On this week's edition, we hear about the Diversity in Agriculture Virtual Conference and what was shared and learned by participants. We also talk to podcaster and speaker Vance Crowe, who delivered the keynote address at Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Officers & Leaders Conference, and we learn about all things hummingbird with an Arkansas Audubon Society ornithologist.

Get to know YF&R award winners John Michael and Rachel Bearden of Hot Spring County and James and Ashton Dixon of Madison County.

After a year of virtual meetings and events, Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders finally got together again in Host Springs this month. The annual Officers & Leaders Conference featured speakers, workshops, awards for outstanding Young Farmers & Ranchers and more. Watch the Day 1 and Day 2 General Sessions here.

John Michael and Rachel Bearden (Hot Spring County), James and Ashton Dixon (Madison County), and Lauren Martin (White County) earned Young Farmers & Ranchers awards today during Arkansas Farm Bureau’s annual Officers & Leaders Conference at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

Read the latest edition of the Farm Bureau Press.

On this week's edition, we kick off a series of interviews with upcoming inductees into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame and visit with teachers attending the FFA’s Arkansas Agricultural Education Summer Teacher's Conference at Camp Couchdale in Garland County. We also learn about a new sheep herd at the University of Arkansas Monticello.

The global market for mushrooms is close to forty billion dollars annually and it's expected to grow significantly in the next few years. So perhaps it's not surprising that some enterprising farmers have started growing many different varieties right here in Arkansas. A few years ago, Fat Top Farm in Farmington jumped into the business without much expertise. Since then, they've learned which kinds grow well and which kinds sell well, all while maximizing output with a relatively small operation. Now they're growing their business almost as fast as their mushrooms.

On July 7, Congressman Bruce Westerman visited with farmers in Drew County to discuss the June flooding impacts with local farmers. Rep. Westerman talked about potential federal government assistance and a timeline for getting aid back to Arkansas.

On this week's edition, we get a preview of the upcoming Diversity in Ag Virtual Conference, learn about the ongoing problem of fire ants and discuss the latest crop progress report from the USDA.

Arkansas Farm Bureau has hired Jeff McClure of Little Rock as events director for the 190,000-member organization. In this role, McClure will handle much of the planning and preparation for various events, including Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention and mid-summer Officers and Leaders Conference.