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Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series Returns to Petit Jean Mountain on March 17

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PETIT JEAN MOUNTAIN, Ark. (Feb. 10, 2026) — The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is excited to announce a special event focused on agricultural trade, presented by the Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series (WRDLS).

This free, public lecture is designed to engage students, faculty, industry professionals, policymakers, and Arkansans across the state whose work intersects with agriculture, trade, and international affairs. While the event is free to attend, prior registration is required, and space is limited. Registration is available online at wrinst.org/lecture.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on March 17, we will have a panel discussion with Ambassador Darci Vetter and Dr. Andrew Mohammad, followed by the keynote address from Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden, the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Information about each guest speaker is available below.

  • Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Alongside Secretary Brooke L. Rollins, Deputy Secretary Vaden leads the Department’s operations and implements policies that support America’s food and farm systems. A native of Union City, Tennessee, Deputy Secretary Vaden brings expertise in agricultural policy, law, and rural development. Previously, he served as a judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade and as General Counsel of the USDA. Throughout Deputy Secretary Vaden’s time as General Counsel, he led successful Supreme Court litigation, advanced regulatory reform, and supported the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and Vanderbilt University. A public servant with strong agricultural roots, Deputy Secretary Vaden is committed to revitalizing rural America and ensuring an abundant, affordable, and safe U.S. food supply.
  • Ambassador Darci Vetter, Principal, Sower Strategies LLC: Ambassador Vetter is a global public policy leader and trusted advisor working with companies, non-profits, and international organizations at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and international trade. Darci’s career spans more than two decades of policy leadership, including service as the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Agriculture and Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade, and serving as the Head of Global Public Policy for PepsiCo and the Nature Conservancy.
  • Dr. Andrew Mohammad, Professor and Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture: Dr. Muhammad is an expert in international trade and agricultural policy. He assists state and national agricultural decision-makers in evaluating policies and programs related to agricultural commodities, food and nutrition, natural resources, and international trade.

“This year’s WRDLS event reflects the Institute’s belief that the most important challenges facing our state are best addressed through collaboration and the respectful, open exchange of ideas,” Janet Harris, Institute Executive Director/CEO, said. “We are proud to welcome distinguished voices to Petit Jean Mountain and to offer Arkansans the opportunity to engage directly with leaders shaping agricultural trade and policy. Events like WRDLS create space for meaningful conversations that directly impact our state’s rural communities and our shared economic future.”

About Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture SeriesImage
Since its establishment in 1972, WRDLS has brought preeminent speakers to University of Arkansas System campuses to stimulate public discussion, inspire researchers and students, and provide insight on compelling topics. Most speakers interact with students before their public lecture and mingle with the audience afterward.

About the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is a 509(a)(3) supporting organization of the University of Arkansas System and a nonprofit organization whose mission is to continue Winthrop Rockefeller’s collaborative approach to transformational change. We do this work by employing the “Rockefeller Ethic,” which represents the belief that diversity of opinion, engaging in respectful dialogue, and practicing collaborative problem solving combine to create transformational change.