What is going on in June?

Aviagen cuts ribbon on new Tenn. feed processing facility

Food safety and security are a top commitment for Aviagen, and the new facility leverages the latest technology available to achieve full pathogen elimination and comprehensive biosecurity. Aviagen was the first poultry breeding company in the United States to design and build its own feed processing facilities to eliminate contamination and ensure high levels of biosecurity. Adding to the company’s extensive biosecurity measures in and around the facility, the location in Pikeville was chosen for its physical isolation.

Introducing: Bryan McDuffie

1. Role at FFB: Ag Loan Officer

2. Family: Brady (Wife), Sadie Rae, and Julia Barrett (daughters)

3. Education: Bachelors of Science in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

4. Hobbies: My family loves to camp. I enjoy having a project and fixing things so we bought a camper. There is always something breaking on a camper.

5. What is your favorite thing about working at FFB? Helping customers. I enjoy meeting new customers but helping our customers strengthen their financial position is what I enjoy the most.

6. Do you have an unknown talent? In college, I bow-fished competitively. There was a time when I was rather salty with a bow.

7. Favorite place you have visited? All state parks in Arkansas are over the top beautiful. I have not been to all of them but my favorite so far is Village Creek State Park.

8. What is one thing you would like to learn more about? Finishing Carpentry. Anyone can build something but few can make it look nice.

9. Words you live by or funny story about you? My wife’s cousin got married in Little Rock in 2016 and I was running late for the wedding. My wife and children left with her family while I took a cab about 20 minutes later. When I got to the church the wedding party was headed to the reception hall of the church. It took me a few minutes to realize I didn’t know anyone there. I was at the wrong church. The cop on security detail had such a good laugh at my expense that he gave me a code for a free Uber ride across town to the correct church.

Chicken Check-In

“Not only is raising chickens under contract one of the best and most reliable sources of cash flow that helps keep families on the farm, but the real winner is the American consumer: they benefit from the healthiest and most affordable protein in the meat case,” said Dr. Thomas Elam, President of FarmEcon LLC and agricultural economist.

Mediterranean-Style Chicken Wings

Ingredients

For the marinade

1 large red onion, quartered
8 garlic cloves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
juice of 2 lemons
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

For the wings

2 1/2 pounds of chicken wings
Kosher salt
2 lemons, halved

Instructions

In the bowl of a large food processor fitted with a blade, combine the onion, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Pulse until well combined into a thick marinade.
Season the chicken wings well with Kosher salt and put them in a zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over and zip the bag shut. Massage the bag a bit to distribute the marinade.
Lay the bag of wings flat on a large plate or tray. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours, turning the bag over once midway through.
Heat a gas grill to 425 degrees F and lightly oil the grates.
Shake off excess marinate then arrange the wings over direct heat. Cover the grill and cook the wings for 15 to 20 minutes, turning over every 5 minutes, until they are fully cooked through. Grill the lemons, flesh side down.
Serve the wings immediately with the grilled lemons. And squeeze the lemons all over to your liking. Add your favorite sauce for dipping (I like the coolness of Tzatziki yogurt-cucumber sauce).

The American Dream Farm

Bruno: I first came to the United States from Mexico in 1986 under a sponsored worker program to help harvest potatoes and sweet potatoes in Texas. Later, I was hired in California to work in an orange orchard.