FARM BUREAU MATTERS
with Rich Hillman
ARFB PRESIDENT
Rich Hillman of Carlisle was elected president of Arkansas Farm Bureau at the organization’s annual convention in December. Hillman raises rice, soybeans and wheat in Lonoke County. He has been a member of the ArFB state board of directors since 2001 and served as vice president of the board for 11 years before being elected president. He is also vice chairman of Riceland Foods and is chairman of the Arkansas Foundation for Agriculture. He and his wife Tina have a son (Collin) and a daughter (Caroline).
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s I sit down to pen this first message for Front Porch readers, I can’t help but think of all the people who have forged my path with Arkansas Farm Bureau. There are the obvious names of past leaders, my family and my parents, but also many people who have – probably unknowingly – made an impression on me. I could name them, but I would unintentionally leave someone out. Many of you will know I am referring to you. Others may not even know they have indelibly affected my life. From the time I was 10 years old through my college years my father was a member of the state board of Arkansas Farm Bureau, so I literally grew up as a part of the Farm Bureau family. So you can image the humbling emotion that overwhelmed me as I stood to address the delegate body at the ArFB annual convention in December, having been elected president of an organization that I have admired and respected for much of my life. My respect is rooted in the organization’s unwavering commitment to Arkansas farmers and ranchers, the backbone of our state. I have seen, heard and felt the impact the organization has made on our state. I am a rice farmer, proud to be a sixth-generation farmer, as well as a son, brother, husband, father and uncle. My family means everything to me, just as I know family is vitally important to each of you. My commitment to you today is that I will always keep the Farm Bureau membership in my mind on all decisions that come before this organization. We will endeavor to empower and incorporate even more people in the grassroots mission of this organization. Without people who have the ability to educate and lead others and influence policy at the local, state and national level, we can’t carry out the mission of the organization. The mission of Arkansas Farm Bureau is to: • Advocate the interests of agriculture in the public arena • Disseminate information concerning the value and importance of agriculture • Provide products and services which improve the quality of life for our members Arkansas Farm Bureau leaders, in every county of Arkansas,
Front Porch
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ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU • WINTER 2020
representing every city, town and community in this great state, have made the 85-plus years of this organization an unassuming yet obvious success. Truly, I have been blessed throughout my life. I’ve been blessed to serve Farm Bureau, to serve with a great state board, and for the past 11 years to serve with Randy Veach, a dedicated man with uncompromised integrity and deep faith. He has taught me so much and has graciously included me in everything involved with running this great organization. Randy, again, thank you. Without question, there are some important and challenging issues facing agriculture and Arkansas Farm Bureau. The continued relevance and impact of this organization is tied directly to the men and women who love the land, care for their animals and provide such meaningful stewardship over our soil and water resources. One obvious need is to appeal to the young people of agriculture to invest their time and energy in this organization. We will redouble our efforts to engage tomorrow’s leaders today, and include them in the meaningful grassroots process that defines this organization’s policy-making decisions. It is imperative that we work to stabilize what has been a very rocky agriculture economy. Farm bankruptcies and loandefaults have been alarmingly high across our country, further thinning the number of farmers and ranchers. We need more people involved with farming, though the trends reflect fewer and fewer farmers and ranchers to feed an ever-increasing need around this country and the world. The name Farm Bureau means something to people across our state, from our advocacy work to our insurance companies. We are committed to enabling new ideas and providing additional avenues for success for all segments of Farm Bureau. I am confident and optimistic that this organization can, and will, have a positive impact on the issues that face agriculture. I know this, without hesitation, because I stand amongst a family, and an organization, that I have been around almost my entire life. I know this because I know the positive impact you have made on me. •
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