Sherman D. Cullum, Sr.

Sherman Cullum dedicated his life to serving those in agriculture, first as a County Extension Agent (Mississippi County, 1960-61; Cross County, 1961-63), as manager of a Farm Supply business (1963-67), and assistant manager for Lee Wilson Co. (1967-74), before moving on to serve as owner/operator of Cullum’s Flying Service (1974-80), and Cullum Seeds, Inc. (1977-1997), developing it into one of the leading seed distributors in the mid-south. A native of Piggott, Cullum earned a degree in agriculture in 1960 from the University of Arkansas. Cullum was honored with distinguished service awards from the Arkansas Agricultural Pesticide Association and the Cooperative Extension Service in 1987. He also was presented the Pioneer Award by the Arkansas Seed Dealers Association in 2000. Active in a number of agricultural organizations, Cullum spent 20 years as a member of the Arkansas State Plant Board, including 10 years as chairman. He was an organizing member of the Arkansas Wheat Growers Association, for which he served as its first president, as well as a member of the National Wheat Growers board of directors. He was president of the Arkansas Agricultural Pesticide Association, chairman of the Arkansas Aerial Applicators Association, and a member of the board of directors for the Arkansas Plant Food Educational Society and Delta Rice Mill. Cullum also served as vice chairman of the Agricultural Development Council, on the Governor’s Small Business Task Force, on the national advisory board for Northrup King Company, with the Southern Seedmen Association, Southern Weed Science Society, the Arkansas Ag Council, the Agricultural Science and Technology Council, and as a member of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation Task Force. He also served on the Campaign for the 21st Century for the University of Arkansas, on the FFA Alumni Association, the Century Club for Crowley’s Ridge Academy, and the Crowley’s Ridge College board of trustees.