About Us
Our Mission is three-fold
How We Impact
Meet our Executive Board

EVETTE BROWNING
PRESIDENTBIO
Evette moved to Little Rock from Los Angeles, California. She began her career in agriculture at the Arkansas Forestry Commission in 2002. Since then, she has served in many roles to include Executive Assistant to the Director, Outreach Coordinator, Minority and Women-Owned Business Officer, Business Travel Custodian, Title IV of Civil Rights Act of 1964 Coordinator, Grievance Officer, Business Continuity Planner, Webmaster, Alternate Website Manager, Grant Review Team Leader, etc. Passionate about helping others, the role of Outreach Coordinator fits her and is dear to her heart which led to her induction into the Communication’s Group Women in Industry in 2020. She is on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Land & Farm Development Corporation and the Arkansas Land & Community Development Corporation. She also is on the Sustainable Forestry & Land Retention’s Policy and Communications Committees and is active on the Arkansas State Employees Grievance Appeals Panel. In her spare time, Evette loves to shop, participate in volunteer work, spend time with family, and travel. Evette is married to Robert with one grown son, Isiah.

MICHELLE BUFKIN HORTON
VICE PRESIDENTBIO
Michelle is a Marketing Coordinator for AcreTrader, a farm capital investment company in Fayetteville. Her favorite part of the role is being able to ensure that farmland will remain in production for years to come.
Previously Michelle was the Membership & Communications Director for the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association. Michelle and her husband live on a commercial cattle operation in Decatur, Arkansas.

LINDSEY HOLTZCLAW
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONSBIO
Lindsey lives in Columbia County with her husband, Jes, and son, John Monroe. She says her passion for agriculture started by growing up on her grandparent’s farm in central Arkansas but later grew thanks to her involvement with FFA. Lindsey is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University and now serves as Director of Marketing for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas. She says her favorite responsibility in her role is telling the stories of western Arkansas farmers and ranchers. Lindsey is also an active Farm Bureau member and serves on her county Farm Bureau board.

BARBIE JOHNSON
TREASURERBIO
Barbie is an active partner on her family’s row crop farm in Desha County. She and her husband Lee along with their children Gena, Ashlee and Jake take great pride their farm is recognized as an Arkansas Century Farm. When not on the farm, she enjoys working as a Master Gardener of Drew County as well as Area 12 Special Olympics Director. Through ARWIA, she has learned of conservation practices that they have implemented on their family farm.

MONICA GRIFFIN
SECRETARYBIO
Monica lives in Pulaski County with her husband Tyler and sons Barrett and Owen. They own Cave Creek Farms where they raise beef cattle, goats and honey bees. Monica was an agriculture education teacher for 9 years before becoming a feed dealer for Umbarger & Sons Feed. Monica enjoys sharing with people about opportunities in agriculture, FFA and how to be wise consumers of agriculture products.
Meet our Area Representatives

MADISON TRAVIS
NORTHEAST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Madison is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University where she received a B.S in Agriculture Business and a M.B.A with Agriculture emphasis. Madison and her husband, Michael, live in Jonesboro, AR where she serves as a Crop Insurance Servicing Agent for Rabo AgriFinance. Madison’s time spent in her local FFA chapter began her love for agriculture, allowing her to see the impact that it has on the world.

ASHLYN USSERY
NORTHEAST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Ashlyn is a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville where she received her M.S. in Agricultural Communications. She works as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator for the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center in Jonesboro. Ashlyn grew up in central Arkansas and says that her involvement with 4-H is what lead her to a career in agriculture. In her spare time, Ashlyn enjoys being outdoors with Tilly, her mini Australian Shepard, as well as spending time with family and friends.

BROOKE ANDERSON
NORTHWEST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Brooke is a graduate of the University of Arkansas where she earned a B.S in Accounting, an M.S. in Agricultural Economics, and an M.S. in International Rural Development. She now supports her local food system by teaching business planning to the next generation of specialty crop farmers in the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food (CAFF) Apprenticeship and Farm School Programs. Continuing to pursue her passion for sustainable agricultural systems, she is also studying for a Ph.D. in Public Policy with a focus on Agricultural Policy. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and camping in the beautiful Arkansas scenery.

DIXIE MILLER
NORTHWEST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Dixie Miller is a graduate of the University of Arkansas where she completed her B.S. in Agricultural Communications. Dixie works for the University of Arkansas Animal Science Department as a program technician and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Agricultural and Extension Education. Dixie is from Farmington, Arkansas and has a passion for the cattle industry and all things agriculture.

JENNIFER M. GRIFFIN
SOUTHEAST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Jennifer is the District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She has a degree from The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where she majored in agriculture business with a minor in agronomy. Jennifer’s hobbies include sharing/speaking about the many opportunities in agriculture, spending time with family, cooking and traveling.

RHONDA O'GUINN
SOUTHEAST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Bio coming soon.

DEEDEE ALSTON
SOUTHWEST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Deedee lives in Polk County with her husband Luke. Together they are the 4th generation owners of her family farm and the 5th generation to own his family’s Century farm. With a long history of agriculture in both families from timber to cattle to crops to agritourism, they are both strong advocates of agriculture and the rural way of life. Deedee has an MBA from University of Arkansas Little Rock, is a Master Gardner, serves on the Arkansas Agritourism Board of Directors and is a licensed realtor who loves working to help her clients learn about the production possibilities of farm land.

CALEIGH WATLINGTON
SOUTHWEST AREA REPRESENTATIVEBIO
Caleigh is a recent graduate of Southern Arkansas University where she received a B.S. in Agribusiness and a M.B.A. in Supply Chain Management. She works for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas as a Loan Officer in their Magnolia Branch. Caleigh grew up on a beef cattle and poultry operation in Lincoln, AR and says her experiences in 4-H and FFA led her to a career in agriculture. She currently lives in Buckner, AR where her and her husband, Coe, have a small commercial cattle herd.

GRACE TURNER
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGEBIO
Growing up, my parents have owned and operated Hope Livestock Auction as well as a cow calf operation, where I was heavily involved in both. After getting married in 2020, my husband and I combined our cow/calf herds, started a beef stocker operation, and teamed up with a local producer to bring a sheep and goat auction to the southwest Arkansas area. We also provide lease contracts to rodeo producers and individuals for livestock in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Along with helping operate the ranch at home, I work as a Financial Services Specialist at Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas.

KISIA WEEKS
BOARD MEMBER AT LARGEBIO
I currently serve as one of the Agriculture Teachers and FFA Advisors at White Hall High School! I grew up working alongside my father in his carpentry shop, which ignited my passion for agriculture mechanics. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I learned my place in the agriculture industry and fell in love with promoting the story of American Agriculture, advocating for an industry that feeds, clothes, and shelters us, and educate students on the importance of our industry. From the moment I put on the blue corduroy FFA jacket I knew my purpose would be to advocate for and serve the agriculture industry!
Meet our Collegiate Ambassadors

BROOKE BRADFORD
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSASBIO
I am a sophomore at the University of Arkansas double majoring in Agricultural Communications and Agricultural Leadership with minors in Event Management and Journalism. I didn’t grow up around agriculture but fell in love with FFA in high school. My ag teachers exposed me to the best of agriculture in Arkansas and I decided to stick around. In 2020 I served as the Arkansas FFA President and this fall I ran for National FFA Office. I currently serve on the Governor’s Commission on Community Service and Volunteerism as a youth commissioner and am a member of Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow. I love the color pink, coffee, Instagram, travel, and people. I geek out over planning, vision boards, and branding.

LEAH BALLIN
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITYBIO
I am a senior Agricultural Business major at Arkansas State and pursuing my Masters in Animal Science. I was not raised on a farm but I have a love and passion for agriculture. I have worked at the A-State Equine Center for 2.5 years and at Mark Dunham Quarter Horses for one year. In my time at A-State, I have enjoyed being involved in leadership roles like being a college ambassador, officer for Collegiate Farm Bureau, and officer for the Equine Club. I also actively volunteer at the A-State Hippo-therapy program.

SHAE PARSONS
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITYBIO
I am a Junior Agricultural Education major at Arkansas Tech University. Being an active member of my FFA chapter opened many doors and provided much insight into what I want my future to look like. Currently, I serve in numerous leadership capacities on my college campus. I am a member of the ATU Agriculture Ambassadors sponsored by Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, member of Ag. Club, and serve as Vice President of the ATU FFA Alumni and Supporters chapter. I also serve as Risk Chairman for Zeta Tau Alpha. In Spring of 2021, I was asked to serve on the Arkansas FFA Foundation Collegiate Council. My involvement in agriculture classes and FFA in high school fostered my love for agriculture and teaching others, and I am proud to carry that tradition into my collegiate career. I also enjoy spending time with my family and Golden Retriever, River.

AINSLEY PURIFOY
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITYBIO
I am an agriculture business major at SAU. Throughout high school I was heavily involved in FFA and showed livestock. I competed in public speaking events for FFA, where I often spoke about the affects of labeling on products, as well as the importance of increasing the production level of farmers to feed the growing population. After graduation, I plan to work for a lobbying firm, presenting agricultural-based legislation and promoting it to legislators. I would like to help erase the stigma that surrounds women in agriculture, such as the idea that they are not as capable as a man or as level-headed.