New appointments to state plant board

LITTLE ROCK — Gov.

Asa Hutchinson has appointed new members to the Arkansas State Plant Board to fill positions left vacant under an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling earlier this year.

“The Plant Board is one of the most significant commissions for Arkansas agriculture, and I am confident this first-rate slate of new members will ensure Arkansas agriculture remains No. 1,” Hutchinson said.

The General Assembly passed Act 361, which increased the number of board members from 17 to 19, took effect July 28.

Two of the 19 are nonvoting members designated by the Vice President for Agriculture of the University of Arkansas.

Eight are nominated by agricultural associations and appointed by the Governor. Nine are appointed by the Governor.

Two members appointed by the Governor whose terms expire March 17, 2022, remained on the Plant Board.

The Arkansas Senate must approve the appointments, which all expire October 1, 2023.

The new members are: Matthew Marsh, Cammack Village: Practical rice grower, actively and principally engaged in the production of rice.

Mark Morgan, Clarksville: Practical horticulturist or nurseryman, actively and principally engaged in the business. Nominated by the Arkansas State Horticultural Society and the Arkansas Green Industry Association.

David Gammill, Tyronza: Practical corn, peanut, sorghum, turf, or wheat grower, actively and principally engaged in the production of corn, peanuts, sorghum, turf, or wheat.

Matt Miles, McGehee: Practical soybean grower, actively and principally engaged in the production of soybeans.

Mark Hopper, Mountain Home: Representing pest control operators.

Nominated by the Arkansas Pest Management Association.

Marty Eaton, Jonesboro: Seed dealer, actively and principally engaged in the business. Nominated by the Arkansas Seed Dealers’ Association.

Lance Schmidt, Pocahontas: Seed grower, actively and principally engaged in the business.

Nominated by the Arkansas Seed Growers Association.

Lester Scott, Little Rock: Representing pesticide manufacturers. Nominated by the Arkansas Crop Protection Association.

Mark Hartz, Stuttgart: Representing agricultural aviators. Nominated by the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association.

Richard Watts, Watson: Representing the forest sector. Nominated by the Arkansas Forestry Association.

Nathan Reed, Marianna: Farmer, actively and principally engaged in the production of corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, turf, or wheat.

Travis Senter, Osceola: Farmer, actively and principally engaged in the production of corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, turf, or wheat.

Reynold Meyer, Eudora: Practical livestock producer, actively and principally engaged in the production of livestock.

Bruce Alford, Lewisville: Practical forage grower, actively and principally engaged in the production of forage.

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LITTLE ROCK — The Democratic Party of Arkansas has elected Grant Tennille as the party’s new chairman.

Tennille is the former head of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission under Governor Mike Beebe’s administration.

The DPA’s State Committee elected Tennille at Saturday's State Committee meeting.

'I’ll leave you with this promise: I will work hard every day; I will unite this Party; I will tell you the truth and I will make you proud to be an Arkansas Democrat,” said Tennille.

As head of the AEDC, Tennille’s team secured the largest economic-development investment in the State’s history, Big River Steel, which returned the state’s investment well ahead of schedule.

Tennille lives in Little Rock with his wife Rebecca.

They have three children: Will, 26; Sarah, 18; and Annie, 16.

Tennille fills the shoes of Interim Chair Nicole Hart, who stepped up from the role of vice chair in September. She will resume that role.