MonticelloLive

(L to R by rows, from top to bottom): (top row) Dr. Bob Stark, Dr. Paul Francis; (second row) Brad Clark, Kevin Ford, Steve Walmsley; (third row) Corey Bryant, LaMarcus Payne, Josh Rawls; (fourth row) Paige Bolin, Brian Young, Aaron Rutledge, Seth Tucker; (fifth row) Clayton Howell, Josh Barley, Aaron Pambianchi, Representative Allen Maxwell, Senator Jimmy Jeffress; (sixth row) Chris Bryant, Sara Beth Waller, Emily Wright, Whitney Leach, Sarah Dorton, Lana Chastain, Representative Gregg Reep, and Representative Eddie Cheatham.
Nineteen agriculture students from the University of Arkansas at Monticello received a firsthand view of history during their annual field trip to the Arkansas Capitol. 
            As guests of southeast Arkansas legislators and the Arkansas Farm Bureau governmental affairs staff, the students saw the Arkansas House of Representatives pass HB 1004 to increase the state severance tax on natural gas.  This change was the first adjustment in 50 years to the tax. The students later attended the bill signing session held by Governor Mike Beebe in the Governor’s Reception Room of the Capitol. 
            The day began with a General Session of the House of Representatives. Rep. Gregg Reep of Warren was primary host for this session.  Students observed the general procedures used in the House and saw consideration of three specific bills.  HB 1003 addressed the Pulaski County school system desegregation expenses; HB 1005 corrected an error in the legal marriage age act passed in 2007; and HB 1004 changed the natural gas severance tax rate. 
            Following the session, the students moved to the Arkansas Senate where Sen. Jimmie Jeffress took them onto the Senate floor and described the procedural and composition differences between the Senate and House.  He shared some of the history of legislature and allowed the students to tour his Senate office.
            The Arkansas Farm Bureau hosted a luncheon for the students and legislators in the Capitol cafeteria.  Stanley Hill and Michelle Kitchens of the governmental affairs staff outlined how Farm Bureau develops its policies, how they represent the members through lobbying activities during the legislative sessions, and the methods employed to inform Farm Bureau members of pending legislation and its potential impacts. 
            Representatives Gregg Reep and Allen Maxwell discussed how legislators and lobbyists depend on each other to develop good bills and enact proper acts of law. After questions, the group adjourned to attend the severance tax bill signing session with Governor Beebe.
            This field trip was the 12th consecutive year that the UAM agriculture policy class has traveled to the State Capitol and visited with state legislators and Farm Bureau staff.  “Field trips like this provide our students with a deeper and broader knowledge of traditional agriculture issues previously discussed in class lectures, new issues that may have recently emerged, and the general legislative process,” said Dr. Robert Stark, professor of agriculture.             
    The annual trip is coordinated and planned by Stark with the assistance of Dr Paul Francis, professor of agriculture, and the southeast Arkansas state legislators and Farm Bureau Arkansas.