UADA’s Midkiff named Arkansas Cattlemen Association’s educator of the year
Aug. 25, 2026
By Ryan McGeeney
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Midkiff recognized for widespread education efforts
- Midkiff joined UADA in 2024
- Cited for work in Asian longhorned tick, New World Screwworm education
(334 words)
Download photo of Midkiff
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association has recognized Kirsten Midkiff, extension animal welfare specialist for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, as the 2026 ACA Producer Educator of the Year.
“It came as a shock. It was not something that I was expecting,” Midkiff laughed. “They did quite well, keeping it a secret.”
Midkiff joined the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and education arm of the Division of Agriculture, in August 2024 after completing her Ph.D. in beef cattle health, nutrition and physiology at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. In the nearly two years since then, she has traveled the state participating in field days and holding demonstrations and seminars for producers in every cattle-producing county of Arkansas.
“It’s a focus of mine to get into the county to talk to our cattlemen, so they can talk one-on-one with someone about any questions they may have,” Midkiff said. “The ACA puts a lot of focus on producer education. There’s an aspect to this of being that trusted resource for cattle producers.”
The association especially highlighted Midkiff’s efforts in educating producers on the dangers posed by the Asian longhorned tick, which carries the pathogen Theileria, and the New World Screwworm.
“My work has been focused on the herd health side of things,” Midkiff said. “Emerging animal disease threats, specifically, or anything else that could potentially impact the cattle industry or producers in Arkansas.”
In its own press release announcing Midkiff’s award, Horton noted Midkiff’s gift for communicating directly with farmers.
“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,” Horton said. “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.”
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas 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 22 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 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.
# # #
Media Contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
501-671-2120