Mid-South Ag & Environmental Law Conference marks 10th year; features solid issue lineup and establishes scholarship
“We have been going strong for 10 years now, and this year continues the tradition of having excellent speakers presenting on core issues in the ag industry that are especially relevant to the Mid-South region of the country. " — Harrison Pittman
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 3, 2023
Fast facts
- Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference marks 10th anniversary June 8-9.
- ‘Early Bird’ online bonus CLE is May 24.
- Agenda includes the Farm Bill, heirs’ property, solar leasing.
- Net proceeds will be dedicated to the new Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Scholarship.
- Conference registration, info, and agenda are online.
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Related photos of key note speaker and conference graphic, https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAynSw and of Wes Ward)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference will mark its 10th year on June 8-9 with something new: establishment of a memorial scholarship to help bring new talent to the field of agricultural law.
The conference, which focuses on issues relevant to the Mid-South, will include sessions on solar leasing, the 2023 Farm Bill, farm succession and healthcare planning.
The event, which began in 2014, will be held at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The annual networking dinner at the Rendezvous will be held June 8, with the program on June 9.
“The Mid-South is a staple event of the National Agricultural Law Center,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “We have been going strong for 10 years now, and this year continues the tradition of having excellent speakers presenting on core issues in the ag industry that are especially relevant to the Mid-South region of the country. The presentations will be relevant to attorneys and non-attorneys alike.”
Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, or NASDA, will deliver the conference’s keynote as part of the “Early Bird” session on May 24. The keynote will be moderated by Wes Ward, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.
“NASDA has been a great longtime partner to the NALC, and the work they do for the agricultural community is outstanding,” Pittman said. “Ted is an exceptional presenter, and we are excited to have him deliver the keynote for this 10th annual event. His insight into international agricultural trade and his perspective on the future of the industry will make for a great presentation during the ‘Early Bird’ session.”
Between the May 24 “Early Bird” and the June 9 program, at least nine hours of continuing legal education credit — one hour of which is ethics — is available. The program has also been approved for 9 hours of continuing education credit by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
The Mid-South conference agenda, registration, sponsorship, and other information can be found online.
Establishing a scholarship
To mark its decade milestone, funds raised from the Mid-South will support a new scholarship geared toward attracting new talent to the field of agricultural law.
“This year’s Mid-South conference is particularly meaningful because all net proceeds, which are derived from registrations and sponsorships, will be dedicated to establishing the Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Scholarship,” Pittman said.
In life, Fancher wore many hats: Marine, farmer, mentor and attorney, but “most of all, he was a friend who believed in lifting up others,” Pittman said.
The Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Scholarship will honor Fancher’s legacy and provide a path forward for new faces in the agricultural law profession. More information on the Scott E. Fancher Agricultural Law Scholarship is available online. The NALC is also seeking conference sponsors, with an option of a “Friends of Scott” category, and those interested can contact Pittman directly at hmpittm@uark.edu. The “Friends of Scott” category is an avenue for those attending the conference as well as family, friends, and former co-workers of Scott who would like to combine smaller individual contributions into one.
Current sponsors of this year’s Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference sponsors include the NASDA Foundation, American Farm Bureau Federation, the Mid-Chapter of the American Society for Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and the American Society of Farm Managers.
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge
to The Feed, the NALC’s newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture,
which issues twice a month.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural
and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal
policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many
others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information
to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal
access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as
soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu