Former Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson to discuss legal ethics, foreign ownership at Mid-South conference
“Governor Hutchinson brings an extraordinarily unique legal and public service background to the table, and we’re very honored that he will be a part of this year’s Mid-South conference in Memphis.” —Harrison Pittman
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
March 31, 2025
Fast facts:
- Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson presenting legal ethics session at NALC’s June Mid-South conference
- Foreign ownership, national security is the session focus
- Conference registration is open online, livestream option available
(470 words)
Download related photo of Hutchinson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Asa Hutchinson, former head of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, undersecretary of Homeland and Security and Arkansas governor, will be discussing legal ethics in agriculture at the 12th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference in June.
Hutchinson will lead a legal ethics session at the Mid-South, “Legal Ethics for Ag Industry Professionals: CFIUS, Foreign Ownership, & National Security.”
CFIUS is the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.
“Governor Hutchinson brings an extraordinarily unique legal and public service background to the table, and we’re very honored that he will be a part of this year’s Mid-South conference in Memphis,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC.
Hutchinson has many years of experience in the topic. In addition to his time as governor and in Congress, he served as undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and head of the DEA during the George W. Bush Administration. He is also the founder of Asa Hutchinson Law Group, an international business and immigration firm with offices in Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Madrid and Paris.
The Mid-South conference is co-hosted by the NALC and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, or NASDA Foundation.
Hutchinson said the conference is a great opportunity to address unique federal and state issues and the ethics issues presented by them.
“I’m looking forward to speaking with professionals from across the agriculture industries at the Mid-South,” Hutchinson said. “We’ll explore relevant legal issues stemming from timely national security topics, such as foreign investments in U.S. land, and how to balance compliance with aggressive state laws, CFIUS regulations and good ethics and fairness.”
Now in its 12th year, the Mid-South will be held June 5-6 at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis, Tennessee. The program features networking opportunities and legal education credit for agricultural professionals including students, producers, attorneys, policymakers and more.
“Foreign ownership of agricultural land and related national security issues is a topic area that has become increasingly prevalent at the state, in Congress, and in the courts,” Pittman said. “Because of that, it is an area that lenders, farm managers and rural appraisers, landowners and attorneys will increasingly encounter and one that presents unique ethics issues.”
Conference registration is available online at nationalaglawcenter.org/midsouth2025.
For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.
Continuing legal education available
The Mid-South will be submitted for CLE accreditation in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Approval for CE will also be sought from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Those who register by May 13 are eligible for bonus CLE/CE during the online “Early Bird” on May 14.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of the NASDA Foundation is to advance agriculture to shape a changing world.
For more information on the NASDA Foundation, visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation. The NASDA Foundation is also on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu