LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Farm Bureau has hired Jeff Pitchford as its director of public policy for state affairs. Pitchford comes to Farm Bureau after working in governmental relations since 1999 at the University of Central Arkansas, the last five years as vice president for the university in that area.

“We are very pleased to have Jeff Pitchford as a part of our lobbying team. His diverse background and experience is just what we need at this time,” said Stanley Hill, Farm Bureau’s vice president for public policy. “The pursuit of our agenda, which is looking out for the needs and interests of agriculture and rural Arkansas, as it relates to state government is increasingly challenging, and Jeff is certainly qualified to take on this task.”

Pitchford brings a wealth of experience to the position. His resume also includes being director of Arkansas’ Department of Rural Services from 1997-99 and as public safety liaison for Governor Mike Huckabee’s staff from 1994-96. In 2003, he was identified by Arkansas Business in its “”40 Under Forty” article, a series of profiles of key individuals in the state under 40 years old making a difference in Arkansas.

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Jeff Pitchford

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of more than 192,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.