Dr. Kirsten Midkiff Named 2026 ACA Producer Educator of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Names Dr. Kirsten Midkiff as 2026 Producer Educator of the Year

FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) named Dr. Kirsten Midkiff the 2026 Producer Educator of the Year during the association’s Annual Convention & Trade Show in Fort Smith.

The ACA Producer Educator of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has made substantial contributions to advancing cattle producer education in Arkansas. Through her work in animal health education and producer outreach, Midkiff has become a trusted resource for cattle producers facing both everyday herd health challenges and emerging animal disease threats.

Over the past year, Midkiff has traveled across Arkansas speaking at county cattlemen’s meetings and other educational events, providing producers with timely, science-based information they can use on their operations. Her outreach has focused on some of the most pressing animal health issues facing the cattle industry, including the Asian longhorned tick, Theileria and the threat of New World screwworm.

“Dr. Midkiff has an incredible ability to take a complicated animal health issue and explain what it actually means for a producer and their cattle,” said ACA Executive Vice President Michelle Bufkin Horton. “She has been willing to travel wherever we need her, answer questions and make sure Arkansas cattle producers have accurate information when they need it most.”

Midkiff’s commitment to producer education extends beyond in-person meetings. She has helped facilitate statewide educational webinars, allowing producers from across Arkansas to access timely information as new animal health concerns emerge.

Her work has also reached the next generation of Arkansas cattle producers. Midkiff played an integral role in ACA’s inaugural Youth Stockmanship Contest, helping young exhibitors learn safe animal handling practices while reinforcing the importance of low-stress livestock handling and animal welfare.

“Good producer education has a direct impact on the health of our cattle and the strength of our industry,” said ACA President Don Hubbell. “Dr. Midkiff understands that, and she has consistently made herself available to help our members better understand the challenges facing their herds and what they can do about them.”

Whether speaking at a county meeting, leading a webinar, answering a producer’s question or working with young cattlemen, Midkiff has demonstrated a commitment to making science practical and accessible for Arkansas cattle producers.

Her willingness to share her expertise and respond when producers need reliable information has made her an invaluable educational partner to the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and the state’s cattle industry.

The Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association represents cattle producers across the state through legislative advocacy, education, industry development and promotion of Arkansas’s cattle industry.

For more information about the ACA, visit www.arbeef.org.