LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame will induct five individuals whose leadership and service have brought distinction to the state’s largest industry segment.

The newest class includes James R. (Jim) Baker of Conway, James Bibler of Russellville, the late Billie R. Nix of Ash Flat, the late Bruce Oakley of El Paso and John Ed Regenold of Blytheville.

“To consider the accomplishments of these gentlemen who have been selected to the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is to see the outcome of hard work, foresight and ingenuity,” said Butch Calhoun of Des Arc, chairman of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame and former Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “The impact they made on their communities, on agriculture in our state, and the lives of so many of those associated with their successes is incalculable.

“They are each deserving of this recognition, which reflects well on agriculture. They all stand for the positive benefits agriculture provides to this state. It will be a special day of celebration when they are inducted.”

The group will be honored at the 27th annual induction luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. on March 6 at Little Rock’s Embassy Suites Hotel. Luncheon tickets are $35 each and are available by calling (501) 228-1470 or email aghalloffame@arfb.com.

Baker was a longtime manager of the Lewis Livestock Company, past chairman of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, and a former administrator of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. In 2014 he was elected to serve as Faulkner County Judge. Baker calls the Ag Hall of Fame, the “Heisman Trophy” of agriculture.

“I’ve probably had a working relationship with at least 40 percent of those who have been inducted during my lifetime,” he recalled. “Many of the men I consider giants in our industry, like Orval Childs, Ned Ray Purtle, Marvin Vines I had the opportunity to work with. Joining them in the Hall of Fame is very humbling.” Baker says while he was manager of Lewis Livestock Auction in Conway it became the second-largest cattle auction facility in the southeast, serving 450-500 customers a week. But he is most proud of an honor he received in 1999. “During the Farm Bureau Officers and Leaders Conference in Hot Springs Progressive Farmer magazine named me the ‘Man of the Year in Arkansas Agriculture.’ At 52, I was the youngest man to receive that recognition and I’m very proud of that.”

Bibler is former owner of Bibler Brothers Lumber Company, a model timber man who built a progressive and successful milling operation. He is a past chairman of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, former president of the Arkansas Forestry Association, and past president of the Southern Forest Products Association. He was named Man of the Year in 1991 by Timber Processing magazine.

Bibler recalls when the family lumber mill burned to the ground in 1969, it was run by his father, his father’s two brothers and sister. They asked James what they should do. “I told them I wanted to build it back, but didn’t want to use the same old saws and equipment,” he said. “When we build back I want to install the most modern equipment on the market. That’s what we did, but it didn’t stop there. Every time something new came along we would incorporate it into the operation. That was my philosophy throughout my career.” 

Nix was owner and operator of the Ash Flat Livestock Auction for 50 years, until his death in 2010. It is estimated that 1.5 million head of livestock were sold through his facility, which is still operated by his family. Nix was past president of the Sharp County Fair, an organizer of the North Central Arkansas District Fair, past vice president of the Arkansas Livestock Marketing Association and a longtime officer with the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association. Mike Nix was five-years-old when his parents opened the sale barn and he grew up in the business. He attributes his father’s success to being a man of his word and building a loyal customer base that reaches well beyond Sharp County.

“My dad was a man of character, honesty and integrity,” Mike said. “He was someone our customers could count on. His word was his bond. More than anything that was the hallmark of his career, his legacy and why he is so respected in the cattle industry.” 

Bruce Oakley built a business from a single dump truck from which he hauled lime fertilizer in 1968 to a diversified commodity trading, distribution and transportation company based in North Little Rock with $1.3 billion in sales in 2014. Oakley passed way in 2006, at the age of 70, though his family continues to grow the business he created, with customers and suppliers around the world. The company now deals in trucking, barge traffic, fertilizer, river ports, grain merchandising, bagging services, river towing and fuel distribution, all areas that impact the agricultural community.

“His legacy is the people who are still working for the company,” Dennis Oakley said about his father. “Many of them knew him and still do business the way he thought it should be done.” Honesty and integrity are hallmarks of Bruce Oakley, Inc. Life lessons the late Bruce Oakley taught Dennis were, “Always do what you say you’re going to do,” and “Never bet the farm.” 

As chairman of the Armorel Planting Company, Regenold manages roughly 10,000 acres of farmland in Mississippi County. Regenold is first and foremost a farmer. He recently completed a 10-year term on the Arkansas State Highway Commission, where he spent two years as chairman. He also served on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, as a member of the St. Francis Levee Board and a commission for the District 17 Drainage District. In 1968, Regenold was named the outstanding farmer for Mississippi County. He is honored to receive the recognition and join men he respects who are also members of the Hall of Fame.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be included in the Hall of Fame with men like Marion Berry and Mark Bryles who I respect very much and have worked with to improve cotton production, in particular, in Mississippi County. Were he here today I know my father, who instilled in me the work ethic that I’ve lived by all these years, would be very proud.”

The mission of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is to build public awareness of agriculture and to formally recognize and honor individuals whose efforts have led to the prosperity of local communities and the state.