CaMPUS - University of Arkansas at Monticello

Agri Policy
griculture students at the University
A of Arkansas at Monticello got a firsthand
look at agricultural policy development
during a recent visit to the state
capitol in Little Rock.
Students met with southeast Arkansas
legislators, Arkansas Farm Bureau
staff and attended a meeting of the
House-Senate Joint Budget Committee,
during which bills dealing with both
agriculture and non-agriculture issues
were discussed. The students also met
with Shane Broadway, interim director of
higher education, and UA System Vice
President for Agriculture Mark Cochran.
Arkansas Farm Bureau staff members
Rodney Baker, Stanley Hill and Michelle
Kitchens of AFB governmental affairs, and
Jody Urquhart, representing AFB’s organization
and member programs, hosted
a lunch for the students and members
of the SEARK legislative delegation. Hill
briefed the students on Farm Bureau
operating procedures with the legislature
as well as policy for current pending
legislation.
The students later attended general
sessions of both the House of Representatives
and Senate and were photographed
with Governor Mike Beebe. The
students were accompanied on the trip
by Dr. Bob Stark, professor of agriculture,
and Dr. Whitney Whitworth, associate
professor of animal science.
Horse Tales
Nearly 100 first graders from Mc-
Gehee and Kingsland had the un-
usual experience of reading to horses
during a recent visit to the University
of Arkansas at Monticello.
The event was part of the Horse
Tales Literacy Project (formerly The
Black Stallion Literacy Foundation),
which, according to the organization’s
website, “helps children discover the
joys of reading and the excitement of
learning through the wonders of live
horses and the Black Stallion books by
Walter Farley, as well as other classic
horse literature.”
The students and their teachers
were brought to the UAM rodeo
arena where they were able to
interact with horses used by members
of the university’s rodeo team. After
reading, the students were able to
learn how to tack a horse, how to feed
and care for a horse, how to groom
a horse, and how a horse’s feet are
cared for by a farrier.
Each student received a copy of
Farley’s Little Black Goes to the Circus.
The Horse Tales Literacy Foundation
is a partnership of educators,
businesses, volunteers, education
foundations, and staff members focused
on promoting literacy through
the combination of live horses and
classic horse literature.
“This was a wonderful experience,
not only for the kids, but for our students
and faculty who were involved
in the activity,” said Dr. Whitney
Whitworth, associate professor of
animal science at UAM.
WITH THE GOVERNOR UAM students and
faculty met with Governor Mike Beebe as part of
a recent trip to the state capitol. Pictured from
left are Will Parrish of Greenville, Miss., Dr. Bob
Stark of the UAM faculty, Wes Boney of Lake
Village, Zach Lauhon of Hamburg, Evan Staton of
Pine Bluff, Nik George of Monticello, Todd Taylor
of Pine Bluff, Rachel Umholtz of Sheridan, Tyler
Hicks of Prattsville, Eric Manos of Trenton, Fla.,
Dustin Day of McGehee, Jacob Rayburn of DeVille,
La., Governor Beebe, Nick Kelley of Hamburg,
Chris Church of Warren, Kevin McPherson of
Grady, John Erickson of Lincolnwood, Ill., Zach
Hodge of Maumelle, April Quattlebaum of Grady,
Austin Henderson of McGehee, and Grady De-
Loach of Leland, Miss.
READING TO
HORSES First graders
read to the horses in
UAM’s rodeo arena as
part of the Horse Tales
Literacy Project to help
children discover the joy
of reading.
Summer 2012 5