Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Harris Family Named Top Farmers (cont) (cont)

The annual Chicken and Egg Festival sees Ralph as a volunteer, working as an umpire for the softball tournaments.

Harris is on the board of the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council as well.

"Claudette and I are hopeful when Brad and Heather leave home and go to college we will be able to return to some of the organizations we have had to give up for lack of time," he said.

"At present, supporting our children's activities and sharing their lives are top priority. As you can see, most of our community service work is done through the activities our children are involved with."

Being busy is nothing new to Claudette either.

With a degree in physical education and love for sports, she has coached and organized softball and basketball programs for girls in the five towns the family has lived in during the past 18 years.

She also has worked with festivals in these communities, setting up children's programs.

As a 4-H Program Assistant with the Cooperative Extension Service the past 10 years, and volunteer to be a 4-H leader for clubs not having one, Claudette has had to cut back on her coaching duties for lack of time.

Still, she does community service work, but had redirected it through the 4-H in areas such as floats for parades, adopt-a-spot programs, tree planting, food drives, Christmas gifts for needy children and more.

In the past, she was a Tiger Cub Scout leader and a Cub Scout leader.

Claudette is a member of the Prescott Church of Christ and Prescott Athletic Booster Club, where she works concession stands for basketball games and track meets.

Brad inherited his parents' love of sports, and is a member of the Wolves football, basketball and baseball teams, while also running track.

He was listed in Who's Who in Sports in 1998, and in Who's Who among High School Students in 1999.

Brad has been involved in 4-H for 10 years, where he has shown cattle, held offices and won awards for leadership and project work.

He has served as camp counselor and conducted workshops as a teen leader with 4-H.

Community service has seen Brad pitch in, again through the 4-H Club.

As a youngster he volunteered to keep the clock at youth basketball games, and run the scoreboard for little league baseball games along with down markers for flag football, and began umpiring girls softball this summer.

He spends summers working at the University of Arkansas Southwest Research and Experiment Center as a farm laborer.

He is a member of the Prescott Church of Christ, Future Business Leaders of America, Art Club, Leo Club, Spanish Club and Key Club. He plans to attend college next fall.

Heather follows the family tradition in sports, playing high school basketball and softball while running track.

In the summer, she plays summer league softball.

Heather has been involved in 4-H for 10 years where she, too, has shown livestock and held offices.

She enjoys teaching workshops and speaking to civic organizations about her activities in the 4-H.

This summer, Heather began babysitting and lifeguarding.

She is a member of the Prescott Church of Christ, FBLA, Spanish Club, Key Club, Leo Club and is an honor roll student.

She also plans to attend college after graduating.