Board member news

Bruce Jackson reflects on his time on council

Mr. Bruce Jackson, Lockesburg, retired from the Arkansas Beef Council in May after three years serving as a board member and vice chairman. This position on the board is nominated by Arkansas Farm Bureau and appointed by the governor of Arkansas. For his time on the board, he worked with other board members to develop and approve funding for projects using beef checkoff funds collected when cattle are sold.

To honor his time on board, Mr. Jackson was presented with the Leo Sutterfield Leadership Award for his contributions toward enhancing the beef industry through service on the Arkansas Beef Council.  

He started in the cattle business when he was 12 years old, working for his dad and uncle cutting hay and bush hogging where he earned his first heifer calf, then on to earn pasture rent, too, through high school

Mr. Jackson and his wife of 42 years, own a commercial cow-calf operation in Miller County. His son, Thomas, is following in his dad's footsteps with his own separate cattle operation.

"Serving on the Beef Council has been an honor. There is a fine line in reaching people to eat and enjoy beef using the research conducted to improve the eating experience while also informing producers how their checkoff dollar is being spent and that the council is making wise decisions about the checkoff dollar. 

"Checkoff dollars are important to increase the consumption of beef and the value of the carcass through a variety of cuts and recipes. If producers don't get involved. we will lose out on our independence".

Mr. Jackson's term ended in May 2021. Chase Groves from Garland City in Miller County replaced him on the board.