Thomas H. Gist Jr. is a lifelong cotton and grain farmer who has made his mark in agriculture through service and community involvement. He has been on Riceland Foods' Executive Committee, Farmland Industries of Kansas City, Lee County Grain Drying Cooperative and Tri-County Co-op in Brinkley. Mr. Gist has also been active in the banking and lending industry. For 27 years, he was on the board of Farm Credit Mid-South; and for three years, chaired Farm Credit Banks of St. Louis and was a district director of St. Louis Federal Land Bank. He also was vice chairman of Federal Land Bank of Eastern Arkansas.