Support for Arkansas Week provided by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The Arkansas Times and KUAR FM 89.

And hello again, everyone, and thanks very much for joining us.

A dazzling new installation on Arkansas's western border where once hell on the border was the operative phrase A toast to the men and women who turned it as best they could into civilization.

It's the U.S.

Marshals Museum, and we'll have more on that in a moment.

First, Arkansas agriculture and the Arkansas General Assembly and more.

This year's legislative session had rather a lot to do with farming in our state.

And for an update on that, we're joined up top in this edition by Arkansas Agriculture Secretary West Ward.

Mr. Secretary?

Yes, sir.

As always, thanks for coming in, being with us.

Honored to be here.

Well, you had an agenda for this session.

What was up top?

Yeah.

So certainly, you know, we know that legislative sessions are always going to be busy.

And when you've got a change in administration, having Governor Sanders take office.

So we were very involved working with the governor's office on just different priorities that she had and that we had for the agriculture industry and working together on that.

But but the bottom line is really just making government more efficient.

You're making it easier for farmers to be effective and efficient and to get out of their way as much as we could.

And so I think we were able to do that on a lot of things.

We cleaned up some legislation, we consolidated some boards and commissions to make it easier for producers and and passed a few other things along the way that we think are going to be beneficial for producers.

Easier how.

So in particular, like boards and commissions.

So we had 16 different boards and commissions, so a producer had to navigate where where they needed to go, who they needed to talk to.

We've consolidated that down to four.

That's got cost savings associated with it.

It makes it makes it easier for them to know where to go to get the answers that they need and which we think will be a benefit for the producers just on their ability to navigate the state government.

There was concern, as always, on the environmental front.

Sure, if the environment sacrificed with some of this legislation anyway.

Your response?

Yeah.

No, I think, you know, farmers are the are the best stewards of the land.

And so we want to make sure that they've got the tools to be successful.

And so there was some some legislation to make some of those regulatory requirements a little bit easier to shift some of those over to the department.

And so in particular, there were some liquid animal waste regulations that shifted from the Department of Energy Environment to the Department of Agriculture.

And we've got a good relationship with the Department of Energy and we're going to work together on it.

But but we do think that there are some ways that to have a more agricultural focused perspective on some of that, that we can help producers while also taking care of the environment as well, but with no net damage to the environment.

Right?

100%.

100%.

That's right.

What item number two on the agenda?

If you had to point to something and say we needed that and we got it.

Yeah.

So I would say another one was, you know, we had some outdated laws.

And so just cleaning up laws, that happens as things as time progresses.

So.

So one was fencing laws.

Some of the fencing laws that existed were from the 1800s.

And so fencing districts and things like that, but it just didn't exist anymore.

So we made that easier to have an online centrally located database of fed animals that large, say, a horse or cows or way any sort of livestock gets loose there.

There's a central location where we can kind of track that and people can find the animals if they lose them.

Another one was was foreign ownership of agriculture land.

That's that's been a big topic across the country.

And so Arkansas took action on that this time.

And when people think about that, it makes them a little bit nervous.

You know, it's like, oh, Canada or Mexico or some of our partners.

And it's not our it's not our allies.

It's it's you know, when you think about foreign ownership, I would think Iran and Yemen and countries like that, China, that that that may not have have our best interests at heart that we've we've taken a closer look at to provide some regulations regarding their ownership of agricultural land.

Yeah what was that So it was targeted to some of these bans on foreign ownership eventually are counterproductive.

And in terms of international global commerce, your response?

I don't think so.

You know, I do think that there's a there's a national security interest in there.

And you see you see some of that and not just in Arkansas, but but in other states where there's foreign ownership next to like a military base or things, things of that nature that we've we've just got to be careful of.

So this is this is a good first step in that direction of just making sure we know what land is is owned by those who have foreign ownership and making sure that we're accounting for that and making sure that the the legislature and the public knows and are aware of their things.

And a rural economic development initiative which you hope will do what it is designed to do.

Yeah.

So, you know, I think I think there's a lot of things that we're that we can work better with our rural communities.

And so I think the governor certainly has has made that a priority as well.

You know, from from working with the Learns Act to the public safety laws that she championed.

And so we're we're doing that on our own from the agriculture standpoint, the Natural State initiative.

Arkansas is a rural state and there's there's a lot of focus go on to making sure that we're serving all Arkansans.

And agriculture is a big piece of that as well.

And this you've got crops in the field.

That's right.

Here we are toward the end of June, crops in the fields, Right.

How do they look?

So it's been it's been an interesting year.

So we started off really when it always is an interesting year with agriculture.

There's so many factors that go into having a good, successful, productive year.

And we started off a little wet, a very wet year.

We were breaking records there, but we caught a break.

People were able to get in the fields and get planted.

Planning was early, which was good.

And so we've seen the same that now it's now got a little bit drier again.

So there's, you know, if you look at the northern part of Arkansas, it's it's abnormally to moderate drought in several areas.

And so we're watching that.

But most of the road crops you can irrigate so you can overcome the the drought situation there.

But so far, things are things are looking pretty good because they were able to get in early, get planted, and that helps a lot.

Well, are they going to get a price for it, though?

That's right.

And there are there's a ton of factors that go into that.

You look at the just the global economy.

You look at things that are still going on with Russia and Ukraine.

Are the trade agreements that that are taking place.

You know, some of the trade disputes with with Mexico on corn, there's just a broad range of factors that impact prices.

And so the producers ability to produce a crop, a good crop, you know, certainly has the factors that they control, making sure that they're on top of those.

There's a lot of factors that they can't control.

And so it all adds together to make for interesting years and exports.

Well, when I sit with a lot of people, when they hear rice, they think Cuba, nothing ever happens.

Right?

Well, sure.

An update on you're in touch with the delegation, I assume, at least on.

Sure.

You know, Cuba continues to be a conversation.

You know, Cuba's the largest per capita consumer of rice in the Western Hemisphere.

And, you know, it's it's in our back door.

But there are other challenges with Cuba, you know, and the neighbors, certainly with their relationship with China and putting, you know, potential spy base there and, you know, spying on on the United States is is very problematic.

And so that that makes it difficult to do business with them when, you know, we may want to sell them rice.

But if they're doing other things that are of detriment to us and our country, it makes it hard to have a good working relationship there.

Well, there's another legislative front, and of course, that's Washington, the Wisconsin conversation over Farm Bill.

What are you looking at?

Yeah, So, you know, the farm bill is, you know, every five years we go through this process.

And Arkansas is just very fortunate with our congressional delegation.

So in particular, Senator Bozeman, who's the ranking member of the Senate and committee, has a very powerful voice on the farm bill.

And, you know, he's he's had several different meetings in Arkansas with producers, and you're hearing directly from them and their needs, having Congressman Crawford on the House committees.

Incredibly important.

Congressman Westerman as well with his natural resources role.

So we've got a tremendous delegation that that understands the importance of agriculture.

The farm bill will be difficult, as it usually is.

But but we've got a good delegation that's working through those issues.

Got to end it there as secretary of war, because we are out of time.

We thank you for yours, as always.

Thank you, sir.

Come back soon.

Will do.

And we'll be right back.

We are back.

It was a long time coming, 16 years, in fact.

And as with anything worthwhile, there were a few stumbles along the way.

But it's here or actually on Fort Smith.

And anyone with more than a surface knowledge of Arkansas history would.

No, there's no better place than Fort Smith for the U.S.

Marshals Museum.

It's a multi-million dollar testament to the first and oldest federal law enforcement agency, the organization instrumental in bringing law and order to the frontier to the Indian territory west of Arkansas.

A couple of centuries ago, in what eventually became Oklahoma.

It is a living museum featuring interactive exhibits along with displays that illustrate the Marshal service from its founding through today.

And joining us now from Fort Smith, the museum's president and chief executive, Benjamin Johnson.

Mr. Johnson, congratulations.

It's it was a long time in coming.

Hey, thank you very much.

It is an outstanding pleasure to finally be the one with this amazing team to to push this over the finish line here after so many years.

And we're just excited to finally share it with the world.

Well, as we mentioned, almost more than a decade, almost two decades, 16 years.

Should we be surprised that it took that long?

I think everyone is a little surprised that it took that long.

But, you know, one of the the challenges with winning the location of of this from the Marshal Service back in oh seven was, oh, man, now we actually have to raise $50 million and plan a building and build a building and do all that stuff.

So we couldn't have foreseen the Great Recession and the pandemic and a variety of other things.

But I think once folks come in and see what we've got to share with them, it's going to be worth the wait.

What's the highlight?

I mean, that's like asking, what's your children like best?

I understand, but but for you, what what's the highlight?

What's your favorite part of that museum?

You know, I judge it by at what point in my tours with folks do I generally lose part of the group because they're stopping to play with something or look at something.

And that's usually around our Frontier saloon.

It is a great experience.

You walk inside the saloon, there's a giant poker table trivia game that's an interactive experience.

There's a large bar bar where the bartenders talking and telling stories, and that's usually where I lose people about 20, 30% of the story of the tour.

And I think that's one of my favorite and definitely one of the the general public's favorite.

Well, for those who may be new to Arkansas or for that matter, don't have much familiarity with the Marshal service.

It is in fact, a Fort Smith would seem to be a natural for a national museum for honoring the marshals.

Yeah, a lot of people their first question is why Fort Smith and why Arkansas?

And, you know, for us and definitely for the Marshal service, they view this part of the country really as sacred ground because of the role the U.S.

Marshals played largely in the 18th and 19th centuries.

And as you said in your introduction, bringing some law and order to an open land and more Deputy Marshals Posse members special deputies died serving in the line of duty out of the western District of Arkansas than any other judicial district in the country.

And so this is a uniquely powerfully placed location that really connects to American history and definitely the marshals history in a way that more conventional, large coastal cities did not.

And the community in the state really wrap their arms around it and is here.

And we can't wait to share it with everybody.

Well, in terms of taming that frontier and bringing these desperados into Judge Parker's court or wherever, and I think I've got the numbers right.

More than well through today.

Through today, more than 350 marshals.

Deputy marshals have lost their lives in the service.

Am I correct on that?

Yeah, we're we're actually north of 380 now.

And that that number, unfortunately, goes up every single year through his new historical scholarship, identifying individuals in the past that that have been that lost their lives in service to the country and also in more modern day.

So it's definitely has some somber moments.

It is a lot of fun.

It is a family friendly, friendly experience.

But there are moments throughout the gallery that require some reflection and some thought.

And I think it's important to to emphasize or to recall in a way, the terrain and the topography of of of of that region a couple of centuries ago wasn't like a U.S. marshal had to get in his or her car, drive the freeway for a couple of hundred miles to get off on a secondary road, and then maybe maybe use a dirt road to a hideout.

It was a little more problematic than that.

Yeah.

In in in that way, I think technology may change, but I think that today's deputy marshals would tell you the same thing, that back from the 18th century up to the 21st century, when you look across the river outside of our amazing atrium that's glassed in and you look across the Arkansas River into Oklahoma and what then was Indian territory, you were risking your life every time you stepped out into the world.

And these men and some women at the time really didn't know what to expect.

It was a relatively lawless land working with Americans who were living in Indian territory, tribal citizens that may or may not trust you.

It was definitely a challenging experience.

Well, and to if I have it correctly now, if if the marshal did not get his man, he didn't get paid.

Yeah.

You you don't succeed.

You don't eat.

I think was was part of it.

But, you know, for a lot of these folks, when you come in, one of the cool things is there's a spot in our frontier marshal's office where it actually has a list of how marshals in that period of time, deputy marshals would get paid both travel miles and food stipends.

And what you would get for bringing back somebody to the court.

It really is an interesting system that I think a lot of people will get a kick out of.

Exactly.

You know how that work back in the day.

Yeah.

And one individual who simply cannot go unmentioned and the museum does, in fact, spends a fair amount of time with them.

And that is the legendary bass Reeves Bass REEVES No matter how much square footage we could devote to him, there could always be more.

And for an individual like that in such a uniquely American story, a man born into slavery who later served the nation that allowed him to be enslaved as a as a law enforcement officer, he was largely illiterate, but he was incredibly clever and brave and served his nation and the court for a very, very long time.

And to be able to tell as much of his story as we can reliably knowing that historical documentation was not exactly on the forefront of any of their minds when they're out there trying to catch bad guys on the frontier.

It's just an amazing story and we just really are blessed and proud to be able to tell his story to the masses.

Fair to say he had true grit.

He definitely did.

Benjamin Johnson, executive director, president of the U.S.

Marshals Museum at Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Thanks very much for being with us.

Thank you.

Come back soon.

There is more on Arkansas agriculture now.

There's in environmentally sensitive farming.

There's farming with sustainability in mind.

But there is also regenerative farming.

And it is this month's good roots.

When we farm with nature, when we're using our livestock in a way to improve the land, that's not only good for the livestock, good for the land, but it's a pretty awesome way to make a living.

And there's a lot of peace and there's a lot of fulfillment that comes from watching an ecosystem come back to life.

I'm Jonny Kilpatrick.

I'm the director of Regeneration at Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas.

We're part of the Savory Institute network of Hubs, and we're a 1200 acre working ranch.

We raise four species of livestock on pasture and in woodlot settings, and we train people how to farm regenerative way.

Yes, our regenerative farming practices are really based on principles that, in my opinion, revolve around ecosystem health.

So it's looking at things like your soil health, It's looking at things like your wildlife.

You want you want animals to come back, which is something we've really seen.

And there to be a balance between all of those things.

So working together, symbiotic relationships, but it's really about ecosystem health and diversity.

Like when we look out in this pasture, everything in this past year has a purpose.

You see no bare soil.

And that's the main thing in terms of regenerative agriculture is really focusing on keeping your soul covered like your skin.

You don't want your skin to be off your arm.

You really need that.

It has a purpose.

It protects, you know, our holistic plant grazing.

We're really looking at getting the animals to the right time at the right place with the right behavior.

What makes this easy is that it's planned out.

Does that mean that we stick to ABC, EDF and don't vary?

Absolutely not.

In holistic management.

You're always planning, but you're also always considering that you're wrong.

Yeah, I love my job because I get to get to train farmers.

I get to help an ecosystem get better and more healthy.

I get to help slow down climate change.

But I honestly, it's it's the people.

So we've got a team of four farmers that I get to work with on a daily basis, and they're just in terms of their knowledge base and their commitment and their drive.

You know, I supervise them, but I don't have to supervise them because they know exactly what they're doing.

They just come with a passion that's unusual and we're really blessed to have them.

I just can't say enough good things about them.

I grew up in a small town outside of Asheville, North Carolina, North Carolina.

My grandparents on my mom's side were farmers, but more ro crop farmers.

So cotton, tobacco, soybeans, that kind of thing.

But I used to love going to their farm in the summertime and just being on the land.

There was something always about the land that really drew me to just being there, horseback riding, dirt, bike riding, all of that playing with cousins.

It was just something really special.

So I always had an affinity for it, but didn't see myself as, Oh, I'm going to grow up and be a farmer.

Where that switched is, I went to a small liberal arts college for undergraduate called Warren Wilson College, and it was like one of those things in life where you find your tribe, you find your thing.

It was like my world opened up.

And then throughout my life and through working with agriculture, it was just a realization that the standard way of farming wasn't, in my opinion, really good for people, good for the land, and in some cases not even profitable.

And I think there's a real need to look at some solutions that can combat climate change.

And I feel like regenerative agriculture here is one of the main ways to do that.

I think that regenerative agriculture, in addition to just being able to watch nature flourish, which is very fulfilling, especially through the holistic management planning process, you learn how to not be reactionary and reductionist and you're not reacting to chaos.

So this is our grazing plan, horse grazing chart from last year.

These are the moves we actually ended up making.

We write what we think we're going to do and then we just chart out our moves based on the size of the pasture, the quality of pasture, how they manage.

Last year in that pasture and our stocking density.

So the yellow is the sheep, purple is the steers, and then the rams are blue.

So they sort of stay down on the main part of campus and didn't move that much.

This type of management requires you to be engaged.

You've got to set up the fences, you've got to move the cows, you've got to have your eyes on the livestock, on your feet, on the ground.

And that's how it works, because farming is complex.

It really takes in my opinion, a sort of a mind shift.

It's not necessarily throw away all these tools and grab these tools.

It's more of like, Oh, okay, I can have a better quality of life by farming in this way and then planting cover crops in this field for a couple of years.

Basically, annuals that are extremely diverse.

So planting cover crops into pasture is really a challenge because you're not plowing it and discarding it and then planting it.

That'd be simple, right?

Simple for the human, terrible for the environment.

What we're trying to do is build the soil structure, the sponginess of the soil.

You do that through having different root system.

So all of these plants have different depths of root that they go down.

They bring different qualities to the to the soil.

In this past year, we've got sunflowers for the pollinators, we've got sorghum, Sudan, grass of different varieties.

We've got two kinds of millet that the cows really love.

So they're the sheep, collard greens, okra.

I mean, it's incredibly diverse.

It's like a garden.

Holistic management.

We're always thinking about the social impact of it, the ecological impact of an economy.

It can be very profitable.

You're cutting down on your inputs when you get rid of chemicals, when you get rid of, you know, all the machinery.

I mean, we have some machinery, but it's less than most folks.

All the heavy equipment, you're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars when you stack that stuff up.

I think that there's a real problem.

We know that our ecosystem is in a dire situation.

I work in a profession in agriculture that can either radically help the situation or continue hurting it.

I feel really fortunate that the commitment here is on ecosystem health and on farming in a way that, you know, works with nature instead of against it, and that our charge is to train farmers to adapt principles and practices towards that goal.

As well.

I can't think of anything more fun than to farm in a way that you can see the ecosystem responding and getting better and just getting out of the way of nature.

So what we try to do is like, stop, observe, listen to what nature is telling us, and then try to farm in harmony with that.

This program is funded through a farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network grant provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

And that does it for ISTE, for us for this week.

As always, thanks very much for being with us.

And we'll see you next week.

Support for Arkansas Week provided by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The Arkansas Times and KUAR FM 89.