AAC
FEATURE
AAC Executive Director Chris Villines (left) and AAC Board President and Randolph County Circuit Clerk Debbie Wise (right) present the 2021 Wes Fowler Advocacy Award to Conway County Judge Jimmy Hart during the 53rd Annual AAC Conference.
Conway County Judge receives 2021 Wes Fowler Advocacy Award
T
Story by Christy L. Smith Photos by Holland Doran AAC Communications Staff
he Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) awarded the 2021 Wes Fowler Advocacy Award during its 53rd annual conference, held Aug. 1820, 2021, in Rogers/Benton County. Conway County Judge and AAC Board Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Hart received the award, which recognizes a county or district official who best embodies Fowler’s dedication to local government and demonstrates “tireless work in boldly advocating for the counties of Arkansas.” Hart was elected judge in 2000. He is a third generation farmer. His farm, Hart & Sons LLC, which he runs with 30
two of his sons, is a 915-acre operation that Hart calls his “side hustle.” In 1991, Hart formed the Arkansas Dairy Cooperative Association to aid in marketing milk produced in Arkansas to out of state buyers. In 2014, his family was named Conway County Farm Family of the Year. The Wes Fowler Advocacy Award was established in 2017 following the death of Fowler, who served as Madison County Clerk and Madison County Judge before finishing his career at the AAC as Government Relations Director. In her presentation, Wise said, “The thing about Wes that stood out to all of us was his passion for advocacy — and the boldness with which he defended county government. The second thing that struck me about Wes, and I’m sure many COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2021
