Photos provided by Monte Bartek of Bartek Recon
Aerial Photos of the new Sevier County Medical Center
Arkansas Community Colleges announce scholarships for 22 academic all-star students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2022
For questions or more information, please contact:
Collin Callaway, Senior Policy Director
Arkansas Community Colleges
Cell: 501-554-2146
HOT SPRINGS (October 11, 2022) – Winners of the Academic All-Star Scholarships were announced today in Hot Springs at the Arkansas Community Colleges annual conference (ACC).
Governor Asa Hutchinson presented the keynote address at a brunch honoring the 22 student scholarship winners. The students were awarded a full-tuition transfer scholarship to any Arkansas public, four-year university to complete their bachelor’s degree. The combined total for the scholarships are estimated to be more than $500,000.
“These scholarships will enable our highest-achieving students to reach for their dreams at any of Arkansas’s public, four-year universities,” said Andrea Henderson, ACC Executive Director. “Many of these students are not only working hard to maintain excellent grades but are also adding jobs and parenthood to their list of responsibilities, which makes their accomplishments even more impressive. These students deserve our recognition, and these scholarships are a fantastic way to help them achieve their goals.”
Each of the 22 public two-year colleges names one student as an “Academic All-Star.” These students maintain a cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.25 out of a possible 4.0 and are outstanding campus and community leaders.
The 22 member institutions of ACC, located throughout the state, serve more than 60,000 Arkansans per year through educational programs, technical training, continuing education, and customized workforce training for today’s businesses and industries.
Here are the Academic All-Stars and their respective colleges:
Arkansas Northeastern College
Maddie Treece
Arkansas State University Beebe
Steven Winchell
Arkansas State University Mid-South
Jayden McNair
Arkansas State University Mountain Home
Elsie Clark
Arkansas State University Newport
Dustin Mars
Arkansas State University Three Rivers
Kevin Nard
Black River Technical College
Kimberly Stokes
East Arkansas Community College
Megan Sullivan
National Park College
Tyanna Lindsey
North Arkansas College
Marie Kershaw
Northwest Arkansas Community College
Lizbeth Cenobio
Ozarka College
Sarah Kirby
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
Ashlynne Jenkins
South Arkansas Community College
SaKiya Gill
Southeast Arkansas College
Verdia Mays
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Brooke Avant
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
Samantha Wilson
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
April Brown
University of Arkansas Cossatot
McKenzie Simpson
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
Allison Bonner
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College
Chacall D Charles
University of Arkansas Rich Mountain
Mary Kate Duncan
Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council provides big picture look at Arkansas ag as it hosts Country Women’s Council USA, international affiliate president
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
NORTH LITTLE ROCK — A three-day conference hosted by the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council provided a window in to Arkansas agriculture for the global head of the Associated Country Women of the World.
VISIT TO THE NATURAL STATE — Magdie de Kock, world president of the Associated Country Women of the World, attended the international organization's area conference in North Little Rock, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council, which is an affiliate of the Country Women's Council of the United States, a part of ACWW. (Division of Agriculture photo.)
AEHC hosted the Country Women’s Council USA and Associated Country Women of the World USA Area conference during the meeting Sept. 19-21. Arkansas EHC is an affiliate of the Country Women’s Council of the United States, which in turn is part of the Associated Country Women of the World, an international organization that focuses on issues impacting rural women. ACWW is the largest international women’s organization, with more than 9 million members in 84 countries.
The Arkansas EHC is a partner of the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Magdie de Kock, world president of Associated Country Women of the World, spoke at the conference and attends CWC meetings to bring insights back to the international organization.
“We are here as an umbrella organization to give a voice to women, especially rural women of the world,” de Kock said. “We represent them at the United Nations, UNESCO, and other world bodies, where the voices of women need to be heard. We give a global platform to our members.”
De Kock, a native of South Africa, said the organization has a triennial world conference, where members from around the world gather to develop resolutions and policy changes related to issues that impact rural women.
“We have policies on women’s health, education and community development, and domestic issues, like violence against women and children,” de Kock said. “Mainly, it’s about empowering women on different levels and educating them.”
Showcasing the delta
One of the organization’s main projects focuses on climate smart agriculture. During de Kock’s visit to Arkansas, she joined Leigh Ann Bullington, extension Family and Consumer Sciences educator for the Division of Agriculture, in Woodruff County to observe agricultural production and meet local farmers.
“I was happy to be asked to showcase to Magdie the variety of agriculture operations in Woodruff County as example of agricultural practices in eastern Arkansas,” Bullington said. “The producers she met with told me how keenly interested and knowledgeable she was in what they told her about their operations.”
Bullington said de Kock rode in a combine as a field of row rice was harvested and observed how the combine’s computer calculated field data, such as the yield per acre.
“Magdie explained to me that they produce soybeans and maize on their farm in South Africa and she had knowledge of those crops, but she had no idea rice was grown in the United States and that Arkansas led in that production,” Bullington said.
Bullington said de Kock’s visit to Woodruff County is significant to the increasing the visibility of agriculture practices in the state.
“Raising the awareness of agriculture in the Arkansas Delta is always important, and to be able to have a person in the position of Ms. de Kock come experience it firsthand is critical,” she said. “Anytime an ambassador of agriculture has the opportunity to observe the quality of agricultural production, as well as the technology that drives that production, has a positive impact on our state.”
Being in Arkansas, “I feel so much at home, because there’s kindness and openness and generosity,” de Kock said. “And I’m actually impressed to know of all the agricultural aspects that are being covered in Arkansas.
“I’ve read about referring to it being the Natural State … and I can very much see where it comes from,” she said.
Conference draws from 12 states
More than 80 members of CWC societies from 12 states – including Alabama, Florida, Washington, North Dakota, Oregon and Massachusetts – joined AEHC members for three days of meetings, creative skills classes, speakers and tours around Central Arkansas. AEHC members from Cleveland, Crawford, Drew, Jefferson, Mississippi, Montgomery, Lawrence, Pope, Pulaski, Sharp and Yellow Counties attended and hosted the conference.
Darlene Holliday, AEHC secretary, said she enjoys seeing her peers at the organization’s statewide meetings.
“I love coming to the state meetings because I get to see people from all over the state of Arkansas,” Holliday said.
Holliday has been an AEHC member in Montgomery County for 13 years, during which she’s served as the club’s county president and as the organization’s district director.
“I just love extension homemakers,” she said. “I’m starting my 13th year, and I know who I can call when I need something done, and they’ve never turned me down.”
Debbie Thompson, AEHC president, joined her local club in Pope County in 2003. She said she enjoys teaching homemaking skills that have often been lost over time.
“I like the fact that we are able to teach others and help people in the community learn different homemaking skills, skills that sometimes they’ve lost through generations,” Thompson said. “In today’s society, everybody works. And when you work outside the home, we still encourage membership as homemakers, because they’re still making a home.”
Over the three-day conference, CWC members heard from a variety of speakers, including the founders of Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas, which works to end human trafficking and help survivors; Rusty Rumley, senior staff attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center; and Wes Ward, Arkansas secretary of agriculture.
The Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the state. With a statewide membership of more than 3,200 people in over 320 clubs, AEHC provides informal education in Family and Consumer Sciences skills, as well as leadership development and opportunities for community service. In 2021, AEHC members volunteered over 705,000 hours with an estimated dollar value of over $16 million.
For more information about Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council, visit the EHC website. To learn more about Associated Country Women of the World, visit the ACWW website.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
Arkansas agriculture connected to $2.8B USDA Climate-Smart Commodities initiative
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
HUMNOKE, Ark. — Arkansas has connections to several projects being funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $2.8 billion Climate-Smart Commodities program aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, improving carbon storage and developing new revenue streams for small and underserved farmers.
USDA on Sept. 14 unveiled the 70 projects it selected from among 450 applications. Two days later, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was at Isbell Farms in Humnoke to discuss the initiative, with some 200 people in the audience.
From left, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Jude Kearney of Winrock International and Scott Manley of Ducks Unlimited, listen as Deacue Fields, head of the U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture speaks about the organization's role in USDA's climate-smart projects. Taken Sept. 16, 2022, at Isbell Farms in Humnoke, Arkansas. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Mary Hightower)
The Arkansas projects — which involve scores of private and public partners — include rice, beef and cotton, with work in greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, carbon sequestration and regenerative practices. All of the projects are expected to provide direct benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers, USDA said.
Vilsack said the initiative has projects in all 50 states and he expected some 50,000 farmers and more than 20 million acres to be involved.
“It’s going to create new opportunities for farmers and improve income,” he said. “It’s going to create a set of partnerships and collaboration that’s going to continue way beyond this particular project. It’s going to help underserved producers get a leg up. It’s going to create an opportunity for the U.S. to be in a leadership position internationally.”
Deacue Fields, head of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, was among those invited to speak on a panel with Vilsack. He said the Division of Agriculture will bring the strength of its research abilities to projects in which it’s involved.
“From the Division of Agriculture’s point, for us, this is a big deal. Rice has always been a point of pride for us in the division. We invest a lot in it,” Fields said. “We are going throughout all these projects making sure we provide the science behind it and make sure we can validate what’s good.”
The division’s Cooperative Extension Service, which provides educational outreach to Arkansas farmers, families and communities, was also named in one of the projects.
Benjamin Runkle, associate professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas, has researched greenhouse gas emissions in rice at Isbell Farms since 2015. He and his team set up an example of their monitoring equipment for the event.
“The new project in USDA’s Climate-Smart Commodities program, led by USA Rice, is implementing real change across 400,000 acres and that strategy is in part based on the work we have done on the Isbell Farm and other farms in the state,” Runkle said. “Our team has the role of helping create consistent standards for data collection and guidance for the project’s implementation and create a research-based estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a direct result of this project.”
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
Rutledge announces record-breaking Medicaid year
LITTLE ROCK— Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a record-breaking year for the office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). In federal fiscal year 2022, the Unit secured 33 convictions and 51 arrests. The MFCU set an additional record when it obtained a sum of more than $42.5 million in civil settlements, restitution and fines in FY 2022.
“I have zero tolerance for abusers and thieves,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “Individuals who seek to take advantage of a system designed to help society’s most vulnerable should face the full weight of the law.”
The MFCU investigates and prosecutes Medicaid fraud and the abuse, neglect and exploitation of individuals living in residential care facilities as well as Medicaid recipients. With the 33 convictions secured in FY 2022, the Rutledge Administration has achieved 185 convictions since 2015.
The MFCU’s record sum of more than $42.5 million is comprised of civil false claims settlements of $41 million, court ordered restitution in the amount of $338,662 and collected $622,279 in fines. The MFCU also obtained $159,000 in civil penalties from 8 abuse and neglect settlements. An additional $250,000 in settlements was secured from joint investigations alongside the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units and the U.S. Department of Justice.
This brings the total collected in settlements, restitution and fines during the Rutledge Administration to nearly $78.5 million. This fiscal year has yielded 1,327% return on investment for the state—or $13.27 of benefit to the state for every dollar spent—setting another record for highest return on investment in a fiscal year.
Attorney General Rutledge credits the record setting year to the hard work of the unit and its collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and increased public awareness efforts through public service announcements and social media campaigns. The announcement comes as the federal fiscal year draws to a close.
The Arkansas Office of Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $3,270,540 for Federal FY 2022. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,090,175 for FY 2022, is funded by Arkansas State General Revenue and Attorney General Consumer Education and Enforcement fund.
Medicaid fraud occurs when Medicaid providers use the program to obtain money to which they are not entitled. To report Medicaid fraud, abuse or neglect in nursing homes or Social Security disability fraud, call the Attorney General’s Medicaid fraud hotline at (866) 810-0016 or submit a complaint online.
AUDIO: Governor Hutchinson’s Weekly Address | New Center Assists Forest Business
LITTLE ROCK – Today I’d like to talk about the recent opening of a new academic center to promote the forest industry in Arkansas.
Agriculture is the leading industry in our state, and timber plays a critical role in our state’s economy. When you think of agriculture in the Natural State, the first commodities to come to mind are typically rice, cotton, poultry, soybeans, or cattle. But the forest industry is critical to our state’s economy and agricultural production.
Last week, I traveled to the campus of the University of Arkansas at Monticello for the grand opening of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business. The purpose of this Center is to provide technical assistance for solutions to forest resource challenges, degree programs, and information on timber supply, market conditions, and efficiency.
The forest industry accounts for $6 billion of the Arkansas economy. Our state is the most timber-dependent economy in the South and third most in the country. We are growing forests twice as fast as they’re being harvested, and we could double our timber production and still be a leader in forest sustainability.
The Center for Forest Business will provide a number of resources to the timber industry in Arkansas. Not only will the Center provide expanded educational opportunities at UA-Monticello, but it will also provide opportunities for greater economic development projects in South Arkansas.
Companies like Drax and Highland Pellets chose to expand their operations in Arkansas because of our abundant and sustainable forest products. The Center for Forest Business will not only help our timber producers maximize their profits, but it will also help attract additional businesses who utilize this resource.
But the Center for Forest Business will not just benefit timber producers in South Arkansas. Dean Peter MacKeith of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture in Fayetteville has long had the vision for the entire state to work together to promote our state’s forest products. According to Dean MacKeith, the Center for Forest Business focuses on the economics and the finance side of the timber industry, while the Anthony Timberlands Center in Fayetteville will focus on the development and promotion of forest products.
UA-Monticello is home to the only forestry school in Arkansas, and UA-Fayetteville is home to the only architecture school in our state, so the two programs together provide a natural fit.
Our state is more successful when all corners of Arkansas work together to create economic success. The Center for Forest Business will not just benefit timber producers in South Arkansas, it will benefit any Arkansan in the forest product supply chain.
Congratulations to Dean Michael Blazier of the UA-Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources, and thank you for helping keep Arkansas the Natural State.
Governor declares Arkansas Physician Assistant Day
KUAR | By Daniel Breen
Physician assistants are being celebrated for their contribution to the healthcare field in Arkansas.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson proclaimed Friday as Physician Assistant Day in the state, coinciding with National PA Week running until Oct. 12.
Speaking at the state Capitol, Hutchinson said he supports expanding the number of schools training new PAs in the state.
“I know there’s a great need out there, simply because that’s what’s driving costs up… and if we are able to expand the pool, then that in and of itself will help level out some of the [costs] perhaps,” Hutchinson said.
Daniel Breen/KUAR News
Gov. Asa Hutchinson holds a proclamation declaring Arkansas Physician Assistant Day, joined by members of the Arkansas Academy of Physician Assistants.
Arkansas at high wildfire risk as dry conditions worsen
KUAR | By George Jared / Talk Business & Politics
Drought conditions have worsened throughout the Arkansas Delta and there will be impacts to farmers as the harvest season unfolds. The lack of rain has been so severe that the Mississippi River is at its lowest level in a decade and it is the eighth lowest level ever recorded for the river, National Weather Service Meteorologist Samantha Brown told Talk Business & Politics.
There hasn’t been any precipitation in the region in almost two weeks and that won’t change in the short-term forecast, and there’s nothing in the long-term modeling that indicates any change at this point, Brown said.
“Drought conditions are worsening. There’s no chance of rain that I can see for the next seven days and even further,” she said.
The entire Delta is under abnormally dry, moderate or severe drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A low-pressure trough has stalled over the mid-South region, and there is no indication it will move anytime soon, Brown said.
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
There is an important deadline approaching for Arkansans planning to vote in the November election.
If you have not already registered to vote, you have until October 11 to file your voter registration application with your county clerk.
If you submit your application close to an election registration deadline, you are strongly advised to follow up with your county clerk before Election Day. The General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election will be held on November 8.
Early voting will begin on October 24. Early voting is available between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, ending at 5 p.m. on the Monday before the election.
At the voting site, an election official will ask you to state your name, address, and date of birth. The election official will request you provide an approved form of I.D.
You can check your voter registration status and find your polling location at www.voterview.org. On the website, you can find a sample ballot for your precinct.
Due to redistricting changes, we encourage you to review your ballot before heading to the polls. The boundaries of voting districts for state legislators shifted to reflect population changes in the 2020 Census. Districts were also renumbered. You may have the same lawmaker listed on your ballot but your House or Senate district number may be different than in previous years.
While Presidential elections get a lot of attention, the elections happening in midterm years are equally important. This election will determine our next Governor and constitutional officers. This ballot also includes several city and county elections, candidates for the Arkansas General Assembly, congressional races, and proposed amendments to the Arkansas Constitution.
Sevier County Holiday Assistance Application
NEWS RELEASE October 10, 2022
Submitted by: Kim Frachiseur, 4-H Program Assistant
Families may apply for holiday assistance by completing an application process. A new universal application has been formed to make the process easier for residents. Shop w/a Cop, Shop w/a Brother’s Keeper (BKMC), and any other organization that would like to provide aid this holiday season are welcome to use the applications. Each organization will select families for their individual programs by using this application. This means that families will only have to apply once this year.
This is for Sevier County residents only. Please be aware that assistance is given based on need, and just because you apply, you are not guaranteed assistance. For any questions, please contact Kim Frachiseur at the Sevier County Extension Office by calling 870-584-3013.
Residents may fill out the online form by going to https://forms.gle/NkWPvtZGkQ7Yy5ZT8, or paper copies may be picked up at the De Queen City Hall or the Sevier County Extension Office.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the Sevier County Extension Office as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
Persistent avian influenza outbreaks pushing up turkey, poultry prices
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Expect to pay more for the Thanksgiving turkey as growers continue to deal with a potent and persistent strain of avian influenza.
TURKEY PRICES — Expect turkey prices to be up this year as avian influenza cuts supplies.
High pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, has been reported in 40 states as of Oct. 3 and confirmed in 492 flocks, with more than half — 262 — being backyard flocks. The flu has so far affected nearly 47 million birds.
As of Oct. 4, only nine states had zero cases in poultry this year: Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Carolina and West Virginia. On Oct.6, APHIS confirmed a finding of HPAI in a backyard flock in New Mexico.
That’s a plus for Arkansas, which is the nation’s No. 3 turkey producer.
During the last major outbreak in 2014-2015, HPAI was confirmed in 15 states, affecting some 50.4 million birds from 211 commercial and 21 backyard flocks. At the time, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Agriculture Department labeled the event the largest animal health emergency in the U.S.
Highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza, known as H5 and H7, can kill 90 to 100 percent of poultry quickly; often within 48 hours of infection.
The disease spreads through wild birds and their droppings and direct contact with sick birds. The good news is that there is no evidence that humans can contract bird flu by eating poultry.
“We are expecting tighter frozen whole-bird supplies and higher retail prices this holiday season,” said James Mitchell, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The turkey industry has had a tough go with HPAI this year, which is reflected in the data.
“Year-to-date weekly turkey production totals 4.37 billion pounds and is running 5 percent below year-ago levels,” Mitchell said. “Turkey in cold storage builds up through the summer as we hit the holiday season. Currently, turkey in cold storage is 0.8 percent above year-ago levels but 24 percent below the previous five-year average.”
Mitchell said wholesale breast prices have averaged $5.61 per pound or 156 percent higher year over year, “which reflects tighter supplies and the industry diverting more of available supplies to whole-bird production.”
All of which means consumers need to be ready.
“I hate to say it, but this year will probably be just like last year, where a little planning is warranted,” he said.
The higher prices aren’t just confined to turkeys.
“You can see prices are higher. Broiler, turkey and egg prices all reflect a short supply,” Jada Thompson, assistant professor of agricultural economics for the Division of Agriculture, said.
However, because the current outbreak is spread over a broader area “it allows for repopulation,” she said. “In the egg industry, they started hatching replacement pullets earlier than they did in 2015. We need to start increasing our hatch counts, so we can have these birds in the pipeline.”
“From a global perspective, the EU is having a similar spread of HPAI, and Asia has seen it spread,” Thompson said. “If we are going to continue to have these globally and this continues to simmer, how do we address that going forward? Everyone is wanting to know what happens next.”
Differences between 2014-15 and 2022
There are key differences between the 2022 outbreak and that of 2014-15, said Dustan Clark, extension veterinarian for the Division of Agriculture.
“During the last outbreak, about 10 percent of the flocks were hobby flocks,” he said. “This time, over half the flocks are hobby flocks.”
Clark said this suggests a change in the way the disease is spreading. “The current thinking is that during the last outbreak in commercial farms, it was probably inadvertently spread from an infected farm to other farms rather than by point source introductions, as is the current thinking in how AI is getting into the backyard flocks.”
Commercial poultry and egg growers have been using what was learned during the earlier outbreak and have been very proactive in dealing with the current outbreak, rapidly responding to infected flocks to prevent spread between farms, Thompson said.
The current outbreak is also far more widespread, with detections in 40 states in 2022 vs. 15 in 2014-15. For Clark, that indicates backyard flocks “are likely getting it from the wild birds. It’s popping up everywhere.”
As of Sept. 27, APHIS reported HPAI detections in 2,650 wild birds this year, in every state except Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico and West Virginia. The types of birds not only included migratory species such as teals, mallards and Canada geese but also predatory and scavenging birds such as turkey vultures, owls and hawks.
“In owls, hawks and vultures, they’re probably feeding off a wild bird that was either sick or had died of AI,” Clark said.
With fall wild bird migration just getting started, “we are greatly concerned about it popping up in Arkansas. Everyone is doing their best to be more and more vigilant,” he said. “If you see something, call your county agent, the state veterinarian or the USDA hotline. It’s important to get help as fast as you can, especially for backyard flocks.”
The USDA hotline is 1-866-536-7593.
The Cooperative Extension Service has online biosecurity resources for backyard flock owners and commercial operations.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
New poultry science researcher plans to pursue foodborne pathogen control
By Jessica Wesson
Center of Excellence for Poultry Science
U of A System Division of Agriculture
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tomi Obe, new assistant professor with the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and department of poultry science, is eager to find ways to identify and control foodborne pathogens in the poultry industry.
SAFE FOOD — Tomi Obe, assistant professor of poultry science, will focus on identification and control of foodborne illnesses in poultry. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo by Fred Miller)
“I was introduced to poultry processing and food microbiology,” Obe said. “This attracted me to want to investigate Salmonella in poultry, and I have since dedicated my research to investigating Salmonella in poultry during live production and processing.”
Obe conducts research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. She received her bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees in poultry science — all from Mississippi State University.
While at Mississippi State University, Obe said she became interested in improving food safety in poultry and poultry products. Her current research focuses on understanding Salmonella and Campylobacter persistence in poultry production and processing environments.
Salmonella is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States. According to Obe, 1 in 6 human cases is linked to poultry.
“Salmonella is very diverse with over 2,500 serotypes that are unique, and it has been a challenge for the industry to effectively prevent contamination of poultry products,” Obe said.
Serotypes are distinct types of Salmonella within subspecies of Salmonella species, and some forms of control may not work for all serotypes, she said.
Obe said she plans to build on her past research on Salmonella. At Mississippi State University, she tested how the bacteria adapted to stressors in poultry processing.
“I evaluated ways that Salmonella adapts to poultry processing-related stresses to acquire tolerance, persistence in processing environments and biofilm formation on food contact surfaces,” Obe said.
Biofilms are structures formed by microorganisms like Salmonella, she said, often as an adaptation to survive in less ideal conditions. Data from her previous research showed that Salmonella could persist on processing surfaces using different techniques, especially biofilm formation. Moving forward, her team will be bio-mapping Salmonella prevalence and quantity on food-contact surfaces and exploring ways to establish targeted mitigations for virulent serotypes.
The end goal, Obe said, is to improve control methods that will benefit the poultry industry in a practical way.
“Our goal is to use the information from our research to develop techniques to quickly identify virulent foodborne pathogens and establish targeted control strategies,” Obe said.
“We are very excited to have Dr. Tomi Obe join our program. She has an impressive background in researching the presence of foodborne pathogens in commercial poultry in both the production and processing environments,” said David Caldwell, director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and poultry science department head. “We fully expect that Dr. Obe will make impactful contributions to our research, teaching, and outreach programs. She is a great addition to the faculty in our department and center.”
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: aaes.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. For information about the Cooperative Extension Service, visit www.uaex.uada.edu and follow us on Twitter at @AR_Extension. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
Howard County team places sixth in National 4-H Food Challenge
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — A team of Arkansas 4-H members celebrated National 4-H Week by competing in the National 4-H Food Challenge finals and returning home with a sixth-place win.
Adelene Westfall, Sarah Lamb, and Christian Trombley— competing as the “Seniors with Spatulas” — competed against 10 other teams from Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming at the competition, held Oct. 4 at the Texas State Fair in Dallas.
YOUNG CHEFS -- A Howard County 4-H team placed 6th in the National 4-H Food Challenge. Photo by Tracy Courage / U of A System Division of Agriculture
The Arkansas youth are members of the Howard County Teen Leader Club and longtime members of Arkansas 4-H. Westfall and Lamb, who attend Nashville High School, were part of the 2021 team that placed fifth at nationals last year. Trombley, a homeschooled student, joined the team this year. To qualify for the national competition, the teens won the Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge in August.
“I’m super proud of them,” said Howard County Extension Agent Jean Ince, who coached the team and accompanied them to the competition. “They have all been cooking for a long time and still they learned so much.”
Although they had hoped to win top honors, the trio felt good about their performance.
“Our dish was good, and we did a good presentation,” Lamb said.
“We knew so much more this year than last year,” Westfall added. “We felt really good going into their competition.”
The Food Challenge not only tests participants’ cooking skills, but also their knowledge about nutrition, health and food safety and their ability to effectively communicate as a team. During the competition, the teams had 40 minutes to prepare a dish using the main ingredient — which wasn’t unveiled until the start of the competition.
After plating their dish, teams had five minutes to present their dish to judges and discuss food preparation, safety concerns, serving size information, cost analysis and nutritional information. Judges considered appearance, quality, creativity, effective communication and teamwork when scoring.
For the past two months, the team has met weekly to practice their skills using different ingredients from the four groups: protein, grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables.
Mystery ingredients
White beans were the star of the preliminary round. The Arkansas team created a soup using the canned beans, chicken broth, shredded chicken, cheese, chives, cumin and salt and garnished with tomato. Judges liked their soup well enough to advance the team to the final round where they were tasked with cooking with fresh mushrooms. The team created a Mediterranean-inspired dish using couscous, mushrooms, feta and vegetables.
“I felt confident coming out of second round because we had worked with couscous and mushrooms before,” Westfall said. “We had previously made a recipe with eggplant and couscous, and when we saw there was couscous available, we swapped the eggplant for mushrooms.”
Division of labor
The teens spent the past few months practicing both their culinary skills and how to work as a team. Each had a defined role. Lamb — who her teammates call the ‘boss lady’ — took the lead in the recipe development and decided the menu with team input.
“My goal is always to have a bright, colorful, good-looking dish,” she said.
Lamb frequently cooks for her family, competes in BBQ competitions and hopes to own a bakery one day.
Trombley — the team’s ‘wingman’ — functioned as the sous chef, chopping and mincing ingredients, prepping the work space and ensuring food safety.
Westfall, a 4-H Ambassador and member of the state Healthy Living team, is considered the team’s scribe. She meticulously recorded the ingredients, proportions, nutritional content, serving size and notes needed for the team’s presentation to judges.
Skills for a lifetime
Healthy living is one of tenets of the 4-H program, which offers programs in nutrition, fitness, substance abuse, safety and social and emotional wellness.
“We strive to equip young people with healthy living knowledge and skills to physically, emotionally, and socially prepare them to meet today's challenges,” said Amanda Welch, a 4-H youth development associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Welch coordinates the statewide 4-H Food Challenge.
Last year, Arkansas 4-H applied for and received a Healthy Habits grants from the National 4-H Council and Wal-Mart Foundation.
“Most of the grant money went to counties to use for healthy living programs,” Welch said. “Howard County used grant money to purchase cooking utensils and supplies required for the competition.”
The teens all said they enjoyed the experience. For Trombley, it was because of the “friendship and teamwork.” Lamb said she is more comfortable with public speaking because of the competition, and Westfall, who memorized nutritional value of foods for the competition, said that information will continue to help her.
“I’ve learned so much about our bodies and what they need to function that I never would’ve thought about before this challenge,” Westfall said. “It’s taught me a lot that I can use to improve my health and my family’s.”
4-H is the premier youth development program of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. Programs are offered in every county in Arkansas. To learn more about 4-H, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension.
U.S. Marshals Museum on track to open in summer 2023
by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)
The contractor and design team have met and surveyed the exhibit space at the U.S. Marshals Museum, and work on preparing the space for all the museum experiences will begin later this month, according to the new president and CEO of the museum.
Ben Johnson, who took over as the new president and CEO of the museum in August, said Thursday (Oct. 6) that things are on track for the museum to open in summer of 2023, “as long as there are no national or international issues” to slow down things.
Representatives from Little Rock-based CDI Contractors, the general contractors for the museum building, and from Los Angeles-based Thinkwell Group, the contractors for the exhibits (or experiences), met in September to look at the space where the experiences will be housed, Johnson said.
https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/u-s-marshals-museum-on-track-to-open-in-summer-2023/
Issue 1 opposition forms with State Chamber, Farm Bureau support
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
Opponents of Issue 1, the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the Arkansas Legislature to call itself into special session, announced Thursday (Oct. 6) the formation of a legislative question committee to oppose the measure.
The legislatively-referred issue will be on the November 8 general election ballot.
“Our legislature already meets once every year, plus one or more special sessions called by the governor most years, and that’s enough to take care of the business of the people,” said Randy Zook, co-chair of Arkansans Against Issue 1 and president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas. “Voters benefit from having a truly representative ‘citizen legislature,’ and if Issue 1 passes, making it harder for the average Arkansan to serve, we will move even closer to a full-time legislature.”
https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/issue-1-opposition-forms-with-state-chamber-farm-bureau-support/
Avian influenza confirmed at Madison County poultry farm
by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture confirmed Friday (Oct. 7) a case of avian influenza on an Arkansas poultry farm in Madison County.
Also known as H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI), avian influenza is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among chickens through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.
There is no public health concern, experts say, and avian influenza does not affect poultry meat or egg products, which remain safe to eat. The disease is highly pathogenic and can spread quickly among poultry flocks resulting in high mortality rates among birds.
https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/avian-influenza-confirmed-at-madison-county-poultry-farm/
U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Arkansas V. Delaware
LITTLE ROCK— Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released a statement upon the conclusion of oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case Arkansas v. Delaware. With this suit, Rutledge seeks to have more than $250 million in unclaimed funds currently being held by the State of Delaware returned to Arkansas and 29 other states. In 2016, Arkansas brought a bipartisan original jurisdiction action against Delaware directly in the United States Supreme Court. The Court then appointed a special master, Judge Pierre N. Leval of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, to oversee the case and recommend a resolution. Judge Leval determined that the Supreme Court should resolve the case in favor of the Arkansas coalition, leading Delaware to file objections to Judge Leval’s recommendation. Today’s oral arguments serve to help the Court determine whether to accept or modify the Special Master’s recommendation.
“Delaware colluded with MoneyGram to skirt federal law and improperly withheld millions of dollars from states across the nation,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will side with Arkansas and our coalition partners so that these funds may be restored to the proper state.”
The dispute between the Rutledge-led coalition and Delaware centers around which state is entitled to funds from unclaimed “official checks” sold by MoneyGram, a money transfer services company that operates in all 50 states as well as internationally. Under the Federal Disposition Act, proceeds from unclaimed money orders, traveler’s checks and similar items must be turned over to the state where the item was purchased. Delaware, the state where MoneyGram is incorporated, has insisted that the company should turn over hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed funds to Delaware despite what federal law requires.
The coalition is led by Arkansas, with a leadership group from California, Texas and Wisconsin. The other states in the coalition are Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Pennsylvania is allied with the Arkansas coalition and did not argue separately, instead deferring to Arkansas.
King Art Show Begins Friday, October 7th
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Michael D. Jones and Linda Croy of Bentonville Establish Howard County Scholarship
UA Cossatot Foundation recently received a $5,000 gift from Michael D. Jones and Linda Croy of Bentonville, AR.
The gift will establish the Michael D. Jones Sophomore Scholarship and award five students from Howard County a $1,000 scholarship each. In addition, students must have completed at least 30 credit hours, be in a degree-specific field of study, and have a financial need.
Jones said, “I grew up in Howard County and my parents, Darwin and Effie Jones, were educators in Mineral Springs, Arkansas. I wanted to contribute to the education of students attending the UA Cossatot to give back to that area.”
The UA Cossatot Foundation welcomes gifts of any amount to support scholarships and help UA Cossatot achieve its educational mission.
Dustin Roberts, UA Cossatot’s Director of Development, said, “We greatly appreciate Michael and Linda’s generous donation to support our Howard County Students. This gift will truly make a difference and help local college students achieve their educational goals.”
For more information or to make a gift to the UA Cossatot Foundation, contact Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or droberts@cccua.edu.
Arkansas meat inspection program earns federal approval
by George Jared (gjared@talkbusiness.net)
Gov. Asa Hutchinson, state legislators, agriculture industry leaders, and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 4 approval of the state meat inspection program, finalized in a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
“In 2020, the food supply chain was disrupted, and Arkansas’ meat production was severely limited. The creation of the Arkansas Meat and Poultry Processing grant and the State Meat Inspection Program will provide a much-needed boost to our processing capacity,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said.
Arkansas joins 28 states participating in FSIS’s State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs. These programs allow state inspectors to ensure program enforcement and regulatory compliance in small establishments operating within the state. The MPI programs must develop, administer, and enforce requirements “at least equal to” those set forth in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA).
https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/arkansas-meat-inspection-program-earns-federal-approval/
