The Arkansas Department of Agriculture recognized a Columbia County family with the honor of Century Farm for two locations as part of the 2020 Arkansas Century Farm Program.
According to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, the Arkansas Century Farm Program recognizes agricultural heritage and honors families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. It is a voluntary program families choose to participate in. It places no restrictions on the farm and offers no legal protection, but it comes at no cost to the family to submit an application and participate in the program.
On Dec. 11, Josh and Melissa Smith of Waldo received signs during the Arkansas Century Farm Program ceremony in Little Rock. One sign was for S4 Cattle Company, located at 2230 Columbia 52, and the other for the Walthall Family Tree Farm located in Ouachita County.
As per its name, S4 Cattle Company produces beef cattle in Columbia County. It was established in 1904, growing row crops such as corn and cotton before transitioning into pasture land for cattle grazing. In the 116 years since its inception, the S4 Cattle Company has been through both World Wars, 20 exchanges of the U.S. Presidency and two pandemics.
During the ceremony that was broadcast by Arkansas PBS, state Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward told the public that agriculture is the state’s leading industry, providing a $21 billion impact on the state annually. He stated that it is a diverse sector of the economy, including livestock, poultry, specialty crops, aquaculture, row crops and forestry.
“It’s an industry that literally provides the food fiber and shelter that we all depend on every single day,” said Ward.
Arkansas ranks 14th in the nation in total agricultural cash receipts, 10th in animal production and 17th in crop production. The state is home to 42,500 farms with 97% being family owned and operated. There are now a total of 494 century farm families in the state of Arkansas.
“A piece of God’s earth that has been in one family for generation after generation is special and deserves recognition,” said Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “It is a tribute to the commitment of your family and is a matter of love for the land and the quality of life that is special to those who grow up in a rural environment and live off the land.”