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The Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association named a first-generation White County farmer its Producer of the Year and honored three other industry leaders at its 68th annual convention and trade show in Fort Smith.
Chris Smith of Jay H Farms in Romance received the top award. Smith built the 2,300-acre cattle and hay operation with his wife, Nesha, and daughter, Jalyn. The family runs about 500 commercial cows and more than 75 registered Braunvieh females and supports youth livestock programs, FFA and 4-H.
Sam Cecil received the Aubrey Blackmon Lifetime Service Award for decades of work with the association. Cecil spent more than 15 years on the association’s executive committee as Area 2 vice president, chairs its legislative and policy committee and served more than 12 years on the Arkansas Beef Council.
Dr. Kirsten Midkiff was named Producer Educator of the Year for her work teaching producers about animal health threats, including the Asian longhorned tick, Theileria and New World screwworm. She also helped run the association’s first Youth Stockmanship Contest.
Maybelle Castera of White County received the President’s Award, given every other year. Castera is a military veteran and Angus producer who has served as a county officer, mentor and membership recruiter and chaired the association’s leadership class.
Fayetteville FFA won the Beef Quiz Bowl, defeating Nevada 4-H in a championship round held on the trade show floor. The competition, sponsored by the Arkansas Beef Council, tests students on beef production, cattle management and animal science.
The two-day convention included sessions on cattle markets, herd management, genetics and animal health.
