| Terry Barr Senior Director Terry Barr, a nationally recognized agricultural economist, is senior director for CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division, an information- and knowledge-sharing initiative created in 2009. Knowledge Exchange draws on the expertise and insights of customers, experts within the bank and people from across the Farm Credit System to develop industry-specific strategic information and research. Terry is based in Washington, DC. Dr. Barr’s principal focus is assessing the interactions between the U.S. and global economy
and the global food, energy, fiber and agriculture markets. Particular emphasis is placed on
factors shaping the rapid structural transformation of U.S. agriculture and agribusiness and
the implications for commodity markets, trade, farmer cooperatives and rural infrastructure.
Previously, Dr. Barr served as chief economist for the National Council of Farmer
Cooperatives in Washington, DC. Prior to joining NCFC, Terry held several positions during a
14-year tenure at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He served as chairman of the World
Agricultural Outlook Board, which is responsible for coordinating USDA’s commodity
forecasts and for publishing its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
He also served in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture as director of economic analysis,
where he prepared economic analyses and assessments of the impacts of alternative farm
policy options and decisions. Terry holds a doctorate in economics from Washington State University.
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| Reva Bhalla VP of Global Analysis Reva Bhalla is a leading global strategic analyst who keeps her pulse on emerging trends across the world. Ms. Bhalla leads Stratfor's team of analysts and plays an integral role in applying a forward-looking, strategic lens to Stratfor's coverage of global events. She is also a prominent speaker, regularly addressing executives and investors at events across the world in a variety of industries, including energy, finance, commercial real estate and agriculture. Ms. Bhalla joined Stratfor in 2004 and has been featured in numerous newspapers and broadcasts, including Bloomberg, National Public Radio, CNN, The Associated Press, National Public Radio, Time Magazine, Al Jazeera English, Fox News, Haaretz, The New York Times, The Hindustan Times, Agencia Estado, Xinhua, Veja and Business Week. Ms. Bhalla has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Texas and a master's degree from the Security Studies Program of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. | |||
| Jimmy Carter Board Member James "Jimmy" C. Carter, Jr., has been on the Board of Directors since 2014. Mr. Carter owns and operates with his son, Southern Belle Farm a 330-acre beef cattle and hay farm, which includes fruit and vegetable crops, and agriculturally related educational activities. Mr. Carter is a director of AgSouth Farm Credit and serves as chairman of the Henry County Water Authority. He is a representative on the Ocmulgee River Basin Advisory Council and serves as vice president of the Henry County Farm Bureau. He is a member of the board for the Henry County Cattleman's Association. Mr. Carter has been a Director on the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank board since 2011. | |||
| Stan Claussen Board Member Stan Claussen has been on the Board of Directors since 2015. Stan has served as a director on the United FCS Board since 1995, currently serves on the MN Legislative Committee and in 2014 elected to serve on the National Farm Credit Council Board. In the past, Stan has served as Grace Township Supervisor for 26-years and Benson School Board for 20-years. He currently serves on the Bushmills Ethanol, Fairland Land Management Company, is chair of AgriBank District Farm Credit Council, serves on the Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church Council and chairs Area Churches Together (ACT) – a parish serving six rural churches. Claussen began farming in 1974. He farms with his wife Katherine and son Matt and daughter-in-law Leah. Their farming operation consists of grain, vegetables and cattle. Stan is a 1971 graduate of Benson High School and attended SMSU studying ag business. He has attended numerous training sessions while serving on township, school and Farm Credit boards. In 2008, he completed the 2-year MN Ag & Rural Leadership program (MARL). | |||
| Robert Coleman Director of the Office of Examination S. Robert Coleman is Director of the Office of Examination. Before being named to this position in October 2010, he was Director of the Agency’s Office of Secondary Market Oversight for five years. Mr. Coleman joined FCA in 1986 as an examiner in the Office of Examination. He held various positions in that office, providing technical and analytical support to the FCA field offices and in the Policy Development and Planning Division. During this period, Mr. Coleman completed the commissioning program and became a commissioned examiner in 1990. In 1994, Mr. Coleman transferred to the Office of Policy Analysis, where he served as a policy analyst specializing in regulation development, and then as a senior policy analyst. He was named Director of the Regulation and Policy Division in June 2003. Mr. Coleman holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation, which the CFA Institute awarded him in 2000. | |||
| Congressman Mike Conaway Congressman
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| Everett Dobrinski Board Member Everett Dobrinski has been on the Board of Directors since 2006. He is the owner and operator of Dobrinski Farm, a cereal grain and oilseed farm in Makoti, North Dakota. Mr. Dobrinski is a member of FCS of North Dakota, ACA. He is the Chairman of CoBank’s Board of Directors. He also currently sits on the board of the North Dakota Coordinating Council for Cooperatives. Mr. Dobrinski earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota. | |||
| Jimmy Dodson Board Member James F. "Jimmy" Dodson has been on the Board of Directors in 2015. Dodson grows cotton, corn, wheat and milo and operates a seed sales business near Robstown, Texas. He is the Chairman of the Farm Credit Bank of Texas’ Board of Directors. He is chairman of the Tenth District Farm Credit Council, a founding member of Cotton Leads, and serves on the boards of the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council and Gulf Coast Cooperative. He also serves on the national Farm Credit Council Board of Directors, where he is a member of the executive committee. Dodson is past chairman of the National Cotton Council of America, the American Cotton Producers and the Cotton Foundation. He formerly served on the board of Cotton Incorporated. He is a past chairman of the Texas AgFinance, FCS Board of Directors and a former member of the Texas Farm Credit District Stockholders' Advisory Committee. | |||
| Val Dolcini Administrator Val Dolcini was selected to serve as the Administrator for the Farm Service Agency in September 2014. He previously served as state executive director of the California Farm Service Agency, a position he was appointed to in 1999 by President Bill Clinton and again in 2009 by President Barack Obama. Dolcini also served as the acting Farm Service Agency Administrator in 2011. | |||
| Catherine Farr Catherine joined maslansky + partners in 2014 and has worked across industries, including agriculture, financial services, and health care. She has helped clients translate what they know and love about their companies into compelling stories that really resonate. Prior to m+p, Catherine worked at Omnicom media agency OMD as a strategic media planner, with a focus on content marketing and native advertising. Catherine graduated from Georgetown University, earning summa cum laude honors. She is a Phi Beta Kappa and double-majored in English and Art History, studying Renaissance painting in Florence, Italy. A native of horse country Virginia, Catherine resides in Manhattan and enjoys printmaking and watercolor painting. | |||
| Margaret Files Since joining maslansky + partners in 2011, Margaret has helped clients hone their messaging across fields including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and the food and beverage industry. She most enjoys working with clients who battle misconceptions about who they are and what they do. Her passion is helping them uncover the word or phrase that allows their target audience to start seeing them in a new light. Her language strategy research has taken her to three continents, and she has helped create messaging recommendations in English, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and Japanese. Margaret graduated with Honors from Vassar College, where her studies focused on communication, media, and culture. She currently lives in Manhattan, and spends an inordinate amount of time browsing pet adoption websites. | |||
| Curtis Hancock Board Chairman Curtis Hancock has been on the Board of Directors since 2003, and has been elected as the Chairman from his post as Vice Chair in 2015. Additionally, Curtis is the past Chair of River Valley ACA and board member since 1991. He is a member of the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank board. Curtis is also seated as a director for the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association, and Kentucky Farm Business Analysis Group, on which he serves as Treasurer. Farming since 1975, he holds an MS degree from University of Tennessee at Knoxville, a BS degree from University of Tennessee at Martin, and attended University of Kentucky. | |||
| William Hoffman Chief Operating Officer William J. Hoffman is Chief Operating Officer. Before assuming this position in July 2008, Mr. Hoffman was Executive Assistant to Board Member and former Chairman and CEO Nancy C. Pellett. Prior to this, he served as the Associate Director for Examination and Supervision in the Office of Secondary Market Oversight, which oversees the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. He began his career as a credit representative in the Louisville Farm Credit District. Mr. Hoffman first joined FCA in 1976 as a credit and operations officer and went on to work in various divisions of the Office of Supervision. In 1980 he became director of the Eastern Division, Office of Supervision, where he served for four years before being named Associate Deputy Governor for the Office of Examination and Supervision. In 1986 he joined the St. Louis Farm Credit Bank as vice president of risk assets. He later was the CEO of PennWest Farm Credit, ACA, which served western Pennsylvania. Before rejoining FCA in 2004, he was involved in agricultural finance in the private sector and several international projects. | |||
| Herb Karst Board Member Herb Karst has been on the Board of Directors since 2012. He is president of Karag, Inc., a family-held corporation that produces wheat, barley, canola, and hay on a 4,300-acre farm. Karst has served on the board of directors for both the National Barley Growers Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers. He has served on the board of Northwest Farm Credit Services since 2008. | |||
| Senator Jerry Moran Senator Senator Moran is a leading advocate in the U.S. Senate for protecting and preserving the special way of life in Kansas. He has a long history of opposing reckless spending on Capitol Hill, and forcefully advocates for spending cuts, tougher funding standards, and broad reform as a member of the Appropriations Committee. Through his work on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Senator Moran continues his long-time commitment to strengthening the economy, opening up foreign markets to U.S. exports, and fostering the growth of small businesses. Also, as a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, one of his top priorities is improving the quality of life for the nearly 250,000 veterans living in Kansas. Since joining the U.S. Senate, Senator Moran has also been a leading advocate for issues related to entrepreneurship, job creation, and innovation. He is committed to putting policies in place that foster a pro-growth environment where businesses can succeed without government imposed barriers. As Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, he is a firm supporter of medical research and believes our nation’s consistent support of medical research is essential to saving and improving lives, reducing health care costs, and strengthening America's position as a global leader in medical innovation. For the 2014 election cycle, Senator Moran served as National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman (NRSC). Under Senator Moran’s leadership, Republicans gained a net increase of nine seats, the largest Senate swing by any party since 1980 and the largest Senate gain in a midterm election since 1958. Prior to his election to the Senate in November 2010, Moran served Kansans in the “Big First” Congressional district for seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as eight years in the Kansas State Senate – spending the last two years as Majority Leader. As a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, then-Congressman Moran worked with colleagues to craft legislation that allowed Kansas farms and ranches to remain viable in today’s competitive global marketplace. Moran was also an active member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where he served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Health. | |||
| Larry Moscow Partner Larry Moscow manages the firm’s Washington office. His experience and expertise span a range of disciplines, including strategic communications, media counsel, policy advocacy, employee communications and crisis communications. Larry has advised and worked with many industry-leading companies, trade associations, foundations and non-profits including AT&T, NBC Universal, Comcast, Chase, AARP, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Motion Picture Association of America. A National Emmy award-winning television producer, Prior to joining maslansky + partners Larry spent two decades as a television executive and news producer for CNBC, MSNBC, CNN and PBS. Larry’s journalism career included stints as Executive Producer and Washington Bureau Chief for CNBC. In 2004, Larry was appointed to the advisory board of INVESTOR EDUCATION, an organization designed to equip investors with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed investment decisions. The non-profit entity was part of the “global settlement” between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and 10 of the nation’s top investment firms. Larry and his wife Cindy live in Maryland with their children Brooke, Nikki and Jason. | |||
| Charles Rawls General Counsel Charles R. Rawls is the FCA General Counsel. Before joining FCA in March 2003, he was general counsel and vice president for legal, tax, and accounting at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. During the consideration of the 2002 farm bill, he served as the General Counsel of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. From 1998 to 2001, he was General Counsel for the USDA, and from 1993 to 1998 he was Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. From 1988 to 1993, he was Legislative Director and then Administrative Assistant to Congressman Martin Lancaster. From 1985 to 1988, he was Associate General Counsel of the House Committee on Agriculture. He was Counsel to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forests, Family Farms, and Energy from 1983 to 1985. | |||
| Senator Pat Roberts Senator U.S. Senator Pat Roberts is a Kansan through and through. He was born in Topeka, graduated from Holton High School and
went on to earn his journalism degree from K-State. He always
puts Kansas’ needs and concerns front and center in his public
service career. For 16 years, he represented the Big First
District, including his home of Dodge City, in the U.S. House of
Representatives. In 1996, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He
is currently serving his fourth term.
Senator Roberts is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture
Committee. He becomes the first member of Congress in history
to have chaired both the House Agriculture Committee and now
the Senate committee. He has also served as the ranking
member of each committee. Senator Roberts continues his work
in the 114th Congress ensuring that farmers and ranchers have
the tools they need to advance American agriculture. He is
fighting barriers to trade and regulations that threaten producers’
competitiveness.
As a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Roberts gives Kansans increased leadership on legislation
ranging from taxes to trade, health care, Medicare, Social Security, the aviation industry and transportation – issues
impacting all Kansas families.
Roberts' record shows his long-standing concern for Kansas communities, businesses and families. A member of the
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Roberts has passed legislation to address the high cost of
quality childcare. He voted against Obamacare and will work to repeal it and replace it with a plan that would lower health
care costs for all families, and prohibit cost controls that would interfere with treatment decisions between doctors and
patients. As co-chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, Roberts has worked hard to ensure rural communities have
access to the same affordable high quality care as their urban counterparts.
Roberts recognized the biosciences industry developing in Kansas starting in 1996 and has carefully looked for ways to
enhance its development to promote an industry that has tremendous potential for growth, will keep Kansas’ best and
brightest in Kansas and will make Americans safer. Roberts has been recognized as a leader in food and biosecurity. He
held the first hearings on the issue in Congress, has helped pass major biosecurity legislation, assisted Kansas State and
other Kansas schools in gaining federal research investments, leading to the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI) at
Kansas State (housed in Pat Roberts Hall). Finally, he led the state’s effort to compete and earn the National Bio and
Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), a new federal laboratory to replace the aging federal plant and animal research facility at
Plum Island. | |||
| Joe Scarborough Former Congressman Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) is the host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, a show Time Magazine calls “revolutionary.” Along with co-host Mika Brzezinski, Morning Joe features interviews with top newsmakers and in-depth analysis of the day’s biggest stories.The New York Times has ranked Morning Joe as one of today’s top morning news shows, and has praised Joe and Mika’s natural repartee and off-the-cuff commentary. The New Yorker has described the show as “appallingly entertaining.” Scarborough also serves as Senior Political Analyst for NBC News and is a regular contributor to Meet the Press. In this role, he is a member of NBC News’election coverage team and offers political analysis on other NBC News programs, including the TODAY Show. Scarborough was named to the prestigiousTime 100 list of the world’s most influential people, and Vanity Fair named both Joe and Mika in their 2012 list of Top Media Power Players. In addition to his career in television, Scarborough is a two-time New York Times best-selling author. His first work, Rome Wasn’t Burnt in a Day,predicted the collapse of the Republican majority and U.S. economy due to his party’s reckless spending. Joe’s second book, The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America’s Promise, draws on the forgotten genius of conservatism to offer a road map for the movement and the country. The Right Path: From Ike to Reagan, How Republicans Once Mastered Politics—and Can Again, Joe’s third book, looks back in time to discern how Republicans once dominated American public life. From Eisenhower’s refusal to let “the perfect be the enemy of the good” to Reagan’s charismatic but resolutely practical genius, Scarborough shows how principled pragmatism, combined with a commitment to core conservative values, led to victory after victory. | |||
| Joanne Schneider A native of Israel, Joanna Schneier, CEO of Cognotion, Inc. has been developing cutting-edge educational technology products since 1999. With her Cognotion colleagues, she built the two leading digital language products delivered via the Internet in the US foreign language K-12 market. She has also developed learning applications for governmental and corporate environments that were validated by third party efficacy trials as highly impactful. Prior to Cognotion, Ms. Schneier built an internationally recognized, full-fledged end-to-end business strategy and marketing consultancy which has served large corporations, governments, the world’s largest publishers and leading universities. She has also served as a consultant for distinguished nonprofits including the Ford Foundation, USAID and NDIR. Ms. Schneier is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council, a graduate of Techstars and winner of 1776 New York. | |||
| Joe Shultz Staff Director Shultz has served as Chief Economist for Senator Debbie Stabenow on the Agriculture Committee since 2011. In that capacity he led the Committee’s work on commodity programs, crop insurance, the federal budget, and global food security. Prior to joining the Committee, Shultz worked for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) where he served as a primary advisor on issues related to agriculture, energy, and the environment. Shultz grew up on a fourth generation family farm in western Ohio where he continues to play an active management role. Shultz served as Vice-President of the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) and earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Ohio State University and his master’s degree in applied economics from Cornell University. | |||
| Clint Sievers Clint’s experience at maslansky + partners includes issues-based research in both animal and plant agriculture. Specifically, Clint has helped both farmers and others in the agriculture industry to build trust with consumers in today’s highly politicized and emotional food environment. Additionally, Clint has worked extensively in financial services, including in highly complex annuities and insurance products, showing clients how to simplify the language they use and emphasize the right benefits to break through to both consumers and financial advisors. Clint holds a BS in Communication Studies and Political Science from Northwestern University, and an MA in International Relations and Religion from Boston University. He lives in Evanston, IL with his wife. | |||
| Kenneth A Spearman Board Chairman and CEO Kenneth A. Spearman is Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration. Mr. Spearman was appointed to the FCA Board by President Barack Obama on October 13, 2009. He was appointed to the balance of Dallas Tonsager’s term and reappointed to a full six-year term that expires on May 21, 2016. He was designated Chairman and CEO by President Obama on March 13, 2015. Since his appointment to the FCA Board in 2009, Mr. Spearman served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, which is responsible for ensuring the timely payment of principal and interest on obligations issued on behalf of Farm Credit System banks. He will continue to serve concurrently as a member of the FCSIC Board of Directors. Mr. Spearman brings to his position on the FCA Board many years of experience in finance, agriculture, and agricultural cooperatives. He spent 28 years in the citrus industry. From 1980 to 1991, he was controller of Citrus Central, a $100 million cooperative in Orlando, Florida, where he was responsible for financial management and reporting and the supervision of staff accountants. | |||
| Wayne Stoskopf Professional Staff Wayne Stoskopf serves as
Professional Staff for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and
Forestry under Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), working on crop insurance,
commodity and dairy programs, 4-H and FFA. Stoskopf has worked as a Legislative
Assistant for Senator Roberts handling agriculture, nutrition, and water issues
since June 2012. He also served as the liaison between Roberts personal and
Agriculture Committee Ranking Member offices. He previously worked for U.S.
Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) handling agriculture policy. Stoskopf was
born and raised on his family’s wheat, sorghum and livestock farm near
Hoisington, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Agribusiness. | |||
| Julia Taylor Kennedy Senior Vice President Julia Taylor Kennedy, Senior Vice President and senior fellow at the Center for Talent Innovation, drives qualitative research and writing for CTI. A seasoned producer and interviewer, she also hosts a Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs podcast called Impact: Where Business and Ethics Meet. Taylor Kennedy has advised speakers for major platforms like the World Economic Forum and the United Nations, and collaborated on articles published in Forbes, Time, and academic journals. Previously, she hosted 51%, a public radio show on gender issues, and reported for NPR and NPR member stations. Taylor Kennedy earned a Master of International Relations from Yale University and a journalism degree from Northwestern University. | |||
| Todd Van Hoose President & CEO Todd became President and CEO of the Farm Credit Council January 1, 2016, where he leads the national trade association’s efforts to represent the Farm Credit System’s interests before Congress, the Administration, and various federal regulatory agencies. Van Hoose also serves on a variety of leadership bodies within Farm Credit, including the Presidents’ Planning Committee. His selection as President and CEO marked his return to the Farm Credit Council where he had worked previously in a variety of roles before departing in 2008 as Senior Vice President for Government Affairs. Prior to rejoining the Farm Credit Council, Van Hoose served as Senior Vice President - Government Affairs at CoBank where he led the bank’s Washington Office. He also was a member of the bank’s Senior Leadership Team. Todd has over 25 years’ experience in the Farm Credit System and before initially joining the Farm Credit Council he worked at the Farm Credit System Assistance Board. He also has held positions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and on Capitol Hill. Mr. Van Hoose is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations.
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| Gary Van Meter Director of the Office of Regulatory Policy Gary K. Van Meter is Director of the Office of Regulatory Policy (ORP). He was named to this position in June 2011 after having served as the Deputy Director of ORP for five years. Prior to this, he served in the Office of General Counsel (OGC) for 17 years. In OGC, he served first as a senior attorney and later as senior counsel before joining ORP. Mr. Van Meter holds a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law and a master of law in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. He is also a certified public accountant. From 1972 to 1974, Mr. Van Meter was an enlisted member of the U.S. Marine Corps, and he was an officer in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps from 1981 to 1986. | |||
| Kim Vanneman Chair, FCCServices Board of Directors Kim Vanneman has been on the Board of Directors since 2009. Kim is a member of the Farm Credit Council Services Board, and currently serving as Chair. She and her husband own and operate Vanneman Farms, a diversified farming operation including row crops, small grains, finishing feeder pigs and a commercial beef cow herd. She is also a former member of the South Dakota State Legislature. Kim was elected to the Farm Credit Services of America board in 2007. She has a bachelor degree in Agricultural Business from South Dakota State University and is an alumnus of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Program. | |||
| Kyle Varner Policy Analyst Kyle Varner serves as a Policy Analyst for Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, where he works on issues related to commodity programs, crop insurance, and energy. During the 2014 Farm Bill process, Varner assisted with the rural development, research, and energy titles of the bill. Prior to joining the Committee, he earned his bachelor's degree in agriculture and natural resource policy from Michigan State University. Varner grew up on a family farm in Mid-Michigan. | |||
| Tony Wilkie FCC Vice Chairman Tony Wilkie has been on the Board of Directors since 2011, previously joining in 2006, and has been elected to the Vice Chairman in 2015. Tony is a board member of AgriBank FCB. He is also seated on the board of Farm Credit Council Services, and is past Chair and past Vice Chair. He also serves on The AgriBank District Farm Credit Council. He has served from 1992 until 2011 as a board member of Farm Credit Midsouth. Tony has been in grain farming since 1968 and in the drainage supply business since 1990. He and his wife, Pat, farm 1,750 acres growing rice, soybeans and soft red wheat in the Mississippi River Delta of Eastern Arkansas, and owns a drainage supply business. He also serves on the boards of St. Francis County Farmers Association. | |||
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