Jack G. Justus, one of just five men to serve as executive vice president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, passed away Sunday. He spent 37 years with the organization, and served as its chief administrator from 1982-97.
Prior to his position as executive vice president, Justus served the Farm Bureau as vice president-executive assistant (1975-82), legislative director (1971-75) and district field coordinator (1960-71). Before joining the organization, he worked as a county agricultural agent with the Cooperative Extension Service in Craighead, Izard and Clay counties in northeastArkansas.
While EVP for the Farm Bureau, the organization’s membership increased from 114,000 to 204,000. He was instrumental in the development ofFarmBureauCenter, the organization’s headquarters located at the juncture of interstates 430 and 630. At the time of its completion, it was the first major office building in the now-bustling commercial area.
Justus was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1998.
A native of Lead Hill (BooneCounty), Justus attendedArkansasTechUniversityand theUniversityofArkansas, graduating with honors in agriculture.
Justus was named Progressive Farmer’s “Man of the Year in Service to Arkansas Agriculture” in 1996, and was honored as Distinguished Alumnus for theUniversity ofArkansas’College ofAgriculture in 1997. Additionally, Justus was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta Agriculture Society, and was awarded an Honorary American Farmer degree in 1985 by FFA.
Justus also served on the boards of theArkansas4-H Foundation, Arkansas FFA Foundation, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, First Commercial Bank Corporation, and the State Chamber of Commerce.
