WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, is launching his annual Ag Tour next week, kicking off the week-long highlight of Arkansas agriculture operations on Monday in Fayetteville.
The Ag Tour, a cornerstone of the senator’s August in-state work period, will continue through Friday with stops at farms and facilities across the state.
“Agriculture is our state’s leading industry, so it is important to hear directly from Arkansas farmers and ranchers about how Washington can address their needs, particularly as we begin writing the next farm bill. As the lead Republican on the Senate agriculture committee, I want to ensure the next farm bill has the input of Arkansas’s growers, private forestland owners, nutrition professionals and rural communities. I look forward to visiting with our producers on this tour, finding out what is working and what needs to be fixed, and sharing their experiences when I return to Washington to strengthen and support food and fiber production in the Natural State,” said Boozman.
Boozman’s Ag Tour will include meetings with ranchers, farmers and other agricultural stakeholders as he visits farms, production facilities and research operations. The tour stops in Washington, Franklin, Johnson, Pope, Yell, Faulkner, White, Lonoke, Prairie, Phillips, Arkansas, Lincoln, Chicot, Ashley, Union and Columbia counties.
Follow the Ag Tour on social media at #ARisAg.
Media is invited to the following:
Monday, August 22
Event: University of Arkansas Research and Extension Tour
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center
1335 W. Knapp Dr.
Fayetteville
Boozman will tour the farm and meet with agriculture professors and students to discuss the ongoing research improving farming practices in Arkansas and across the country.
Event: Wiederkehr Winery
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Location: 3324 Swiss Family Dr.
Wiederkehr Village
Boozman will tour the winery.
Event: Peach Pickin’ Paradise
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: 1901 McGuire Rd.
Lamar
Boozman will visit with owners of the orchard and discuss the impact rising input costs and the drought have had on their business.
Tuesday, August 23
Event: West Fraser Sawmill Tour
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: 2401 S. Arkansas Ave
Russellville
Boozman will tour the sawmill.
Event: Stokes Family Farm
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: 13328 Harkey Valley Rd.
Dardanelle
Boozman will visit the Stokes farm. The Stokes family is the chief caretaker of Tusk, the live Razorback mascot.
Event: Bell Urban Farm
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Location: 2011 Tyler St.
Conway
Boozman will visit the Bell Urban Farm, a certified naturally grown farm producing cut flowers and plants.
Event: White County Farm Bureau Roundtable
Time: 3:45 p.m.
Location: 501 E. Booth Rd.
Searcy
The White County Farm Bureau is hosting a roundtable to share concerns of producers with the rise in input costs, current markets and drought-related issues.
Wednesday, August 24
Event: Bayou Meto Pump Project
Time: 9:15 a.m.
Location: Anderson Minnow Farm
4377 Hwy. 70 W.
Lonoke
Boozman will get a status update on the progress of the Bayou Meto Pump Project.
Event: Grand Prairie Pump Project
Time: 12:15 p.m.
Location: WRID Canal System
Downs Rd.
Hazen
Boozman will get a status update on the progress of the Grand Prairie Pump Project.
Event: Haynie Farms
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Location: CR-145
Marvell
Boozman will tour the farm.
Event: Visit Local Foodbank
Time: 3:45 p.m.
Location: Michele D. Hunter Pantry
586 Phillips County 241 Rd.
Lexa
Boozman will visit the new food pantry in Phillips County.
Thursday, August 25
Event: Visit LTD Farms
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: LTD Farms
4037 US-165
Stuttgart
LTD Farms is part of the Discovery Farms Program run by the University of Arkansas Extension Service.
Event: Tour Miles Goggans Tree Farm
Time: 10:15 a.m.
Location: 40760 State Highway 11 S.
Star City
Miles Goggans is the Arkansas Tree Farmer of the year.
Event: Epstein Gin Co.
Time: 1:45 p.m.
Location: 537 Reynolds St.
Lake Village
Boozman will tour the Epstein Gin Co. operated by Sammy Angel, the President of the Southern Cotton Ginners Association.
Event: Catpro Catfish Farm
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Location: 405 Highway 165 N.
Portland
Boozman will visit the catfish farm owned and operated by Brad Graham, President of the Catfish Farmers of Arkansas.
Friday, August 26
Event: Tour Draggin’ M Ranch
Time: 8 a.m.
Location: 785 Hinson Rd.
El Dorado
Boozman will tour the ranch.
Event: Tour 777 Farms
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: 2758 N. Dudney
Magnolia
The farm is owned by the Daniels family who raise and butcher farm fresh beef.
