ROSBORO -- Centerpoint High School vocational agriculture teacher Troy Buck was among 100 visionaries recently recognized through Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives, a search to identify 100 leaders who are changing rural communities and agriculture for the better.
Buck has taught vocational agriculture since 1961 at Centerpoint and previously at Hope. He was one of the top 10 national leaders in the Agriculture Education and Community Impact category.
"We are delighted to honor Mr. Buck as a leader who is helping to define the future of rural communities and agriculture," said Glen Manchester, president and CEO of Farm Credit of Western Arkansas. "This honor helps recognize Mr. Buck's work on behalf of agriculture education and the impact he's made in thousands of young people's lives. His contributions help ensure a vibrant future for rural Arkansas."
The national contest named 10 finalists in 10 separate categories, including Beginning Farmer or Rancher Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Financial Stewardship, Leadership, Mentoring and Volunteerism, Rural and Urban Connection, Rural Policy Influence, Sustainability and Natural Resources, and Youth Leadership.
Buck was the only Arkansan recognized in the contest. The 100 Fresh Perspectives search was held across the country to commemorate Farm Credit's 100-year anniversary of service to rural communities and agriculture.
Honorees were announced March 15, National Agriculture Day, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. They were selected by a panel of experts on rural matters, including Farm Credit leaders and others in the agriculture industry.
Buck has taught thousands of students, mentored state officers in the Arkansas Future Farmers of America Association and led numerous state competition winners. He was selected as one of the best leaders in "positively shaping what is next for rural communities and agriculture," according to Farm Credit.
"I want to see young men and women learn the values and skills necessary to be well trained, productive citizens," Buck said. "I'd like to have each of my students, 10 years after graduation, be a productive person and gainfully employed."
Buck was instrumental in the creation of the student-run processing lab and farm at Centerpoint High School meat processing lab and school farm. The district's vocational-agricultural program was named the Outstanding Ag Program in America in 2000.
The state Agriculture Teacher of the Year award has been presented to Buck three times. He was awarded the Pioneer Award by the Arkansas Department of Vocational Education in 1982.
The Amity FFA club won the national Building Our American Communities Award in 1992 for restoring the old school building and renovating it to become the Alpine Community Center. The Arkansas School Boards Association selected Buck for the Dan Pilkington Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education in 2004.
Buck serves as a member of the board of director for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas and the state board of Arkansas Farm Bureau.
"Our future holds many challenges for which we must prepare," Buck said. "The future must prove us successful because we must feed and lead the world."
The Farm Credit cooperatives of Arkansas joined almost 80 Farm Credit organizations to celebrate the honorees and the future of rural communities and agriculture. A complete list of the honorees is available online.
Local on 03/29/2016