Meet Your Director, Elizabeth Walker
Meet your newly elected Farm Credit of Western Arkansas director.
Tell us about your family and farming operation.
I was born into agriculture and raised on a poultry and cattle farm about 30 minutes away from where we farm today. I loved the farm, but I'll be honest, I did not enjoy the poultry side. It was really motivation for me to go to college. I graduated with a degree in chemical engineering and worked as an engineer at a paper mill for 10 years while my husband built our farm. With Farm Credit's help, we started with two broiler houses and grew from there. After our children were born, I left my engineering job and we've been full-time farmers for about 15 years now. Our son is a senior at Horatio High School, and our daughter is a sophomore at the University of Arkansas.
How has agriculture evolved since you started farming?
From a technology perspective, it's changed tremendously. When I was growing up, everything was manual. Today we can monitor and adjust our poultry houses from anywhere using an app on our phones. That kind of technology has been a game changer for us and gives us flexibility and freedom we didn't have before.
What has your experience with Farm Credit been like?
We would not have been able to start farming without Farm Credit. We started with a USDA guaranteed loan when we were fresh out of college. We had nothing and they took a chance on us. Over the years, I've seen firsthand how Farm Credit supports farmers-not just in good times, but through tough ones, too.
Why do you believe in the cooperative structure and serving on the board?
Farmers understand farmers. As a board, we bring real-world experience to the table. Seeing members at the feed store or a ballgame, they know they can reach out to us directly. That connection keeps Farm Credit grounded in its mission and ensures that our decisions truly serve our members.
What do you hope your service and involvement will mean for your community?
At the heart of it, I really love rural Arkansas. They're my people. Whether I'm serving on the school board or the Farm Credit Board, I do it because I want our communities to thrive. If I can help today's farmers succeed and open doors for the next generation, that's the legacy I hope to leave.
Read Elizabeth's full story and meet our other newly elected directors in the Winter 2025 issue of the Rural Scene magazine.
Other News
