Texarkana dentist’s family property named Arkansas Century Farm | Texarkana Gazette

TEXARKANA, Ark. — A farm owned by a local dentist has been named an Arkansas Century Farm.

White’s Chapel Farm is one of 36 farms in the state named as Century Farms during a ceremony Nov. 27 at the state Capitol, where Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and state Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward recognized the farms. U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton also attended the ceremony.

The farm, which is on approximately 1,480 acres in Nevada County near Bodcaw, is owned by Dr. Neil Carmony. It has been in his family since 1868.

Huckabee Sanders said it was an honor to add the farms in the program, which now lists more than 600 farms across the state.

“A country that can’t feed itself, fuel itself, and clothe itself can’t survive,” Huckabee Sanders said in a news release. “That’s why it’s so important to thank and support our farmers.”

Three area farms also were inducted into the program. They are Phillips Family Farm, established in 1883, in Hempstead County; Ponder Family Farm (1907) in Howard County; and Hill Creek Farm (1910) in Little River County.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture established the Arkansas Century Farm Program in 2012 to highlight the contributions of families to the state and its agriculture industry. The program is voluntary and there is no cost for participating families.

Agriculture is the largest industry in Arkansas and contributes more than $20.9 billion to the state’s economy annually. Arkansas has 41,900 farms and 96 percent are family-owned, according to a release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

“Agriculture is the largest industry in Arkansas and contributes more than $20.9 billion to the state’s economy annually. Arkansas has 41,900 farms and 96 percent are family owned,” the news release states.