Dan Wright, President | Arkansas Farm Bureau
As I write this article, the winds are howling, temperature is dropping and the first arctic blast of the year is barreling toward us. I have spent the better part of 40 years as a livestock and poultry producer and can say emphatically that winter is my least favorite season. My wife often hears me mumble, “I hate winter.”
The best part of winter, to me, is when it turns into spring.
But for many folks, winter’s beauty is undeniable. Snow-covered landscapes and crisp, cold air can be a winter delight. But for livestock producers, that winter delight is replaced by challenges. The season doubles the workload. From breaking ice on frozen water tanks or ponds to working in subzero temperatures to save a newborn calf, winter can be relentless and test your grit.
Yet this also is a season for reflection. The longer nights give us time to ponder the past year and plan for the future. This past December marked the end of my first year as president of Arkansas Farm Bureau. I’m deeply honored to have been reelected for a second term during our 90th annual convention. Leading this organization is truly humbling. Looking back on 2024 reminds me of the milestones we’ve reached together.
Two of the most significant accomplishments are the creation of a political action committee (AgPAC) and the launch of Farm Bureau Health Plans of Arkansas. Both initiatives addressed needs that had been identified by our members. The AgPAC will, and has already, helped us support legislators who champion agriculture. The health benefits program provides much-needed relief to self-employed members struggling to maintain health coverage due to rising costs.
Last year also marked the return of the Officers and Leaders Conference to Jonesboro for the first time in more than 20 years. The city — including Mayor Harold Copenhaver and Todd Shields, Arkansas State University’s chancellor — welcomed our members with open arms. Being in Jonesboro gave our attendees a chance to see a different landscape and row crop commodities grown in the area. We look forward to future conferences in this vibrant agricultural community.
Weather posed significant challenges last spring. The Memorial Day tornadoes in northwest Arkansas caused devastation not seen there in several years. Jarrod Yates, Arkansas Farm Bureau’s executive vice president, and I visited the affected areas to witness the damage firsthand and to lend a helping hand. Staff delivered bottled water and emergency supplies to the Farm Bureau offices of Benton and Madison counties. Amid the shattered dreams and tangled timber, we saw the true spirit of rural Arkansas. We saw neighbors helping neighbors, and heard the hum of chainsaws and skid steers as roads and fence lines were cleared. In tough times, rural communities band together like no other.
One of the most persistent challenges has been the absence of an updated federal farm bill. Although it was extended in 2023 and 2024, the critical safety nets within it remain outdated. The trigger prices for the programs used by farmers were implemented in 2018 and those no longer reflect today’s economic realities. Over the past five years, interest rates and consumer prices have skyrocketed while commodity prices have dropped significantly. This combination has created a recipe for disaster, with many farmers finding the cost of growing their crops is more than they will earn. Obviously, this is not sustainable agriculture.
In response, Arkansas Farm Bureau joined forces with other state Farm Bureaus to push for emergency assistance. While economic aid was approved in late December, it is only a temporary fix. Much work remains to ensure a comprehensive, updated farm bill that meets the needs of Arkansas (and American) agriculture.
We ended the year on a high note with the annual convention. One of the highlights was the Arkansas Farm Bureau Foundation fundraiser. After a wonderful dinner, attendees were treated to a performance by Lonestar, a country music band from Nashville, Tenn. I want to take a moment and thank our staff, led by Yates, for their hard work. A convention has many moving parts, but our team consistently gets the job done.
We look forward to Arkansas’s 95th General Assembly and are committed to working with our legislators to protect agriculture and uphold our policies. Together, we’ll tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead, ensuring a bright future for agriculture. May God richly bless your families and may God bless the Farm Bureau family.