Chamber awards continued

Tired Iron of the Ozarks and the Haak Farm honored at banquet

— The following narrative, read by chamber director Bev Saunders, is a continuation from last week’s issue of the Gentry Courier-Journal and the Decatur Herald: Organization of the Year

It’s fun to work with folks that make work seem like play, and this bunch really does. At every festival or parade we host, this group is there to help us with our work as well as offering a display of their antique tractors and equipment.

People drive from everywhere when they hear the Tired Iron of the Ozarks will have the tractor equipment on display. They host their own shows on their club grounds in rural Gentry and attract thousands. All day at the Freedom Festival and the Fall Festival, they give free wagon rides from sunup until sun-down. They do all the work and bear all the costs of doing this for us.

Johnny Burger and Glenn Smith are a pleasure to work with and we’re proud to name the Tired Iron of the Ozarks the Organization of the Year.

Arkansas Farm Family of the Year

We would like to recognize the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, from right here in Gentry, Bill and Delia Haak.

Bill and Delia Haak, for the first time ever for Gentry and only the third time in Benton County’s history, wehave a winner.

Farming and hard work just come naturally for Bill and Delia Haak, who have made their home near Gentry for the past 30 years. The eighth-generation farmers were recently named Arkansas’ Farm Family of the Year at an awards luncheon in Little Rock. The family was one of eight district finalists for the state’s largest farm honor. Those who know the Haak Family were not surprised at their latest achievement.

Delia Haak was instrumental in recently helping the community get a government grant from the U.S Forest Service. The grant will help restore the creek banks along the Flint Creek near Springtown, providing for stability and improved water quality, according to Hogue.

The Haaks run a local dairy farm, milking a herd of roughly 80 cows, with a beef cow-calf business of roughly 120 head. There is also a sawdust shavings business to run and Delia’s work as executive director for the Illinois River Watershed Partnership. The family farms 830 acres, growing fescue, Bermuda grass and soybeans.

Bill Haak said the couple is blessed to have sons Luke and Jake help out on the farm regularly, in addition to the full-time nonfarm jobs they also hold down.

The Haaks began with a nomination at the county level. The Haak farm was visited by a local judging team this spring, which reviewed production rates, rural leadership, environmental practice and familyvalues. They were chosen out of some 2,151 in Benton County, according to Robert Seay, county extension agent.

At the county level, eight district winners are chosen by a separate judging team. And still a third round of independent judges made the final selection after visiting the eight farms.

The Haaks will compete in the Southeast Region Farmer of the Year competition in Georgia next October.

Bill and Delia, we are so proud of you and so honored to have you part of our community. So tonight, as well as giving you our congratulations, we also want to name you as Gentry’s Citizens of the Year.

Lifetime Achievement Awards will be will be listed in next week’s issue.

News, Pages 8 on 03/10/2010