About the Board
The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board consists of nine rice producers appointed by the Governor with terms lasting two years. The board members give of their time and talents to serve the rice industry and do not receive compensation.
BOARD MEMBERS
Officers
Joe Christian, Jonesboro, Chairman
Jim Whittaker, McGehee, Vice Chairman
David Gairhan, Jonesboro, Secretary/Treasurer
Jay Coker, Stuttgart
Roger Pohlner, Fisher
David Petter, Stuttgart
Jeff Rutledge, Newport
John King III, Helena
Wayne Wiggins, Jonesboro
History of the Program
The Arkansas rice industry has a long history of support for research and promotion programs. With the founding of the Rice Council in the late 1950’s, Arkansas’ rice producers voluntarily contributed a portion of the profits from each crop to promote rice domestically and abroad. In the late 1970’s, farmers began voluntarily contributing to a fund specifically for research. In 1985, the programs were combined into one state agency, the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, created by Act 725 of 1985. The act set an initial refundable rate of 2 cents per bushel with an automatic increase to 3 cents per bushel in 1987. 1.65 cents of each assessment was set aside for research, while 1.35 cents was reserved for promotion and market development activities.
The program has undergone changes since that time, resulting the current program. Act 16 of 1999 created a mandatory assessment of 1.35 cents per bushel to be paid by the producer, and 1.35 cents to be paid by the first buyer. The funds are used to conduct a program of research, promotion and market development. Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board
Since the Board’s inception in 1985, the following men and women have dedicated countless hours to improve the productivity and profitability of the rice industry in Arkansas by serving on the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board.
Former and Current Members
Harvey Adams 1985-1986
Tommy Hillman 1985-1995, Chair 1985-1988
Milton Lemmons 1985-1990
Jon Lambi 1985-2004, Sec. 1993-1995,
Vice 1995-1997, Chair 1997-1999
Joe Rennicke 1985-2002, Vice 1985-1988, Chair 1988-1990
Gary Sebree 1985-1988, Sec. 1985-1988
John King, Jr., 1985-1998,
Sec. 1992-1993, Vice 1993-1995, Chair 1995-1997
L.F. Seidenstricker 1985-1987
Bill Rasco 1985-1994,
Sec. 1988-1990, Vice 1990-1992, Chair 1992-1993
David Hillman 1986-1999, Vice 1988-1990, Chair 1990-1992
Carl Morrison III 1987-1997, Sec. 1995-1996
Jerry Hoskyn, 1988-2010, Sec. 1990-1992, 2003;
Vice 1992-1993, Chair 1993-1995, Sec. 2003-2005,
Vice 2005-2007, Chair 2007-2009
Martha Ahrent 1991-1996, 1997-2000,
Vice 1997-1999, Chair 1999-2000
George Dunklin 1994-2005, Sec. 1999-2001,
Vice 2001-2003, Chair 2003-2005
Marvin Hare 1995-2021, Sec. 1997-1999, Vice 1999-2001,
Chair 2001-2003, Sec. 2009-2011, Vice 2011-2013,
Chair 2013-2015.
Regina Coleman 1996-1999
Bryan Moery 1998-2020, Sec. 2001-2003, Vice 2003-2005,
Chair 2005-2007, Sec. 2011-2013, Vice 2013-2015.
Chair 2015-2017
Greg Baltz 1999-2001
John Andrews 1999-2004
Randy Veach 2001-2002
Rusty Smith 2001-2011
Rich Hillman 2002-2019, Sec. 2007-2009,
Vice 2009-2011, Chair 2011-2013
Wayne Wiggins 2002-present, Sec. 2005-2007,
Vice 2007-2009, Chair 2009-2011
Joe Christian 2004-present, Sec. 2017-2019,
Vice 2019-2021, Chair 2021-present
Roger Pohlner 2004-present, Sec. 2015-2017,
Vice 2017-2019, Chair 2019-2021
John Alter 2006-2013
Jay Coker 2010-present, Sec. 2013-2015,
Vice 2015-2017, Chair 2017-2019
Mike Sullivan 2011-2015
Bobby Hoard, 2013-2017
David Gairhan, 2015-present, Sec. 2021-present
Jim Whittaker, 2017-present, Sec. 2019-2021, Vice 2021-present
Jeff Rutledge, 2019-present
John King III, 2020-present
David Petter, 2021-present