Arkansas Agriculture Edition 25 : Page 3

is an official publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation. Arkansas Agriculture is distributed to almost 32,000 farming and ranching households in Arkansas. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Included in membership dues. ArkAnsAs FArm BureAu OFFicers: President randy Veach Manila Vice President rich Hillman Carlisle Secretary/Treasurer Tom Jones Pottsville Executive Vice President ewell Welch Little Rock DirecTOrs: Richard Armstrong, Ozark Troy Buck, Alpine Jon Carroll, Moro Joe Christian, Jonesboro Terry Dabbs, Stuttgart Mike Freeze, England Bruce Jackson, Lockesburg Tom Jones, Pottsville Johnny Loftin, El Dorado Gene Pharr, Lincoln Rusty Smith, Des Arc Allen Stewart, Mena Mike Sullivan, Burdette Leo Sutterfield, Mountain View ex OFFiciO Sue Billiot, Smithville Janice Marsh, McCrory Kirk Meins, Suttgart Brian Walker, Horatio Arkansas Agriculture is published quarterly by the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, 10720 Kanis Road, Little Rock, AR 72211. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Arkansas Agriculture , P.O. Box 31, Little Rock, AR 72203. Publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation reserves the right to accept or reject all advertising requests. Send comments to: arkansasagriculture@arfb.com Created by Publishing Concepts, Inc. Virginia Robertson, Publisher vrobertson@pcipublishing.com 14109 Taylor Loop Road Little Rock, AR 72223 501.221.9986 or 800.561.4686 Arkansas Agriculture Perspective By Randy Veach , President, Arkansas Farm Bureau I admit to being sometimes uneasy when facing those in the media, but Stewart Doan taught me it was actually very easy to trust a reporter. He was the best I ever encountered, the consummate professional, fair, thorough and very knowledgeable about agriculture. I learned from Stewart that “reporter” didn’t have to be a bad word. We lost Stewart far too early, the victim of a heart ailment that claimed his life May 10. He was only 52. Stewart was kind, down to earth and a good friend to all. He was the type of person you could tell just about anything and trust he would use that information in the appropriate way. I first came to know him when he was assistant farm broadcaster at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro. He later went to work for John Philpot at the Arkansas Radio Network and succeeded John as Ag Director there in 1985. He also covered Mid-South agriculture for the Yancy Ag Network. In 2008, Stewart went to work for Agri-Pulse, a Washington, D.C.-based news outlet, where his focus was on national agriculture policy. “He loved everything about agriculture and had a particular talent for deciphering ag policy,” Philpot said. “His contribution to understanding among our agriculture community can never be measured, can never be valued.” Stewart was respected nationally, having served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in 1998 and selected in 2006 as the national Farm Broadcaster of the Year. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack praised his work, saying, “Stewart was a voice people depended on and people listened to. And he used his voice to advocate on behalf of America’s farmers, ranchers and producers.” Rep. Frank Lucas, our neighbor from Oklahoma and chairman of the House Ag Committee, also offered his praise and condolences. “Beyond being a talented journalist and broadcaster, Stewart was just a quality person,” Chairman Lucas said. “His passing is a tremendous loss to all of us who appreciated and respected his fair storytelling and analysis. His brand of reporting on farm policy and his role in our community will be missed.” Stewart spoke at our state convention last November, discussing the current political climate and its impact on agriculture policy. He followed that with a presentation at the American Farm Bureau convention in Hawaii in January, discussing presidential candidates and their positions on a wide variety of agricultural issues. I always learned something when I was around Stewart. And as much as he knew, he was never one to suggest what Farm Bureau policy should be. He understood the process through which Farm Bureau policy was defined, and he respected that process. I believe that’s because of his deep respect for farmers and ranchers. He was one of us, in fact, still maintaining control of his family’s farming interests in his home state of Kentucky. Those who had the opportunity to deal with Stewart returned that respect, and it showed in the quality of work he produced. While his voice is silenced, his legacy lives on. My prayers to his wife, Leslie, and their daughters, Lauren and Sara. A fund is now established to help pay for the girls’ college education. To help, send contributions to: Stewart Doan’s Children’s College Fund, c/o Peoples Bank, 20409 Arch Street, Little Rock, AR 72206 Rest in peace, Stewart Doan, and thank you for the things you taught me. Arkansas agriculture has lost a true friend. Farm Bureau For advertising information contact: Tom Kennedy at 501.221.9986 or 800.561.4686 tkennedy@pcipublishing.com Edition 25 Arkansas Agriculture 3

Farm Bureau Perspective

Randy Veach

I admit to being sometimes uneasy when facing those in the media, but Stewart Doan taught me it was actually very easy to trust a reporter. He was the best I ever encountered, the consummate professional, fair, thorough and very knowledgeable about agriculture. I learned from Stewart that “reporter” didn’t have to be a bad word. We lost Stewart far too early, the victim of a heart ailment that claimed his life May 10. He was only 52. Stewart was kind, down to earth and a good friend to all. He was the type of person you could tell just about anything and trust he would use that information in the appropriate way. I first came to know him when he was assistant farm broadcaster at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro.He later went to work for John Philpot at the Arkansas Radio Network and succeeded John as Ag Director there in 1985. He also covered Mid-South agriculture for the Yancy Ag Network. In 2008, Stewart went to work for Agri-Pulse, a Washington, D.C.-based news outlet, where his focus was on national agriculture policy. “He loved everything about agriculture and had a particular talent for deciphering ag policy,” Philpot said. “His contribution to understanding among our agriculture community can never be measured, can never be valued.” Stewart was respected nationally, having served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in 1998 and selected in 2006 as the national Farm Broadcaster of the Year. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack praised his work, saying, “Stewart was a voice people depended on and people listened to. And he used his voice to advocate on behalf of America’s farmers, ranchers and producers.” Rep. Frank Lucas, our neighbor from Oklahoma and chairman of the House Ag Committee, also offered his praise and condolences. “Beyond being a talented journalist and broadcaster, Stewart was just a quality person,” Chairman Lucas said. “His passing is a tremendous loss to all of us who appreciated and respected his fair storytelling and analysis. His brand of reporting on farm policy and his role in our community will be missed.” Stewart spoke at our state convention last November, discussing the current political climate and its impact on agriculture policy. He followed that with a presentation at the American Farm Bureau convention in Hawaii in January, discussing presidential candidates and their positions on a wide variety of agricultural issues. I always learned something when I was around Stewart. And as much as he knew, he was never one to suggest what Farm Bureau policy should be.He understood the process through which Farm Bureau policy was defined, and he respected that process. I believe that’s because of his deep respect for farmers and ranchers. He was one of us, in fact, still maintaining control of his family’s farming interests in his home state of Kentucky. Those who had the opportunity to deal with Stewart returned that respect, and it showed in the quality of work he produced. While his voice is silenced, his legacy lives on. My prayers to his wife, Leslie, and their daughters, Lauren and Sara. A fund Is now established to help pay for the girls’ college education. To help, send contributions to: Stewart Doan’s Children’s College Fund, c/o Peoples Bank, 20409 Arch Street, Little Rock, AR 72206 Rest in peace, Stewart Doan, and thank you for the things you taught me. Arkansas agriculture has lost a true friend.

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