Piggott native named state's first female FSA director

Linda Newkirk

"Linda Newkirk has a solid understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our rural communities and will help build on the Obama administration's efforts to rebuild and revitalize America," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack of the appointment.

Newkirk has over 31 years of continuous service, and since 1991 has been an Agricultural Program Specialist, assigned to the state executive director for the Farm Service Agency. "I first started working at the state ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service) office in Little Rock back in 1977," she noted. "I was a C-O, or county officer-grade two, although I worked in the state office so I definitely started at the bottom. Over the years I just continued to work my way up the ladder."

During the past three decades Newkirk worked in all areas of the FSA, spending time in administrative, price support, conservation and the State Director's office. She has also been Federal Woman's Program Manager, and is now the first female to hold the job of State Director in Arkansas.

"The role of the USDA Farm Service Agency is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans," Newkirk explained. "Some of the agency's efforts include facilitating income support, disaster assistance and conservation programs, providing operating loans for procurement of farm equipment, seed and fertilizer as well as offering ownership loans to help new and veteran producers purchase a farm. The FSA also works to procure various commodities to benefit low-income families through domestic food assistance programs."

Newkirk, the daughter of the late Henry and Ruth Mayberry of Piggott, is married to Ray Camp of Little Rock.