LITTLE ROCK — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday tapped a veteran of farming administration to head the agency's state Farm Service and Rural Development office.
Linda Newkirk of Little Rock was named the State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency. Newkirk, an Arkansas native, has worked in every division of the FSA. Most recently, she was an agricultural program specialist in the agency, which distributes income support and disaster payments and provides loans for farmers to buy seeds, fertilizer and equipment.
Newkirk, whose family grew cotton on a farm in Piggott in Clay County when she was growing up, replaces Dotson Collins, who retired in January.
She said she was "very excited" about the new job, but didn't anticipate making any major changes there.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 08/26/2009