Jennifer James Named University of Arkansas Outstanding Alumna

JONESBORO, AR – Last month, between the closing of the Cotton & Rice Conference and the opening of the Arkansas Rice Annual Meetings here, more than 50 ag movers and shakers gathered for a reception to honor one of their own.  Jennifer James, a fourth-generation farmer from Newport, Arkansas, was named the 2023-24 Outstanding Alumna by the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
 
It was not the first time James has been celebrated, nor will it be the last.  Speakers reminded attendees that Jennifer earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural business in 1994 and also earned the college's John W. White Outstanding Student Award.  In 1999, Jennifer, along with her father, husband, and son who operate their Arkansas Century Farm, were named Arkansas Farm Family of the Year.
 
In 2017, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture recognized Jennifer as the Farmer of the Year for the conservation efforts on her farm and her leadership in sustainability.  In 2019 she was named Rice Farming Magazine’s Rice Farmer of the Year during a ceremony at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock.
 
James, who runs a successful rice, corn, and specialty soybean business, is committed not just to bettering the land she stewards, but also herself and the broader agriculture community.
 
She is a 1997 graduate of The Rice Foundation Leadership Development Class, a 2012 graduate of The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers, is a member of the Merchants & Planters Bank Board of Directors, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Board Agribusiness Industry Council, and made history in 2019 when she became the first woman elected to the Riceland Foods Board of Directors in their 97-year history.
 
James also gives back to local and national organizations.  She steered USA Rice sustainability efforts, taking what started out as a task force and turning it into a full-fledged committee that she chaired for a dozen years, making it one of the organization’s largest, most active, and influential national committees.  She also currently serves as vice chair of the Arkansas Rice Farmers Board.
 
James’ pickup truck, one that is newer and nicer than what was always parked in the Pi Beta Phi sorority parking lot when she was a UofA student, will be seen back on campus this spring as she’ll be interacting with students in various classes, taking lunch and meetings with select student groups, dinner with college stakeholders and administrators, and finally imparting words of wisdom to the graduating class of 2024 when she speaks at commencement this May.
 
“My experience at the College of Agriculture is very near and dear to my heart.  I loved every minute of my time there and I still get chills when I drive up on The Hill,” James said.  “I had such amazing professors and instructors.  Dr. Eric Wailes really sparked my desire and my passion for policy and to advocate for farmers.  I credit him for the volunteer efforts that I have done since then.  But most of all, I would not be able to do all this without a super supportive husband who honors my desire to go and do things that work for the industry.  He's always been home taking up my slack so I could go and do all this and help raise a fantastic son who's now come back to the farm – every farmer's dream.”