Name: Ben Fruehauf
Parents: Ben & Cynthia Fruehauf
School: Home Schooling & North Arkansas College in Harrison, Ark.
4-H Club: 4-H Rangers Club; 4-H State Ambassador
How are you involved in agriculture?
“My main project work is Environmental Stewardship. I teach people recycling, cleaning up the land, the importance of the environment, which, directly and indirectly, associates with agriculture. 4-H is directly related to the USDA and the County Extension Service.”
How do you benefit from being involved in agriculture?
“There are a number of ways to benefit from environmental stewardship. For instance, here in Gilbert, there's a lot of fields that are watered by Buffalo National River. Also, we had a lot of trash, so I have a clean-up project to keep the river and fields clean. Nearby farmers benefit from it, and even the tourists.”
Describe your responsibilities on a day-to-day basis?
“This is my place, and I’ve helped make it beautiful. Mom has six horses and a horse-riding trail. The times I do go out with her, keeping the trails clean is important. We have hiking trails and bike-riding trails.”
What are your goals and plans for the future?
“To organize another river clean-up, which is rather easy to do, because people get a free canoe trip out of it, and have fun. That way, I get more people involved, and let them feel that same sense of accomplishment I feel.”
What's your favorite part of being involved with the family farm?
“Our farm isn’t so much the land that adjoins the river, but the river itself. Business on the river, that is our business. But, I’d still call it farming, because we’ve got a bunch of family here that works the land. I’ve lived here all my life and it’s given me a great appreciation for farming.”
Who is your role model?
“I don’t really have a role model. Not that I don’t think there’s a lot of great people out there, doing great things. But, I like to be a leader, rather than a follower. I like to show people that they don’t have to follow anyone to be great, they need to make their own choices. Pam Cannada is the Youth 4-H Program Assistant, and she helps me out with a lot of my workshops. Also, Ann Brown, with the County Extension Service, she’s a lot of help and encouragement.”
