L. F. “Fred” Seidenstricker

L. F. “Fred” Seidenstricker was born and reared on his family farm near Hazen. He attended public school there through the eighth grade, and he has been active in agriculture all his life. It was through Mr. Seidenstricker’s urging that Arkansas Grain Corp., the soybean division of Riceland Foods, was started. He has served as director of that organization, of Arkansas Rice Growers Cooperative and of Hazen Grain Drying Cooperative, as well. Mr. Seidenstricker was active in 4-H and one of the first to go to Washington, DC, on behalf of Arkansas farmers. He worked with Extension, providing test plots for many now-common practices: the use of zinc in high-pH rice soils, rice irrigation, effects of water quality/quantity, precision leveling and variety research. He was one of the first to work with Arkansas Power & Light on using switches on pump motors in peak demand for cost savings. Mr. Seidenstricker also was a pioneer in tailwater recovery systems, creating the first pit reservoir. Today, well water on his farm can be used as many as nine times before it leaves the farm, and the Seidenstricker operation has been a showcase for tours, teaching and research. The Seidenstricker’s farm was one of the first farms to use a stripper-header to harvest rice and wheat. Mr. Seidenstricker was director of Arkansas Rice Research Board and served on the Rice Council. He also was on the White River Irrigation District, Arkansas Soybean Association, Arkansas Rice Promotion and Arkansas Economic Education boards. With wife LaVerne, Mr. Seidenstricker has been host to news organizations from around the world on agriculture, especially rice. They also have been interviewed by numerous publications, including Mid-South Magazine, California Farm Quarterly, Progressive Farmer, Delta Farm Press and Rice Farming magazine. Mr. Seidenstricker has been a member of the Marketing Roundtable, and he and his wife have been longtime workers in the Prairie County Rice Festival and other rice-promotion activities. They also have participated in rural health activities, Friends of Arkansas Extension, Arkansas 4-H Foundation, the Extension Advisory Board, Red Cross and Stuttgart Agricultural Museum Club.