Joseph C. “Joe” Hardin

Joseph C. “Joe” Hardin was an Arkansas native and a lifelong resident of Grady, except for his service in the Army during World War I. Mr. Hardin served as President of Arkansas Farm Bureau from 1948 until 1955; he had also served as Vice President and Secretary Treasurer in previous years. He was one of the original members when Arkansas Farm Bureau was incorporated in 1931. Mr. Hardin was a noted leader in farm policy and Farm Bureau commercial services. He served as the President of the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas and Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company. Mr. Hardin was an advocate of agricultural research, grading and labeling, and price supports tied to the market. Mr. Hardin was a member of the Legislature, serving two terms in the House of Representatives from 1931 to 1934. He was state revenue commissioner in 1941-1942. Mr. Hardin served on the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, as Vice President of Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company and as a member of the board for Arkansas Power and Light Company. Mr. Hardin served in important positions for numerous agricultural organizations, including member of the state advisory commission on agricultural development, member of the state advisory committee for the Farm Security Administration. In 1947 Mr. Hardin was selected Progressive Farmer magazine’s Man of the Year in Arkansas Agriculture.