Last week, almost 50 lady leaders from around Hempstead and Nevada Counties attended the ROSE Event for distinguished ladies hosted by Farmers Bank & Trust (FB&T) at Hempstead Hall. These esteemed matrons of community were treated to lunch, catered by Sheba's, and a fun cookie-decorating activity taught by Terri James, Hempstead County Extension Agent. Farmers Bank Foundation Executive Director, Elizabeth Burns Anderson, said the purpose of this distinguished ladies program was so FB&T could connect with the women in their communities. She said the name ROSE has a special meaning.

"We chose the name ROSE in memory of my grandmother, Mary Warnock Harsh," Anderson said." She loved her roses and loved to share them with the community. She would let churches and people organizing events get roses from her garden anytime. They were therapy and a sense of pride for her. These events are special to us and a great opportunity to get to know our customers on a personal level.”

Mary Warnock Harsh was the granddaughter of the bank's original founders. In other interviews given before her passing in 2021, Harsh said both her grandfathers came together to begin FB&T as a way to help the local farmers with their cotton and timber. Harsh has been described as honoring that commitment to serving others her entire life.

The FB&T team explained that ROSE also has another meaning:

R- Resilient

O- Outstanding

S- Social

E- Engagement

FB&T representatives said these are the qualities of the women that they choose within their communities for the ROSE events as they also represent Mrs. Harsh and the Farmers Bank & Trust HEART core values. They began hosting these events a few months ago and hope to continue this program, eventually reaching all the communities surrounding their numerous locations across Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

Janet Choate, FB&T VP Commercial Loan Officer II in Hope, helped plan the ROSE Event at Hempstead Hall, and she said everyone had a great time. "It was very special," Choate said. "This was a good way for the women in our community to come together and share insights on different topics and activities. Most of all, everyone had fun together and made connections that they will take with them and hopefully grow."

The ladies who attended the event had much praise to share.

Satarra Williams and Patricia Roberts from the Prescott City Council were in attendance, and Williams said it was a blessing that she and Roberts were invited to attend an event. "When you think of women who make a difference or do important things for the community, it felt very special that we were included," Williams said. "I thought it was an awesome event that really was a lot of fun! It was great for us to come together and have fellowship, unwind, relax, and laugh just as women doing something together." Williams said she enjoyed learning the story behind ROSE and that she was delighted with the cookie-decorating class. "Before this, I had never decorated cookies and didn't think I would ever know how... but now? I know how to decorate, and I will definitely take that lesson with me!"

SWARK.Today General Manger Bren Yocom said she enjoyed the event and was honored to have been invited to a program filled with so many amazing women. "I have looked up to some of these women for a long time," Yocom said. "I have seen the accomplishments they've made with their hard work and dedication, as well as the integrity and grace they've shown while doing so. It was a great honor to have been included!"

Akili Moses Israel, Director of Business and Industry Relations at UAHT, said it was a privilege to be invited. "I thought it was such a nice event ,and I was honored to be recognized as a distinguished lady," Israel said. "It was wonderful to see lady leaders of the community come together and have fellowship, plus get to know some of the women I didn't previously know. Farmers has always done so much with the community, and this made me appreciate them even more as a community bank."

Niki Freeman, Retail Banker at FB&T in Prescott, said she thought the event was important for two reasons. "This is a great program Elizabeth has started, bringing together all these distinguished female leaders of the community," Freeman said. "Plus, it included ladies from both Hempstead and Nevada Counties, so it was great to participate in an event that brought these two communities together as one."

Judy Lee Flowers, Hempstead County Treasurer, said she appreciated FB&T inviting her and putting together such a nice event. "The food was great, the speaker had a wonderful positive outlook, and it was just a pleasure to be considered part of this group of distinguished ladies," Flowers said. "I think it's important for ladies in leadership positions around the community to get together and bond, truly get to know each other. Whether you are paying your taxes, getting a loan, or going to the doctor, it helps to know who you can call on for anything that is needed."

Those ladies attending the ROSE Event who also have accounts with FB&T will have the opportunity to receive special debit cards with a rose design, and many of the ladies said they learned a new skill for decorating cookies that they will use in the future. Most important though, given the feedback from many of the women at this distinguished ladies event, the participants at the ROSE Event left with a feeling of camaraderie and affection for their peers, as well as inspiration and encouragement to continue their work. Satarra Williams stated, "I just felt uplifted to be a part of that," verifying that FB&T's goal of fostering connections between the leading ladies within the community has indeed bloomed in Hempstead and Nevada Counties.