Chris and Heather Tharp of Floral have been selected the North Central District Farm Family of the Year for 2017. They were announced earlier this month as the 2017 Independence County Farm Family of the Year.
The Tharps farm 850 acres and have a cow-calf operation, broiler houses and a commercial litter service. They have five children — Colton, 19, Ainsley, 16, Kylie, 14, Lily, 10, and Reese, 8.
“Chris and I are humbled to be chosen North Central District Farm Family,” Heather Tharp said. “It is exciting to be able to represent our small community of Floral, Independence County and the North Central District.
“Farming is hard work, but nothing is more satisfying then seeing your labor pay off for your family,” she said. “We hope to be a good example for our children and leave them with a farm they can be proud of and pass on to their children.
“Thank you to all in the community who have supported us,” she said.
The Tharps will now be judged along with the other seven district winners in the state to determine a state winner that will be announced Dec. 7 at the Farm Family Luncheon at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock.
“The contributions made by our state’s farm families are beyond measure,” said Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, a major sponsor of the Farm Family of the Year Program. “While collectively, agriculture makes up our state’s largest business sector, it is almost impossible to calculate the impact our family farms have on the economy and our rural communities and to the character of our great state.”
The Farm Family of the Year program begins each year with the selection of top farm families in each county and culminates with the selection of the state Farm Family of the Year, who will go on to represent Arkansas at the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. All winners are judged on their farm production, efficiency, management, family life and rural/community leadership.