Five Arkansas companies receive Governor’s Award for global trade excellence

Five Arkansas companies were presented the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade at a recent banquet in Little Rock. The award honors companies of all sizes for excellence in actively selling products in international markets.

The companies honored included Eagle Seed (Poinsett County), PS Products (Pulaski County), Game Composites (Benton County), The Stetco Corporation (Pulaski County) and Euronet USA (Pulaski County).

“Arkansas’ exports are our representatives on the global stage, from Delta-grown rice to Camden-built missiles,” said Gov. Sarah Sanders. “I applaud the trade leaders receiving this year’s awards. With their help, my administration is cutting taxes, investing in education, and growing our workforce to make Arkansas a trading powerhouse.”

This is the 14th year for the award, established by the Arkansas District Export Council (DEC) in collaboration with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the U.S. Commercial Service and the Arkansas World Trade Center.

The Arkansas DEC is a non-profit organization composed of experienced exporters and businesspeople who regularly provide support services to exporting companies. Each member has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a result of expertise in international trade matters and a commitment to volunteerism.

The five recipients are doing business in countries including Australia, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Uruguay and Vietnam.

The recipients of the 2024 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade:

Agricultural Exporter Award: Eagle Seed (Poinsett County)

Eagle Seed is a second-generation family-owned agricultural seed company and a third-generation rice, soybean, and wheat farmer. The company is carrying on the family tradition of growing crops in the Mississippi River Delta. Eagle Seed was started to help local farmers access high quality certified seed for higher crop yields. Over time, it built a network of dealers and fellow seed companies that purchased varieties of seed they did not have. Eagle Seed is an Arkansas licensed seed conditioning, labeler, grower, and treater facility. The company, which also provides a unique seed breeding program, has nine employees and exports to Canada.

Innovation & Impact in Manufacturing Exporter Award: PS Products (Pulaski County)

PS Products, Inc., doing business as Personal Security Products, was established in 1992 by its founder and President, Billy Pennington. The company specializes exclusively in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of non-lethal personal protection products, gun concealment items, gun cleaning kits, and more. PS Products Inc. offers privately labeled and branded products and owns 32 U.S. patents to date. Its list of brands include ZAP stun guns, Eliminator pepper spray, Peacekeeper gun concealment, and Bulls Eye gun cleaning kits. The company has nine employees and exports to seven countries, including Poland, Mexico, Japan, Uruguay, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam.

Aerospace Exporter Award: Game Composites (Benton County)

Game Composites is an aerospace manufacturer specializing in the development of high-performance and special mission aircraft. Founded in 2013 by Steuart Walton and Philipp Steinbach with a vision to innovate in aviation, the company combines cutting-edge composite technologies with expert craftsmanship to produce aircraft that consistently exceed industry standards. The GB1 GameBird, Game Composites’ flagship product, is celebrated for its unmatched handling qualities, lightweight design and superior performance, making it a favorite among recreational and professional pilots as well as aviation enthusiasts worldwide. The company’s growing team currently consists of over 100 highly skilled engineers and craftsmen dedicated to pushing the boundaries of aviation. Game Composites exports to Chile, England and Malaysia, among others.

Resilience in Manufacturing Exporter Award: The Steco Corporation (Pulaski County)

The Steco Corporation has been involved in designing and creating industrial cutting fluids since 1953. The Tap Magic line of products has become the most widely known name in cutting fluids, with greater precision, superior lubrication, and the best protection for valuable tools. The company experienced a dip in its export sales between 2023 and 2024, but quickly took active measures to reverse that trend. The Stetco Corporation worked closely with the U.S. Commercial Service Office in Little Rock and the Arkansas District Export Council to expand its exports. As a result, export sales have been trending at a 70% increase year to year. The company has seven employees and now exports to Mexico, Australia, Columbia, Canada, Taiwan, Guatemala, Guyana and Portugal.

Advanced Technologies Exporter Award: Euronet USA (Pulaski County)

Euronet Worldwide Inc. has established itself as a global leader in electronic payment services. With a broad array of offerings, including ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) services, credit/debit card services, and currency exchange, Euronet is a prominent player in the fintech space. Euronet was founded in 1994 with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing electronic payments globally. In 1998, Euronet acquired ARKSYS, a computer software firm founded in Arkansas specializing in electronic payment and transaction delivery systems. ARKSYS, now known as Euronet USA, continues its legacy from its headquarters in Little Rock. The company has 137 employees and clients in seven overseas markets, including Brazil, Malaysia, Ecuador, Central America, Indonesia, Africa and Mozambique.

“There are so many opportunities for Arkansas companies to grow by finding new markets and clients throughout the world,” said Jonathan Bricker, Chairman of the Arkansas DEC. “Through the Arkansas DEC, these companies have a partner to walk them through the entire process. The five companies honored today took bold action to do business internationally. The DEC is grateful to these companies for their leadership and innovation, and we look forward to their continued success.”