Gov. Sanders appoints Jamie Anderson to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
by July 9, 2025 5:02 pm 861 views
Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Wednesday (July 9) that she has appointed Jamie Anderson as the newest member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Anderson’s seven-year term will last until 2032. He is replacing outgoing Chairman John David “J.D.” Neeley.
“I’ve been lucky enough to call Jamie and his wife, Elizabeth, friends for years and I am beyond excited to appoint Jamie to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,” said Sanders. “As a longtime aquaculture farmer and hunter, Jamie’s knowledge of wildlife and conservation policy will be a great asset to Arkansas. I have no doubt he will approach this appointment with strong leadership and a servant heart.”
Anderson is a fourth-generation aquaculture farmer at I.F. Anderson Farms, a family-run business founded in 1949 by his grandfather and great-grandfather.
A University of Arkansas graduate, he has helped lead the farm into the modern era, holding a patent on the Black Salty Baitfish and developing a system that reliably ships live fish overnight to more than 40 states.
“Whether it be through business or recreation, my life revolves around the outdoors and conservation,” said Anderson. “Through that, I have seen the stellar reputation of the men and women of the Arkansas Game and Fish around the country, and how highly they are thought of by their peers. Arkansas is on the forefront of wildlife management and resource conservation, and I am deeply honored that Governor Sanders has put her trust in me to be a part of that at this level.”
Anderson is vice president of the National Aquaculture Association and chairs the Arkansas Farm Bureau’s Aquaculture Committee. He also sits on the boards of the Arkansas Bait and Ornamental Fish Growers Association and the Lonoke County Farm Bureau. His expertise in wildlife and environmental policy has led to national appointments, including the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee under President Donald Trump and chair of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Committee.
A lifelong outdoorsman and conservationist, Anderson is a founding member of the Arkansas Waterfowl Association, a nonprofit that creates hunting, fishing, and outdoor opportunities for underserved youth.
He was instrumental in relocating the APHIS-certified Health Inspection Lab from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. He and his wife, Elizabeth, also spearheaded fundraising for the Lonoke Business Academy, a workforce development center focused on agriculture for high school students.
In addition to his work in aquaculture and conservation, Anderson represents the agriculture sector on the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’s Industry Council and has served on the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board since 2017.