Fryar Center speaker series inspired by alumnus, ag hall of famer
Oct. 13, 2025
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- No cost to attend in-person event at Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences
- Event can be viewed online. Register here.
Download photos of Donnie Smith and Thomas Gist Jr.
(521 words)
(Newsrooms: Please note that Gist passed away on Oct. 10)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new speaker series hosted by the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence takes its inspiration from Thomas Gist Jr., a University of Arkansas alumnus and Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame member whose life is marked by community service and commitment to agriculture.
NEW SERIES — Thomas Gist Jr., a lifelong cotton and grain farmer in Marianna, is the inspiration behind a new speaker series hosted by the Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence starting Oct. 30. (Courtesy photo)
The Future of Arkansas Agriculture and Beyond series begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 30 with former Tyson Foods CEO Donnie Smith. The event is being held in the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1371 W. Altheimer Drive in Fayetteville. For those not able to attend in person, a virtual option is available.
“The vision for this event was initiated by Mr. Gist, whose lifelong commitment to agriculture — through farming, community service, leadership on boards, and his involvement in the banking industry — demonstrates his forward-thinking perspective on the future of agriculture,” said Tami Strickland, associate director-marketing for the Fryar Center. “Mr. Gist envisioned this series as a platform led by a strong voice with deep knowledge of agriculture in Arkansas, across the United States, and around the globe.”
Gist is a lifelong cotton and grain farmer in Marianna who made his mark in agriculture through leadership, innovation, and community involvement. He was inducted into the Arkansas Hall of Fame in 2002 and cited in media, including the Wall Street Journal’s coverage of his early use of GPS technology in agriculture.
He was appointed to many boards of directors including Riceland Foods, Farmland Industries of Kansas City, Arkansas Soybean Promotion, Southern Farmers Association, Tri-County Farmers Co-op in Brinkley, and Lee County Grain Drying Co-op. Gist also served as president of Farm Bureau and manager of Lee Phillips Co-op Gin.
Gist was also active in the ag banking industry, serving for 27 years on the board of Farm Credit Mid-South, three years as board chair of the Credit Banks of St. Louis, a district director of the St. Louis Federal Land Bank, and vice chairman of Federal Land Bank of Eastern Arkansas. Later in life he was elected county judge in Lee County.
An avid Razorback supporter, Gist graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and agriculture in 1957.
Keeping the vision
Strickland said the keynote speaker, Smith, “embodies Gist’s vision.
“Having built his career at Tyson Foods, Inc. — rising from field service technician to chief executive officer — Donnie brings unparalleled experience across every level of the meat and poultry industry,” she said. “He is also deeply passionate about addressing food insecurity and advancing solutions for the challenges of a growing global population. His perspective on preparing the next generation of agricultural students, farmers, and ranchers promises to be both relevant and motivating.”
The event will open with remarks from:
- Deacue Fields, vice president for agriculture, University of Arkansas System.
- Ed Fryar, alumnus, and trustee of the University of Arkansas, as well as eponymous foundation donor for Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence.
- Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture and past president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
“We hope that all who attend will leave with renewed hope and energy for the future of agriculture,” Strickland said.
About the Fryar Center
The Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas was established in 2020 with a gift from Ed and Michelle Fryar.
The center is committed to developing an international program of scholarship embracing the university’s three-fold land-grant mission of research, teaching and outreach. Our work focuses on critical risk management issues facing the food and fiber system, with particular emphasis on products and industries contributing significantly to the Arkansas economy.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
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. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
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 three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Tami Strickland by email (tstrickland@uada.edu) or phone (479-263-4682) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact: Tami Strickland
Associate Marketing Director
Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence
Cell: (479) 263-4682
tstrickland@uada.edu