Mary Louise Wilbern Ratcliffe

Mary Ratcliffe was a leader in farm conservation efforts, leaving a legacy of stewardship that runs throughout Arkansas agriculture. Raised on a dairy and cotton farm in Sweet Home, Ratcliffe assumed control of Ratcliffe Farms when her husband died in 1973, and led a successful operation that raised soybeans, cotton and beef cattle. She was the second woman ever elected as a member of Arkansas Farm Bureau’s state board of directors, serving from 1994-2001. She also was the first woman to serve as president of the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts. Ratcliffe graduated from Little Rock High and earned a business degree at Little Rock Junior College. Her family was selected as Pulaski County Farm Family of the Year in 1963. She was named to the board of directors of the Pulaski Conservation District in 1973, and was named the AACI/ICI No-Till Farmer of the Year in 1991. In 1992, Ratcliffe was named by the Arkansas Association of Conservation District Employees (AACDE) as the State Outstanding Director of the Year. She also served as chairman of the Pulaski Conservation District board of directors. Ratcliffe served as a member of the Pulaski County Extension Homemakers Council, the Sweet Home Extension Homemaker Club, Fourche Island Drainage District board, the Arkansas Cattleman’s Association and chair of the Extension Agriculture Advisory Committee. She also was appointed in 1994 to serve on the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, was a member of the Pulaski County Extension Council, president of the Saline County Extension Homemaker Council, and president of Pulaski County Farm Bureau in 1989. She also served on the board of directors of LeadAR, a Cooperative Extension Service program designed to heighten the leadership skills among those active in agricultural and rural Arkansas.