GENTRY — On Monday, Nov. 9, the Bloomfield 4-H Club held its annual 4-H Achievement Banquet in the Gentry High School Cafeteria, with approximately 100 members and guests in attendance.
After an enjoyable potluck dinner consisting of soups, chili, and beans, all 4-H members were presented with a Certificate of Achievement for their hard work and dedication to their main projects.
The Bloomfield 4-H Club also presented each of the two graduating senior members, Rachael Hillhouse and Dustin Dixon, with a $100 scholarship to attend a college of their choice.
The evening concluded with the presentation ofawards to local business and individuals that have shown outstanding service to the 4-H club and its members. A special award was presented to Keith and Georgia Harper for their dedication and wonderful commitment to the Bloomfield 4-H club members. They were presented with a gift basket and a weekend trip to Branson, Mo.
The following local business and individuals were awarded a certificate and plaque for their service to the 4-H program: Cobb Vantress, Inc., - Friend of 4-H; Farm Credit Services - 4-H Service Award; Parks Lumber - 4-H Service Award; Gentry Courier-Journal - 4-H Service Award; Mark Bray, County Horticultural Agent - Green Award; Janice Shofner, County 4-H Extension Agent - Heart of 4-H Award; Jessica Street, County 4-H Extension Agent - Heart of 4-H Award.
Lincoln announces first Senate Agriculture
Committee field hearingFrom Staff Reports
LITTLE ROCK - U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (DArk.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced Thursday that the Committee will hold its first field hearing, “Revitalizing Rural America,” to examine ways to strengthen and grow Arkansas’ rural economy.
The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m., Monday, Nov. 23, and will be hosted by the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service at the Great Hall of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock.
Lincoln also announced that she is organizing a statewide Agriculture and Business Leadership Breakfast on Nov. 24 to examine the impact of U.S. Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry policy on the state rural and small business economy. That event is scheduled from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Association of Arkansas Counties Board Room, 1415 Third Street, Little Rock.
“When our nation faces difficult economic times, rural Americans are often the first to feel the impact and the last to recover,” Lincoln said. “This field hearing and leadership breakfast will give me an opportunity to hear firsthand from Arkansans on how we can work together to encourage economic development in our rural communities. Both events will focus on the economic needs and strengths of various sectors of the Arkansas economy as I move forward in constructing the Senate Agriculture Committee’s agenda.”
The Committee will hear testimony from three panels. The first panel will focus on the importance of production agriculture to the rural economy and will consider the impact recent flooding in Arkansas has had on this year’s crop. A second panel will focus on improving rural infrastructure, and the final panel will focus on successful community and economic development initiatives.
News, Pages 21 on 11/18/2009