Archived News

Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference -- March 8-9, 2007. The 3rd annual conference of Arkansas Women in Agriculture is set for March 8-9 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. AWIG president Janie Hipp, AEAB, said the conference theme is "Preparing Arkansas Women in Agriculture."

To register for the conference visit the web site. A few of the many conference highlights will include a legislative panel and special legislative announcements; production issues for horse owners, cattle producers, poultry producers, fruit and vegetable producers; sessions for row crop producers, forest land owners and agricultural land owners; advanced estate and financial planning and advanced credit and financing; risk management and farm financial planning; direct marketing, agri-tourism and farmers markets information; legal issues; family and health updates; donation service projects (baby quilts & rice depot); and an evening mixer with popular horticulturalist Janet Carson.

Professor Bruce L. Dixon named Interim Department head - Nov 9, 2006

Dr. H. L. Goodwin, Jr. and Janie S. Hipp, J.D., LL.M. were contributers on a featured paper on the Future of Livestock Industry in the current issue of Choices magazine just released by the American Agricultural Economics Association. Read the issue at www.choicesmagazine.org, (Volume 21, No. 3, 2006 ).

Mark J. Cochran Named Associate Vice President for Agriculture-Research

Dr. Mark J. Cochran, department head and professor of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, has been named associate vice president for agriculture-research and director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, effective Nov. 1, 2006.

Cochran will become a member of the office of the vice president for agriculture, which includes similar positions for extension and academic programs.

"There is an ever-increasing number of issues that require direct administrative attention," said Vice President for Agriculture Milo J. Shult.  "The creation of this post and Dr. Cochran's appointment will put us in an even better position to create innovative answers and efficiencies for the agriculture industry that depends on us.

"Dr. Cochran has provided outstanding leadership for our department of agricultural economics and agribusiness over the past 10 years," Shult said. "He is well-prepared to take this next step within the division." Cochran has excelled as co-chair of the Division's Environmental Task Force, which includes both research and extension faculty and staff, said Shult, adding, "He has very successfully provided guidance and advice to our scientists as we have worked through difficult water quality issues affecting Arkansas and surrounding states."

Cochran will work alongside Dr. Ivory W. Lyles, associate vice president-extension, and Dr. Gregory J. Weidemann, associate vice president-academics, to provide seamless leadership across the land grant mission areas to ensure equal representation and accountability, Shult said.

Cochran came to Arkansas in 1982 after receiving his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from Michigan State University. He received his bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University.

His accomplishments as a scientist and administrator were cited in the Arkansas Cotton Achievement Award from the Arkansas Cotton Group and the John W. White Outstanding Team Award from the Division of Agriculture for his role in developing the COTMAN cotton management system now used by farmers in several states.

AgriBusiness Club hosts 2006 picnic

Graduate Student, Juan Monge, Presents at Cotton Field Day

Juan Monge, Agribusiness graduate student, presented at the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station Field Day in Marianna, Arkansas on August 24, 2006. Juan's presentation covered cotton research in Irrigation Termination & Plant Bugs.

Collecting data in the field

Bumpers College Students Escort Tusk

 


Reece Bailey (AEAB), Mitch Thomas (AEAB), Andrew Smith (AgComm) and Fendley Ragland (AEAB)

2006 AEAB Quizbowl Team Placed First and Third in National Competitions

Front row: Kelly Pyle, Sarah Knox, Carmen Albright
Back row: Tyler McClendon, Edison Froelich, Nathan Waldrip

The Quizbowl team competed in the AAEA Quizbowl Competition July 24-25, 2006 in Long Beach California. Sarah Knox and Carmen Albright also competed in the Student Paper Competition.

Our men's team finished third of 33 teams in the Quizbowl competition. Carmen Albright finished first of 12 students in the Paper competition.

 
 
Graduate students placed third in the student case study competition. Pictured are Johannes Graf, Jeffrey Hignight, Barry Kriebel (Sun-Maid President) and Juan Monge.

Dr. Preston La Ferney retires 
 

 Dr. Preston La Ferney retires, after 26 years of service with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the Division of Agriculture. Click here to see photos from the June 30th, 2006 reception held in his honor.

ABC Holds Annual Awards Dinner

The Agribusiness Club held their annual awards dinner for the 2005-2006 school year on April 27, 2006. The event recognizes outstanding student achievements and faculty contributions.

See Photos and Awards

Bumpers College and the Division of Agriculture honor students, faculty and staff at awards convocation April 20, 2006

Tory Hodges, the daughter of John and Cheryl Hodges of Alpena, received the John W. White Outstanding Student award. She will graduate in May as an agricultural business major with a pre-law concentration and minors in international agriculture and political science. Tory and three other students received the Senior Scholar Award as graduating seniors with the highest grade point average. The other recipients are Dana Stewart, daughter of David and Rita Martin of Judsonia, agricultural education, communication and technology; Lauren Kemp, the daughter of Judge John Dan and Susan Kemp of Mountain View, apparel studies; and Ledia Guci, the daughter of Andrea and Mariora Guci, of Korca, Albania, agricultural economics.

The Spitze Public Policy Legislative Intern Scholarship provides for a summer internship in the Washington office of an Arkansas senator or congressman. The recipients, both rising juniors with majors in agricultural business, are Laura Sossamon, the daughter of Bill and Liz Sossamon of Ozark, and Kerri Boling, the daughter of Danny and Rebecca Boling of Gravette.

The Bumpers College Alumni Society sponsors an annual scholarship and names two Ring Scholars. The scholarship recipient is John Christopher Looney, the son of Dr. Charles Looney of Camden and Cathryn Looney of Monroe, La., animal science and agricultural business.  Ring Scholars are Frances Elder, the daughter of Franklin and Roberta Elder, agricultural education, communication and technology; and Connor McNair, the son of Malcolm and Martha McNair of Fayetteville, agricultural business.  Read full article.

U of A Division of Agriculture hosts Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference
 

Jolene Brown, a farmer and professional speaker from Iowa, leads a session titled “Stand Up! Step Up! Lead!” during the Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference, hosted by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture March 6-7, 2006 in Hot Springs. About 300 participants gathered in search of information and skills needed as women take on changing roles in agriculture. Read full article. Women in Agriculture website

Janie Hipp, UA Agricultural Lawyer to Influence National Policy on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

University of Arkansas researcher who has worked extensively with minority, women and limited-resource farming communities has been appointed to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, which will advise Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on the next Farm Bill. Janie Hipp, assistant professor of agricultural law and natural resources regulatory policy specialist, has spent more than 20 years in agricultural law, providing information to farmers and ranchers on changing environmental and natural resource policies, changing policy climates in general, and the stresses on the farming and ranching community. "The challenges faced today by all farmers and ranchers, not just beginning farmers and ranchers, are probably more substantial and complex than at any other time in our nation's history," Hipp said.  Read more.

Student and Faculty Place at Southern Agricultural Economics Association meeting

At the Southern Agricultural Economics Association meeting held on February 4-8, 2006 in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Jennie Popp, German Rodriguez and Dr. Bruce Dixon finished 2nd in poster paper competition with their poster entitled "Quizbowl Benefits: attitudes and performance of Southern Region School students at the SS-AAEA Quizbowl Competition". Another winner at the meeting was UA Agribusiness major Tyler McClendon, who was one of three students on the winning Quizbowl team. 

Dr. H.L. Goodwin, Jr., Professor of Poultry Economics, was elected as the new President-elect of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association - Jan 2006.

Congratulations Dr. Goodwin!

UA Honors Chair and Professorship Holders

Receiving their medals for endowed chairs and professorships are, from left, Dr. Jason Emmert, Dr. Eric Wailes, Dr. Dick Oliver, Dr. Karen Moldenhauer, Dr. Derrick Oosterhuis, Dr. Larry Purcell and Dr. James M. Stewart.

Bumpers College and Division of Agriculture faculty holding named chairs and professorships were presented University of Arkansas medals during a luncheon in their honor on Oct. 19, 2005. All University of Arkansas faculty members in endowed chairs and professorships wore the medals during the U of A Campaign Convocation on Oct. 28, 2005.

Receiving the medals were: Dr. James M. Stewart, The Ben J. Altheimer Chair in Cotton Research; Dr. Larry C. Purcell, the Ben J. Altheimer Chair in Soybean Research; Dr. Jason Emmert, the Arkansas Poultry Federation Chair of Poultry Science; Dr. Eric Wailes, the L.C. Carter Chair for Rice and Soybeans; Dr. Lawrence R. (Dick) Oliver, the Elms Farming Richard S. Barnett, Jr., Chair of Weed Science; Dr. Rob Hogan, the Harold F. Ohlendorf Professor in Agricultural Economics; Dr. Karen Moldenhauer, the Arkansas Rice Industry Chair in Variety Development; Dr. Park Waldroup, the Novus International Professor in Poultry Science; and Dr. Derrick Oosterhuis, the Clyde H. Sites Endowed Professor in International Crop Physiology.

Centennial Symposium Focuses on Future

On December 7, 2005, a centennial time capsule to be opened in 50 years was sealed in the Agriculture Building with a plaque to mark the location near AGRI 205. 

The Bumpers College Centennial Time Capsule included the photo below with the names of  Bumpers College faculty and staff members and a few students. The 165 persons represent each of the College departments. They gathered on the Mullins Library steps following the annual Dogs with the Dean lunch Oct. 7, 2005.

 Bumpers College Family Photo

College Celebrating 100th Anniversary
 
 On June 28th, 2005 retired faculty from the department met with Mark Cochran, department head, and current faculty to discuss the upcoming events for the Dale Bumpers College Centennial celebration.  Seated is Preston LaFerney, Lucas Parsch, Don Voth and Hilliard Jackson with Mark Cochran, Department Head, Henry Meenan and John W. Goodwin, standing. Centennial events will include a fall lecture series and a time capsule to be placed in the Agriculture Building. Details will be announced on a special centennial Web site: www.Bumpers100.uark.edu. The celebration will conclude with a "Party of the Century" gala set for Dec. 3 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center to include distinguished speakers, a banquet and entertainment.

Commencement 2005


Valerien Pede and Dr. Dan Rainey
                                 

Ledia Guci

AgriBusiness Club Awards Banquet

The Agribusiness Club held their annual awards dinner for the 2004-2005 school year on April 28, 2005. The event recognizes outstanding student achievements and faculty contributions. Click here to see awards and photos

Dr. Mark Cochran met with the faculty (summer 2004) at the University of Ghent in beautiful Ghent, Belgium to discuss a Transatlantic Master of Science degree program in Agribusiness Management. Photos of Belgium