LITTLE ROCK — The Reed family of Marianna (Lee County) is the 2014 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year, announced today at the annual luncheon honoring the county and district Farm Families of the Year. 

Nathan and Kristin Reed have a 6,000-acre corn, cotton, milo and soybean operation. The Reeds have three young children, 2-year-old twins Stanley “Eldon” and Jane-Anne and 1-year-old Katherine. A fourth-generation farmer, Nathan is following in his  parents’ footsteps. Stanley and Charlene Reed were the Lee County Farm Family of the Year in 1984. Conservation of soil, water and energy play a major part on the Reed Farm. Fertilizer is applied using variable rate technology and irrigation wells and center pivot systems run off electric power thus creating substantial energy savings. Nathan also tries to set aside a small portion of land each year to try out different crops or cropping practices. In 2013 he had 400 acres of sesame seed second-cropped behind wheat. This year, he grew 250 acres of conventional, non-transgenic cotton and 50 acres of conventional cotton no-tilled behind cereal rye he grew as seed for cover crops. Reed says the honor will give his family a new platform to advocate for agriculture.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions in the world about agriculture, so hopefully I can use this to help educate people about the sustainability and conservation efforts we have on the farm,” Reed said. “I’m proud to help produce a safe and abundant food and fiber supply for a growing world population. I don’t know if my family deserves this recognition but I sure do appreciate it.”

Nathan and Kristin have been married since 2010. Prior to returning home to farm full time in 2005, Nathan obtained a bachelor of science degree in ag business and a juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law. Kristin worked in Dallas and Little Rock for seven years as a certified public accountant after earning a degree from the University of Arkansas. She also worked as a CPA for a Marianna law firm before the birth of their children. The Reeds strongly believe in the importance of being involved in their community and state. Nathan currently serves on the Lee County Farm Bureau board of directors, the Arkansas Agriculture Council board of directors, vice chairman of the Arkansas Cotton State Support Committee, the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the University of Arkansas Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and as a Lee County Justice of the Peace. The Reeds are active members of First Baptist Church of Marianna where Kristin serves on the budget committee. 

As Arkansas’ Farm Family of the Year, the Reeds will compete in the 2015 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year program. A winner will be named from among 10 southeastern state winners next October in Moultrie, Ga. 

“Arkansas Farm Bureau congratulates Nathan and Kristin for being named Arkansas Farm Family of the Year,” said Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach, a cotton, soybean and wheat farmer from Manila. “Nathan is one of the state’s fine young leaders and comes from an outstanding farm family. His late father, Stanley Reed represented Farm Bureau and Arkansas agriculture with distinction, serving on our state board of directors for 21 years, including five years as president. I know Stanley would be very proud of his son’s family receiving this recognition.”

The Farm Family of the Year program, now in its 67th year, is the longest-running farm family recognition program of its type in the United States. It begins with selection of the top farm family in each county. Then, eight district Farm Families of the Year are selected. The competition is judged on production, efficiency and management of farm operations, family life and rural/community leadership and values. The Reeds were selected from the eight 2014 District Farm Family of the Year winners, which included:

• Sloan and Rhonda Hampton of Stuttgart (South Arkansas County), Southeast District;
• The Gross family of Hot Springs (Garland County), West Central District;
• Warren and Becky Webster of Washington (Hempstead County), Southwest District;
• Roy and Suzanne Runsick of Melbourne (Iazard County), North Central District;
• Billy Joe and Courtney Wilkins of Lamar (Johnson County), Northwest District;
• Keith and Jill Forrester of Tyronza (Mississippi County), Northeast District;
• Richard and Jennifer Broach of Vandervoort (Polk County), Western District;

Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Press Association, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, AgHeritage FCS, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, and Farm Credit Midsouth are sponsors of the annual recognition program. Additional program support is provided by the Arkansas Department of Career Education; the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture; and USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development. 

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Nathan and Kristin Reed of Marianna are Arkansas' 2014 Farm Family of the Year. 

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Nathan Reed examines some of the 3,300 acres of cotton he harvested this year. Cotton has always been an important part of the Reed's crop rotation.

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The Reeds on the farm: (from left) Kristin with Stanley "Eldon", Nathan with Katherine and Nathan's mother Charlene Reed with Eldon's twin sister Jane-Anne.