Wes Ward Picked For Arkansas Secretary Of Agriculture

On Friday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson submitted the name of a Craighead County man to serve as the state’s Secretary of Agriculture.

Wes Ward of Lake City was selected for the post and awaits confirmation from the Arkansas Agriculture Board.

Hutchinson said Ward, who narrowly lost a bid for Craighead County judge against incumbent Ed Hill last year, has the talent and experience to do the job.

“Wes Ward is someone who understands Arkansas’s important place in the world when it comes to agriculture, and his credentials make him impeccably well suited to this job. A native of Lake City, he is a lawyer and a Marine with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and an L.L.M (Masters of Law degree) in Agricultural and Food Law,” Hutchinson said. “Because of his experience, education and knowledge of the field, I have no doubt that Wes Ward will do an outstanding job for the state of Arkansas.”

Hutchinson said Ward, who graduated from Arkansas State University, has degrees in the agriculture field, in addition to his legal degree.

“Wes Ward has demonstrated his commitment to Arkansas agriculture by earning degrees in agricultural business and in agricultural and food law. He has also served our state and nation as a captain and civil affairs officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves,” Hutchinson said.

Ward said he was humbled to hear Friday about the appointment.

“It is really, truly an honor to be recommended by the governor for this post,” Ward said.

Ward, who has two agricultural degrees, said the state’s economy benefits from agriculture with one out of six jobs in the state tied to the industry.

He said the industry is varied from row crops in the east to cattle and chicken in the northwest, as well as a burgeoning aquaculture field.

“It is really an honor to be considered,” Ward said.