The Obama administration has appointed Lawrence McCullough to serve as the USDA Rural Development state director for Arkansas and Linda Newkirk as the Farm Service Agency's state director.
Arkansas' two senators applauded the appointments Tuesday.
McCullough, who will be the first black to serve as state director, has worked with USDA Rural Development for more than 37 years. He has served as the director of single family housing and as assistant to the state director of the Farmers Home Administration.
Newkirk will be the first woman to serve as state director of Farm Service Agency. She currently serves as agricultural program specialist, a job she's held since 1991.