Community Health Education Foundation (CHEF), Farm Credit Mid-America and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension have joined forces to say thank you to local farmers.

On Nov. 18, organizers will introduce The Heart of the Farmer program to provide productive farming information, medical screenings and interaction with others in support of Northeast Arkansas farmers. The event will include farming sessions, farm safety, farming financial literacy and a legislative agriculture update. In addition, free health screenings and information on mental health awareness will be available. Lunch will be provided for registered guests.

Jennifer James, creator and host of “Field Good Life” podcast will be the guest speaker for the event. James has served as past chairman of the USA Rice Sustainability Committee, vice chair of the Arkansas Rice Farmers Board, a member of the St. Louis Fed Agribusiness Industry Council, and has served as a board member for Riceland Foods, the USA Rice Federation and USA Rice Farmers.

“We all eat to live, and Arkansas alone is on the verge of an agri disaster this year,” said CHEF Executive Director Emily Lard. “Farms, some third and fourth generation, are being lost left and right, and commodity prices continue to plunge in the state’s ag sector. The number one cause of death of our farmers is suicide, and there have been five in our region this year.”

To address the needs of area farmers, CHEF has partnered with Farm Credit Mid-America and the UA Agri Research Department to create a program to help provide updates on farm financial literacy, a legislative ag update and a keynote speaker who serves on several state and national committees and who can provide insight into the challenges being faced by farmers.

The Heart of the Farmer event will be held Nov. 18 from 

9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center, located at 15327 AR-1 in Harrisburg. Limited seating is available, and the registration deadline is Nov. 7. For more information or to register, follow The Heart of the Farmer on Facebook.