Ewell Welch named Bumpers College outstanding alumnus
April 27, 2005Contact Information:
Fred Miller, Science Editor, 479-575-5647 / fmiller@uark.edu
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- Ewell R. Welch, executive vice president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, has been selected as 2005 Outstanding Alumnus of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
Dean Gregg Weidemann will present the award at the Bumpers College commencement program May 14 at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center.
"Ewell Welch is a highly effective advocate for agriculture in Arkansas and the nation," Weidemann said. "He also is a loyal alumnus who has provided valuable service to Bumpers College and the University."
Welch was employed by Arkansas Farm Bureau in 1977, the year in which he received a master's degree from the U of A in agricultural economics. He received a B.S. degree in plant pathology from the U of A in 1975.
From 1977 to 1983, Welch served as director of fowl marketing and the dairy and poultry divisions for Farm Bureau. From 1983 to 1997 he was director of the rice and soybean divisions and administrator of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board and Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. He was named coordinator for the Market Master program in 1989 and associate director for commodity services in 1990.
Welch joined the senior management team as director of the commodity and public policy department from 1997 to 2002, when he was appointed executive vice president.
Weidemann said Welch was instrumental in establishing the Arkansas Foundation for Agriculture with the mission of educating Arkansans about the value and importance of agriculture.
Welch was president of the Bumpers College Alumni Society in 2002-2003. He is a LeadAR advisory council member and a past or present member of the board of directors for the FFA Foundation, 4-H Foundation, Arkansas Farm Show, Foundation for Agriculture, State Chamber of Commerce and Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Arkansas State Fair executive committee.
Welch is a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society of agriculture, and was awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree and Honorary State FFA Degree.
While a student at the U of A, Welch was an officer in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the Agri Students Association.
A native of Havana, Ark., Ewell and Deanna Willey Welch, also a UA alumnus, have two children, Wesley and Natalie Welch Sims, who graduated from the U of A in 2001 and 2003, respectively.