William ‘Bill’ Dorough

Bill Dorough has been promoting agriculture his whole life. Growing up, he was a junior livestock exhibitor at the Arkansas State Fair. Very successful in the show ring, he had the Grand Champion Jersey Bull four years in a row. It was these early experiences that led Dorough to discover what he refers to as the “love of his life.” Starting in 1973, Dorough served for 30 years as livestock director at the Arkansas State Fair. During that time, he ensured that younger generations got the same chance he had: to participate in a quality statewide competition for animal exhibition at the fair. His work with the fair and the Farm & Ranch Club of Arkansas has touched the lives of countless young people, allowing them to learn the lessons that come from exhibiting livestock, and in turn, make the most of their futures. To this day, Dorough dedicates his time and support to the Junior Livestock Program with part-time work in the fair’s livestock department. However, his work with agriculture is not limited to the livestock exhibition. For 25 years Dorough owned and operated a 70-head dairy cattle operation in Sweet Home. Today, that same farm is home to a 70-head Angus cow/calf operation. In addition, he has served the agricultural community on a number of boards. He has been on the Pulaski County Farm Bureau board for more than 30 years; the Farmers’ Association Co-op board, serving as president for 23 years; the NRCS Pulaski County board; Arkansas State Fair Board of Governors; and the Pulaski County 4-H Foundation, where he is vice president. Also he has been on the Cooperative Extension Service Advisory Council; the Fourche Island Drainage Commission; the International Association of Fairs & Expositions; and was an integral part in the foundation of the Arkansas Fair Manager’s Association. Outside of agriculture, Dorough and his wife Frances are active members of the Primrose Methodist Church in Little Rock, where he has been chairman, trustee and administrator. He also has helped create a child-care facility at the church, and for many years has driven the children’s Sunday school van each Sunday. Born Jan. 5, 1929, in Little Rock, Dorough is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas. He fought in the Korean War as a member of the Arkansas National Guard.