                        Happy Farm Bureau Week!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Farm Bureau leaders like our Benton County Farm Bureau President Bob Shofner,

For the women I serve with on activities to educate children and adults about agriculture,

the youth activities that are supported by our county and Arkansas Farm Bureau,

and for the blessings I have received as a Farm Bureau member and volunteer.

The mission of Arkansas Farm Bureau is to:

1. Advocate the interests of agriculture in the public arena.

2. Disseminate information concerning the value and importance of agriculture, and 

3. Provide products and services which improve the quality of life for our members.