LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame will induct five whose leadership and service have brought distinction to Arkansas agriculture, the state’s largest industry.
The group will be honored at the 20th annual induction luncheon at 11:30 a.m., March 14 in the Ambassador Ballroom of Little Rock’s Embassy Suites Hotel.
The newest class includes the late Esther Hill Chapin of Trumann (Poinsett County), William “Bill” Dorough of Sweet Home (Pulaski County), the late George Dunklin of Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), Dr. C. Michael French of Conway (Faulkner County), and Leland Stratton of Stuttgart (Arkansas County).
Chapin formed the Judd Hill Foundation in 1985 to promote agriculture research, education and conservation. When she died in 1991, she left her entire estate, including the 4,000-acre Judd Hill Plantation, to the foundation. Today the plantation, which was named after Chapin’s father, Orange Judd Hill, donates one-quarter share of each year’s crop to the foundation, which in turn gives most of it to ASU-Jonesboro to further agriculture education and research.
Dorough served as the Arkansas State Fair’s livestock director for 30 years. His work with the fair and the Farm & Ranch Club of Arkansas has touched the lives of countless young people, teaching them the lessons that come with exhibiting livestock. Dorough still gives his support to the Junior Livestock.
Dunklin, who died last year, was president of Planters Cotton Oil Mill in Pine Bluff for 43 years. He was known as “dean of the cottonseed industry.” Under his leadership, Planters built the first new cotton mill in the United States in 50-plus years, and it was rated by USDA as the most cost-efficient plant in the nation.
French is associate director for programs with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. He also has worked on numerous boards and committees and served 14 years as the Extension Service’s liaison to a variety of agriculture groups. He has been instrumental in developing Arkansas agriculture leaders and agriculture policy.
Stratton and a partner bought a small seed plant in Stuttgart in 1948. Today, Stratton Seed Co. is the largest seed production, conditioning and marketing company in the South. He made the facility state-of-the-art — and in business 60 years this month — it produces farm chemicals and fertilizers in addition to rice, soybean and wheat seed.
Tickets to the induction luncheon are $35 each. Tickets, including for tables of 10, are available by calling (501) 228-1470.
The Agriculture Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Arkansas Farm Bureau. The program honors those who have made significant contributions to Arkansas agriculture, as well as community and economic development.
Follow the links below for detailed biographies and photos of each inductee:
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