Harold F. Ohlendorf

Harold F. Ohlendorf has been a leader of leaders and is probably most widely known for his contribution to agriculture as the 16-year president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Also, he was a Mississippi County Farm Bureau board member and president in 1949-50. The Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation experienced substantial growth during his presidency. He resigned that position in 1971. Mr. Ohlendorf was closely associated with many of the significant agricultural and industrial development projects within this county. Mr. Ohlendorf was a graduate of Rhodes College and has been the owner of an extensive (several thousand acres) farm business in northeast Arkansas. This operation was one of the most productive and best managed farms in the area, growing cotton, soybeans, wheat and milo. Mr. Ohlendorf was a key leader in the establishment of the Northeast Arkansas Research and Extension Center in Mississippi County—an approximately seven hundred acre Agricultural Experiment Station operated by the University of Arkansas. Mr. Ohlendorf was recognized as one of the nation’s foremost spokesman for the cotton industry. He was selected as “Master Farmer” in 1950 by the Progressive Farmer magazine. Some of the important civic and financial appointments Mr. Ohlendorf has held include: chairmen of the board of the First National Bank, Osceola, and First National Bank, West Memphis; President of Osceola Broadcasting Company; Osceola School Board for more than 30 years; Director of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company; Director of Delta Product Company; Board of Governors of the Arkansas Children Colony; Arkansas Industrial Development Commission; Director, Mississippi County Hospital System; Trustee of Mississippi County Community College, and Director, Arkansas College. Mr. Ohlendorf was the recipient of an “Appreciation Day” in 1960 with well 400 people in attendance and the program headlined by the American Farm Bureau Federation President, the Governor of Arkansas and other leading personalities from across the South.