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Farm Family of the Year

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Haaks named Arkansas Farm Family of the Year
Benton County Dairy and Beef Farm Wins 2009 Honor

The Haak family of Gentry were named the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year

Bill and Delia Haak of Gentry (Benton County) are Arkansas’ 2009 Farm Family of the Year. The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Committee announced the award December 11 at a luncheon honoring the county and district Farm Families of the Year.

The Haaks run a dairy and beef cattle operation on 830 acres and also grow and sell hay locally. Conservation is also important to the couple. Delia is executive director and Bill is a past vice president of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership.

The Haaks have a dairy herd of 100 Holsteins, as well as 120 Holstein heifers sold each year. Their dairy cows produce seven gallons of milk per animal per day. Their beef herd includes 120 cow-calf pairs. They also service 40 poultry producers with sawdust/shavings. Bermuda and fescue hay produce an average of six tons and four tons per acre respectively while soybeans average 40 bushels/acre. With the new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program for the Illinois River watershed, the Haaks plan to enroll acreage in that program to protect water quality.

Bill Haak is a dairy and beef cattle farmer.

As Arkansas' Farm Family of the Year, the Haaks will compete in next year's Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year program. The competition is held in Moultrie, Ga.

Bill Haak is a member of and past president of Benton County Farm Bureau. He presently serves on Farm Bureau's state Environmental Affairs Committee. The Haaks attend Siloam Springs Bible Church. The Haaks have two grown sons who are married. Luke is a CDL driver for Lowe's, and Jake is a manager for the Gravette School District. The Haaks have six grandchildren.

The Farm Family of the Year program, now in its 64th year, begins with selection of the top farm family in each county. Then, eight district Farm Families of the Year are selected. The process concludes with a banquet honoring each county winner, and the selection of the state Farm Family of the Year.

The competition is judged on production, efficiency and management of their farm operations, family life and rural/community leadership and values.

The 2009 District Farm Family of the Year winners included:

• Lonnie & Betty Medford of Brinkley (Monroe) East Central District
• Mark & Susan Trucks of Batesville (Independence) North Central District
• Gino & Lucetta Baioni of Marion (Crittenden) Northeast District
• Michael & Becky Knoll of DeWitt (Arkansas) Southeast District
• Chet & Kelly Brown of Warren (Bradley) Southwest District
• Brian & Elizabeth Walker of Horatio (Sevier) West Central District
• Bob & Pat Schaefers of Conway (Faulkner) Western District

Bill and Delia Haak with sons Luke and Jake along with their wives Melinda and Jennifer, and six grandchildren.

Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas are proud to partner with Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Press Association, AgHeritage FCS, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, and Farm Credit MidSouth as primary 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's Cooperative Extension Service; and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development.