Fouke family named district farm family for Southwest Arkansas

Rice farmer Ray Stoesser, one of the biggest rice farmers in Texas, looks at his crop as he prepares to harvest it Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Raywood, Texas.  For the Stoesser farm, selling to China could mean a slightly bigger financial cushion in a business that can see a year's income decimated by floods or drought or both.
Rice farmer Ray Stoesser, one of the biggest rice farmers in Texas, looks at his crop as he prepares to harvest it Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Raywood, Texas. For the Stoesser farm, selling to China could mean a slightly bigger financial cushion in a business that can see a year's income decimated by floods or drought or both.

The eight district winners in the 71st annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program have been selected, representing the diversity of Arkansas agriculture, the state's largest industry.

The district winners will now be judged to determine a state winner to be announced Dec. 6 at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock.

The district winner for Southwest Arkansas is Jimmy and Crystal Hewitt of Fouke (Miller County).

The Hewitts raise registered Simbrah and commercial cattle. Their operation also includes hay production. They have two children, Kyleen and Colton.

"The contributions made by our state's farm families are beyond measure," said Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. "It is almost impossible to fully understand the impact our family farms have on the economy, our rural communities and to the character of our great state."

The program begins each year with selection of the top farm families in each county and culminates with the selection of the state Farm Family of the Year. They then represent Arkansas at the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year competition in Georgia.

Arkansas has had two Southeastern Farmers of the Year, Brian Kirksey of Clark County in 2008 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016. All winners are judged on their farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership.

"No other business sector has a larger economic impact in Arkansas than agriculture," Veach said. "The men and women of agriculture, and their families, work diligently every day to maintain a business and a lifestyle that represents the very best our state has to offer."

The other district winners are:

  • Chris and Judy Isbell of Lonoke County. The Isbells raise rice on 3,000 acres and have two children, Whitney and Mark.
  • Jared and Lacey Standridge of Van Buren County operate a cattle company and have three children, Sydney, Sam and Shelby.
  • Michaell and Rhonda Ahrent of Clay County grow rice and soybeans on 4,800 acres. They have one son, Blake, and a daughter-in-law, Emily.
  • Carl and Christie Campbell of Boone County, who operate Cattleman's Livestock Auction of Harrison. They have one daughter, Melinda, a son-in-law, Landon, and two grandchildren, Ladd and Larson.
  • Travis and Valerie Sims of Conway County have four broiler houses and raise roughly 594,000 birds a year for Tyson. The Sims have two children, Will and Cordell.
  • Damon and Jana Helton of Saline County raise hogs and run a general store. They have four children, Luke, Olivia, Violet and Cordell.

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