Associate professor earns award
Karleah Harris, associate professor for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Human Sciences, was recently named a 2025 recipient of the Leader Award by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).
The Leader Award was established to identify and honor family and consumer sciences professionals who have made significant contributions to the field through their involvement with AAFCS, according to a news release.
Sunrise, breakfast site changes
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is celebrating Founders Week.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
At 8 a.m. Sunday, the Sunrise Service and Alumni Breakfast will be held at the HPER complex.
The site for those events were changed, according to the UAPB/AM&N National Alumni Association Inc.
“Join us as we start the day in unity and reflection with the Sunrise Service and a delicious breakfast with fellow alumni,” according to a news release. “Whether you’re returning home to reconnect or meeting new friends for the first time, this is a moment you don’t want to miss.”
Details: https://uapb.edu/founders-week/.
Election board to meet
The Jefferson County Board of Election Commissioners will hold a called meet at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the election office, 123 S. Main St.
Parking is limited, so participants should park on Second Avenue to allow workers access to the building and parking, according to a news release.
The agenda includes new business: removing old election materials from the election office and disposing of them in accordance with election law.
The process will be ongoing during the day and the meeting will be concluded when the process is complete.
Ag debt topic at conference
Caught between higher interest rates and net income at a four-year low, more farmers are turning to Chapter 11 and 12 relief, with U.S. farm bankruptcy filings rising 55 percent between 2023-24 — a trend with larger implications for attorneys, lenders, agribusinesses and others in agriculture, according to a news release.
Jamie Dreher, partner/chair of Litigation at California-based law firm Downey Brand LLP, will present the session “Dealing with Farm Debt in the West: Practical Considerations in Preparing for and Navigating Ag Bankruptcy” at the third annual Western Water, Ag, and Environmental Law Conference.
The conference will be held June 19-20 in Reno, Nev. The session focuses on timely legal and policy issues directly relevant to the agriculture and food industry in Western states and is designed for attorneys, students, and other ag industry professionals, according to the release.
U.S. courts reported 216 farm bankruptcies were filed in 2024, according to a report from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
“Unfortunately, financial distress and bankruptcies have become more common in light of the overall ag economy,” said Dreher. “The ag industry across the western states and elsewhere is likely to continue facing significant headwinds through the next year, adding to the financial uncertainty.”
Dreher’s presentation will explore issues that arise for farmers and agricultural businesses when navigating Chapter 12 and Chapter 11 bankruptcies, from both debtor-operator and creditor perspectives.
“The session will review common issues that arise for growers, processors, and lenders in these situations,” Dreher said. “Additionally, we’ll take a look at insolvency related issues, including ranch and farm foreclosures, as well as priority and enforcement and security interests in crops, water rights, and equipment.”
The Western conference is hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation (NASDA Foundation.)
NALC Director Harrison Pittman said the Western conference provides stakeholders with valuable information and resources they can utilize, whether it be in the legal field or beyond.
The Western conference will be approved for continuing legal education credits, including ethics credits, through numerous legal and professional organizations. It also features continuing education from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
For details on the Western and registration, visit nationalaglawcenter.org/western2025.