Heifer CEO Pierre Ferrari and Pearlie S. Reed of the  USDA sign a proclamation of their support for the Delta. Photo by Russell Powell.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, Heifer and USDA officials on Monday marked a joint focus on areas of the impoverished Arkansas Delta. The flatlands there are some of the poorest parts of the United States.

The ceremony took place in the town of Hughes, a place where, despite a dwindling population, drug abuse, narrow opportunities and poverty, many residents still share a sense of place and hope for their children.

Photo by Russell Powell.

There’s one store to buy food in Hughes, one gas station and a diner. Some homes in town are tidy and neat, defying their age, while others have caved-in roofs, boarded-up windows and insulation bursting from the walls. It can be difficult to distinguish the abandoned houses from the occupied ones.

Photo by Russell Powell.

At Monday’s ceremony, all the people who are trying to turn Hughes around – scores of them – gathered to celebrate the new Seeds of Change program. Its aim is to increase income in this agricultural area by building up a sustainable local food system.

The produce section at Hughes’ grocery store. Photo by Russell Powell.

One speaker, Dr. Robert Cole, the director of the East Arkansas Enterprise Community, mentioned the Bible verse that says even if you only have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible to you. “Today,” Cole said, “the seed is planted.”


Cole was saying that with hope and hard work, we can create something much, much larger than anyone envisioned at the beginning.

Heifer CEO Pierre Farrari was given a new hat by Delta officials. He’s joined by Robert Cole of EAEC and Theodore Eldridge, Sr. Photo by Russell Powell.

When Cole said, “Today, the seed is planted,” I looked around and knew it to be true. Seeing all the people, from inside and outside Hughes, gathered with such hope and excitement, I saw that Hughes is fertile ground in more ways than one.


Leaders in the town are ready for positive change, and with the right plan, Heifer International will now be a partner in their transformation.