New Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward Honored In Jonesboro

A Craighead County man recently appointed to serve as the Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture said he wants to work on several projects to expand the industry’s reach in the state and around the world.

Wes Ward of Lake City was honored last week during an event at the Cooper Alumni Center on the campus of Arkansas State University.

Ward, who was appointed March 13 by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and subsequently approved by the state Agriculture Board, said the appointment was amazing.

“It was humbling, an honor,” Ward said. “I did not see it coming.”

Ward, who is also an attorney and has two agriculture degrees, said agriculture has a $20 billion impact on the state’s economy with nearly one out of six jobs in the state tied to the industry.

Those ties are also personal for Ward.

During the ASU event, Ward thanked several people for their help in his career.

Ward said ASU College of Agriculture official Dr. Bert Greenwalt has been invaluable, as well as thanking ASU College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Tim Burcham and Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro for their support.

GOALS
Ward said he wants to work on four main goals while serving as agriculture secretary.

They include being an ambassador for Arkansas agriculture; working as a go-between among business and the state and federal governments on agriculture issues and regulations; helping to open up trade and markets for Arkansas goods; and implementing a farmer-veteran initiative around the state.

“In being an ambassador, there is everything from peaches to tree crops, and Arkansas has it all,” Ward said.

Producers grow everything from cotton and soybeans to rice and pecans in Northeast Arkansas, Ward said, noting poultry, beef and aquaculture also play a huge role in other areas of the state.

On the trade part of the job, Ward said the state is in a “perfect spot” with the Mississippi River to the east and major interstate highways leading into and out of the state.

He said he would like to expand trade for small and large producers alike.

The work for small producers may include opening up additional farmer’s markets, while large producers could see the benefit of trade missions around the world, Ward said.

For the farmer-veteran project, Ward said he would like to pattern the program after a similar one in Kentucky.

Their program, called “Homegrown By Heroes”, seeks to bring veterans into farming. Ward, who also serves in the Marines, said the program has been successful in the Bluegrass State by bringing veterans into the lending, production or technology fields.

Several major companies in the state already have programs in place to hire veterans.

Also, farmers and veterans also have a lot in common, Ward said.

“Farming and being in the military are both 24 hour, 7 days a week jobs. Both reward hard work and dedication,” Ward said.

ASU Chancellor Dr. Tim Hudson also thanked the ASU graduate for his support of the university and work in the military.