LITTLE ROCK – Craighead County is the state’s top county Farm Bureau organization for the third year in a row. Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach and Vice President Rich Hillman presented the President’s Award Dec. 3 to county President Josh Cureton at the organization’s 81st annual convention at the Marriott Hotel Convention Center in Little Rock.

Counties competing for the President’s Award must earn a Gold Star in each of 10 categories and be a top scorer in their respective membership category. The 10 Gold Star categories are membership acquisition, organization, public relations, commodity services, governmental affairs, women’s activities, Young Farmers & Ranchers activities, member services, safety and youth.

The other finalists for the President’s Award were Cross, Stone, Jackson and Conway counties.

The Membership Retention Award went to Monroe County. The award goes to the county with the highest membership retention percentage in the state. Monroe County had a retention rate of 95.89 percent. County Farm Bureau president Lonnie Medford and agency manager Curtis Clatworthy received the award from Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach. 

Arkansas Farm Bureau president Randy Veach (left) and vice president Rich Hillman (right) present the 2015 Arkansas Farm Bureau President's Award to Josh Cureton to Craighead Country Farm Bureau president Josh Cureton of Cash at the organization's 81st annual convention in Little Rock Dec. 3.  

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of more than 190,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.