2025 State Women's Leadership Committee
Chair – Nita Cooper, Boone County
Vice Chair – Sara Beth Johnson, Lonoke County
District 1 – Brittany Barnes, Craighead County
District 2 – Pam Billingsley, Sharp County
District 3 – Polly Lichti, Carroll County
District 4 – Elizabeth Walker, Sevier County
District 5 – Abigail Meredith, Garland County
District 6 – Margie Raimondo, Pulaski County
District 7 – Mindy Lockhart, Hempstead County
Back row from left: Elizabeth Walker, Brittany Barnes, Pam Billingsley, Polly Lichti and Mindy Lockhart
Front row from left: Margie Raimondo, Nita Cooper, Sara Beth Johnson and Abigail Meredith
Meet the 2025 State Committee
Nita Cooper is chair of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She and her husband Gary own and operate a cow-calf operation in Everton (Boone County). They have two daughters, Nikki (Richey) and Kim (Jade), and five grandchildren – Rilee, Rex, Jhett, Lynlee and Steeley. Nita is a retired Boone County extension agent. She is serving her sixth year on the state committee and first as chair.
Sara Beth Johnson is vice chair of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She and her husband Colton are Lonoke County Farm Bureau members. They own and operate Flying Pig Cattle Co., in Hickory Plains. In addition to a commercial cow-calf operation, they also sell raw cow and goat milk and make small batch goat milk soaps. Their daughter Josey loves the farm life and helps milk goats and cows, feed the livestock and drives every vehicle they own. Sara Beth is serving her third year on the state committee and first as vice chair.
Brittany Barnes is the District 1 representative on the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She grew up around her family’s ag-related services business, which inspired her passion for agriculture. Brittany works as assistant credit manager with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Jonesboro (Craighead County). She is serving her second year on the state committee.
District 1: Craighead County, Crittenden County, Cross County, Lee County, Mississippi County, Phillips County, Poinsett County and St. Francis County.
Pam Billingsley is the District 2 representative on the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She resides on a farm in Ash Flat (Sharp County). Pam retired from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and is passionate about promoting agriculture. She is serving her second year on the state committee.
District 2: Clay County, Greene County, Independence County, Jackson County, Lawrence County, Monroe County, Prairie County, Randolph County, Sharp County, White County and Woodruff County.
Polly Lichti is the District 3 representative on the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She and her husband David have a cow-calf operation in southern Carroll County. They have three grown children – Abigail, Katherine and Keith. Polly previously taught English, journalism and oral communications before returning to the farm full time. She is serving her first year on the state committee.
District 3: Baxter County, Benton County, Boone County, Carroll County, Fulton County, Izard County, Madison County, Marion County, Newton County, Searcy County, Stone County and Washington County.
Elizabeth Walker is the District 4 representative on the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. Elizabeth earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Arkansas. After college, Elizabeth worked at Domtar as a senior process engineer while her husband Brian focused on building their family farm. Elizabeth works as a full-time mom and farmer at Lucky 13 Farm in Horatio (Sevier County). Alongside her husband and teenage children, Reese and Rhett, they raise cattle and operate a broiler farm. She is serving her second year on the state committee.
District 4: Crawford County, Howard County, Little River County, Miller County, Montgomery County, North Logan County, Pike County, Polk County, Scott County, Sebastian County, Sevier County and South Logan County.
Abigail Meredith is the District 5 representative on the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She and her husband Jack raise beef cattle and goats on their farm in Bonnerdale (Garland County). Abigail is a published author of multiple children’s books, most related to agriculture and life on the farm. Her full-time job is an alternative learning environment paraprofessional at Centerpoint school. During the summer she is a private swim instructor. She is serving her first year on the state committee.
District 5: Cleburne County, Conway County, Faulkner County, Franklin County, Garland County, Hot Spring County, Johnson County, Perry County, Pope County, Van Buren County and Yell County.
Margie Raimondo is the District 6 representative on the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. She and her husband Chris operate Urbana Farmstead (Pulaski County), offering garden-based cooking and preservation classes. The classes help people learn to prepare delicious and nutritious meals using the freshest ingredients. Additionally, they have an on-site market offering farm goods. Margie and Chris have four children and seven grandchildren. She is serving her first year on the state committee.
District 6: Arkansas County, Cleveland County, Desha County, Drew County, Jefferson County, Lincoln County, Lonoke County, Pulaski County and Saline County
Mindy Lockhart is the District 7 representative on the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. A fourth-generation rancher, she and her husband Mark own and operate a commercial cow-calf operation and custom hay business in Hope (Hempstead County). Mark and Mindy have three children – Cody (Katlin), Harlie and Lane. They have two grandchildren, Hayden and Hallie. Mindy is serving her second year on the state committee.
District 7: Ashley County, Bradley County, Calhoun County, Chicot County, Clark County, Columbia County, Dallas County, Grant County, Hempstead County, Lafayette County, Nevada County, Ouachita County and Union County.