Professional Staff
Center Director
Harrison M. Pittman, B.S., J.D., LL.M.
Harrison has served as Director of the National Agricultural Law Center since 2007, and at the Center in various roles since 2001. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, after attending Mississippi State University and graduating from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a BS in Political Science and a minor in history. He then earned an LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law’s Graduate Program in Agricultural Law. He is an active member of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA), the nation’s only professional organization focused on the legal needs of the agricultural community. Harrison received the AALA 2025 Distinguished Service Award as well as the inaugural recipient of the AALA Excellence in Agricultural Law Award in 2010. Harrison is a frequent presenter on a variety of topics to a diverse range of audiences, including federal and state policymakers; state, regional, and national producer/commodity groups and associations; agribusiness associations; and legal conferences.
He has taught at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law as part of the Ben J. Altheimer Distinguished Professorship for Agricultural Law, served as a visiting professor at the Drake University Law School, and taught online agricultural law courses at the University of Arkansas William H. Bowen School of Law and the Faulkner Law – Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. In addition, he has taught Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Introduction to Agricultural Law in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. In that role, he was awarded the 2011-2012 Agricultural Business Club Teaching Award. Harrison is an active member of the Rotary Club of Fayetteville and serves on the Board of Directors for Leading Harvest.
Senior Staff Attorney
(479) 387-2331
erumley@uark.edu | C.V.
Elizabeth Rumley, B.A., J.D., LL.M.
Beth was raised on a small family farm in Ida, Michigan. She attended Michigan State University, where she was an active competitor, president, and captain of the Mock Trial team that participated in competitions across the Midwest. She also interned in the chambers of Magistrate Judge Virginia M. Morgan, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. After graduating from MSU in 2004, Beth returned home and commuted to law school at the University of Toledo, where she graduated cum laude in May of 2007. While in law school, she volunteered as a coach of the Ida High School Mock Trial Team and continued to assist with the MSU team. In addition, she interned at the Michigan prosecutor’s offices of Monroe and Lenawee counties, with the United States Attorney’s Office in Toledo, and for the Honorable David A. Katz of the Northern District of Ohio. From 2005-2008, she was also employed by the Toledo law firm of Cosme, D’Angelo and Szollosi. She is licensed to practice law in Michigan, Ohio and Oklahoma.
At the Center, her primary research and scholarship focus is on legal issues in animal agriculture, and she frequently lectures on those issues and others to audiences nationwide. Additionally, she is an adjunct faculty member in the University of Arkansas’ Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, Animal Science Department, and the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Department. Further, Mrs. Rumley works closely with and is on the advisory board of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Center for Food Animal Well-Being.
She has co-taught a course titled “Animals and Agricultural Production, Law and Policy” several times at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and most recently at the University of Nebraska College of Law, has developed and teaches a course on legal issues in animal agriculture through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, and teaches a course on agriculture and the environment, also through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
Senior Staff Attorney
(479) 575-2636
rrumley@uark.edu | C.V.
Rusty W. Rumley, B.S., J.D., LL.M.
Rusty was born and raised on a family farm in Cogar, Oklahoma. He graduated magna cum laude from Oklahoma State University in 2004 with a B.S. in AgriBusiness and in 2007 earned his juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma. While attending the University of Oklahoma he was a member of the American Indian Law Review and worked part-time for Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation. After law school, Rusty earned his LL.M in Agricultural Law at the University of Arkansas. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Oklahoma and Michigan.
Rusty has published law review articles discussing the future application of special use valuation for inherited farmland, “right to farm” statutes, and the enforcement of animal cruelty statutes by private organizations. He has also written on landowner liability, agritourism, food labeling, local food production, business organizations, crop insurance, estate planning, leasing, and other land use topics in his work at the Center. Further, Rusty presents around the country to producer, consumer, extension, industry and legal groups on an array of topics.
Additionally, he has co-taught a course titled “Animals and Agricultural Production, Law and Policy” several times at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and most recently at the University of Nebraska College of Law and teaches an introduction to agricultural law course through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the University of Arkansas’ Animal Science Department and the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Department.
His primary areas of interest are in estate planning, taxation, business organizations, landowner liability, leasing and agritourism.
Staff Attorney
brollins@uark.edu
Brigit Rollins, B.A., J.D.
Brigit began her life in Sonoma County, in the heart of California’s wine country. Growing up, she was surrounded by small farms, dairies, and wineries, which ultimately led to a passion for agriculture and the environment. She attended Sonoma State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies, and a minor in studio arts. While at Sonoma State, Brigit studied different types of agricultural methods and how those methods could be used to promote environmental sustainability. After graduating from Sonoma State in 2015, she started as a law student at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. While at Lewis & Clark, she worked as a student clerk for the Western Resources Legal Center, where she worked on cases assisting small ranches, farms, and municipalities. During her time at Lewis & Clark, she also interned with the California Farm Bureau Federation, and worked as a law clerk for the Sacramento-based environmental law firm Somach Simmons & Dunn. While at the California Farm Bureau, Brigit focused on Environmental Species Act issues and water law issues, as well as issues specific to California. While at Somach Simmons & Dunn, Brigit expanded her work on water law and participated in work involving federal Indian law. On campus, Brigit was on the board of Lewis & Clark’s Food & Ag Law Society and served as a student member of the ABA Public Lands Committee. She is licensed to practice law in Oregon.
Brigit began her work at the Center as a research fellow during her second year of law school. As a research fellow, Brigit worked on a wide variety of agricultural law topics ranging from liability issues to the new frontier of lab-grown meat. In 2019, Brigit graduated from Lewis & Clark and joined the Center full-time. At the Center, her primary area of research and scholarship is environmental law as it intersects with agriculture. She maintains an interest in promoting sustainability and environmental health through agriculture and resource use.
Staff Attorney
eestone@uark.edu
Emily Stone, B.S., J.D., LL.M.
A proud native of Pike Road, Alabama, Emily has been exposed to agriculture all of her life. Through both her grandfather’s cattle operation and her father’s role as the Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Educational Association, some of her earliest memories involve the agriculture industry. Emily is a fourth-generation graduate of Auburn University’s College of Agriculture where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Communications. During her time at Auburn, she served in various student leadership roles in the College of Ag while simultaneously working for four years as an undergraduate assistant for Auburn’s softball team. Emily spent two summers during her undergraduate years working in Washington, D.C. – both as a congressional intern for Congressman Mike Rogers and as an intern for Tyson Foods’ Government Relations Team.
Emily graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2022 and earned an LL.M. in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2023. During her years at Arkansas Law, Emily served in various roles for the Arkansas Journal of Food Law & Policy including as Staff Editor, Editor-in-Chief, and Graduate Assistant. Additionally, Emily worked for four years as a Graduate Manager with the two-time SEC Championship winning Arkansas Razorbacks softball team. While earning her J.D., Emily worked for the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Montgomery, AL-based firm Gilpin Givhan, PC, and Tyson Foods’ Law Department. During the LL.M. program, Emily worked in the USDA’s Office of the General Counsel. Emily lives in Fayetteville with her Border Collie, Marty.
Staff Attorney
wascobey@uark.edu
Will Scobey, B.A., J.D.
Will hails from the small town of Corning, Arkansas. There he spent most of his childhood working on a local farm, spending many summer days in the rice and soybean fields of Northeast Arkansas. Through his time in the fields and his participation in his local FFA program, Will began to develop close relationships with the members of his local agricultural community. These relationships inspired Will to pursue a career in the field of agricultural law. Will attended Arkansas State University, where he studied economics with a focus in Pre-Law. During his time as a Red Wolf, he served in various leadership roles throughout the university’s Greek Life and Student Government organizations. In the Spring of 2022, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
Following his time at Arkansas State, he finally left the Delta to attend the University of Arkansas School of Law. During his time at the University of Arkansas, he served as a member of the Student Bar Association, competed on the school’s travelling Moot Court team, took home a championship in the 2025 Ben J. Altheimer Moot Court Competition, and began working as a research fellow for the Center. During his time at the center, Will performed research on a variety of subjects ranging from environmental law to secured transactions. Through his work at the center, Will’s desire to enter the field of agricultural law post-graduation became even greater. Will graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas in May of 2025 and currently lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Resource Editor & Digital Operations Specialist
Ramie Parsons, B.S.
Ramie spent most of her childhood in Western Arkansas, where she graduated from Waldron High School. While there, she participated in journalism and also worked during the summer for the Waldron News. After attending the University of Arkansas, she earned her B.S. in Human Environmental Sciences, part of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, & Life Sciences. Her concentration was in Childhood Development from Birth to Three Years, and she put those skills to use during the several years she spent working with both typically developing and special needs children, providing care and teaching developmentally appropriate practices. Since then, she has turned her focus to providing essential operational support to the NALC, with a primary focus on developing, maintaining, and enhancing the Center’s digital resources for farmers, policymakers, attorneys, and other stakeholders. She also plays a significant supporting role in the Center’s communications efforts, especially social media and digital outreach.
Research Fellow
Mary Elizabeth Eichenberger, B.S.
Mary attends the University of Arkansas School of Law and expects to graduate in May of 2026. She attended the University of Arkansas where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business, and minors in legal studies and southern studies. As an undergraduate student, Mary researched and published a study on foreign ownership of agricultural land in the United States, further igniting her passion for agricultural law and policy. Additionally, she was an active member of the Collegiate Farm Bureau Club, student government senate, and served as a congressional intern for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, as well as the House Committee on Natural Resources in Washington, D.C.
While in law school, Mary has had the opportunity to serve as a law clerk for Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, and now currently serves as a staff editor for the Arkansas Journal of Food Law and Policy.
Mary is a native Arkansan, where she grew up on her family’s third-generation cow-calf operation in the Arkansas River Valley. She plans to pursue a career in agricultural and environmental law advocating for rural communities, farmers and ranchers, and underserved members of the agricultural community.
Research Fellow
Emily Harris Whitest, B.S.
Emily Harris Whitest attends the University of Georgia School of Law and expects to graduate in May 2027. For her undergraduate degree, she also attended the University of Georgia where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Food Science in 2024. As an undergraduate student, she immersed herself in the many facets of agriculture through internships including food safety internship with Chick-fil-A, Fuit Pathology Research Assistant, as well as interning with the USDA Farm Service Agency. She was an active member in the Food Science Club, as well as an Ambassador for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA.
Her passion for agriculture stems from being raised on her family’s 4th generation cow-calf operation in Southeast Georgia. Upon graduating law school, she plans to pursue a career in food and agricultural law.
Research Fellow
Danielle Herrick, B.S.
Danielle is a student at the Vermont Law and Graduate School, where she expects to graduate in May 2027. She graduated in 2024 from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Agriculture Science. During undergrad, she was very involved with the Cornell University Dairy Science Club, Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and the Cornell Dairy Fellows Program. She was also part of the winning team for the 2024 Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge Contest.
Danielle grew up near her family’s dairy farm in Western NY, where her father works as the herdsman. Growing up, she was a member of FFA, 4-H, and the Junior Holstein Association. After law school, Danielle hopes to return to New York and work with farmers in the legal realm.
Research Fellow
Elizabeth "Libby" Putnam, B.S.
Libby is a student at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she expects to graduate in May 2027. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication with minors in Agricultural and Natural Resource Law and Agricultural and Natural Resource Ethics and Policy. As an undergraduate, Libby served as President of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Council and as an Ambassador to the College. She was also inducted into the UF Hall of Fame in 2024.
Libby is a seventh-generation Floridian who grew up around her family’s cattle and citrus operation in Central Florida. Upon graduating from law school, she plans to pursue a career in agricultural and environmental law bolstering food systems and rural communities.
Research Fellow
Jordan Berry, B.S.
Jordan is a law student at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and expects to graduate in May of 2027. She grew up in Picayune, Mississippi, and spent her summers helping on her grandfather’s cattle farm and her family’s hobby farm. Those experiences shaped how Jordan understood agriculture and the day-to-day realities of managing land.
Jordan earned her B.S. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture from Mississippi State University, with a concentration in Conservation Biology. In her undergraduate studies, Jordan assisted with multiple avian ecology research projects and worked with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture in their feral hog control program. That work helped her see firsthand how regulatory decisions and environmental issues affect producers on the ground.
In school, Jordan learned that most of the land in the southeastern United States is privately owned. That fact helped her connect her interest in natural resources with the people responsible for managing them. It clarified for her that farmers and landowners play a central role in how land is used, cared for, and sustained over time, and it ultimately led her to pursue a career focused on helping the communities she cares about navigate the legal and policy issues that affect their land and livelihoods.
Research Fellow
Miranda Greathouse, B.A., A.A.
Miranda Greathouse attends the University of Tulsa College of Law, where she expects to graduate in May of 2027. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from Texas Tech University, where she served as Student Government Vice President of External Affairs and advocated for student-centered policies in Washington, D.C. Additionally, she was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta, the student government senate, and the student government first-year student leadership program. While in law school, Miranda has had the opportunity to serve as a Delegate for the Student Bar Association. Prior to law school, she managed agricultural and mineral assets for a multigenerational estate in rural West Texas, where she led due diligence efforts across oil, gas, and farm operations, negotiated lease terms, and oversaw compliance and contract execution.
Miranda’s zeal for the agricultural community stems from five generations of agricultural history and her own life experiences, working alongside three of those generations. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a career in strengthening the legal infrastructure that supports rural communities. She is committed to advancing agricultural law and equitable access to legal resources for farmers and ranchers.
Research Fellow
James (Jim) Beard, B.S.
Jim attends the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, where he expects to graduate in May 2027. He is involved in the Sports and Entertainment Law Society and has recently joined the Mercer Journal of Southern Legal History as the newest Student Writing Editor. Jim graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management from the Darla Moore School of Business.
Jim has always found agriculture to be a fascinating area of law. He enjoys property law and has a unique interest in how property law intertwines with the agricultural sector of law. Jim and his grandfather used to spend a lot of time in his grandfather’s garden planting tomatoes and picking them when they became ripe. Jim loves the outdoors, which led to his curiosity in the agricultural sector of the law.
Research Fellow
Mary Grace Winfrey, B.S.
Mary Grace attends the Mercer University School of Law and expects to graduate in May 2028. She is a Woodruff Scholar, President of the Rural Law Student Association, and a member of the Association of Women Law Students. Mary Grace graduated summa cum laude from East Georgia State College with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. During her undergraduate studies, she was a Correll Scholar, President of the Student Government Association, a student conduct panel member, and a peer tutor.
Mary Grace’s passion for agriculture stems from being raised in Kite, Georgia, surrounded by family members and neighbors whose livelihoods centered around farming and livestock industries. Through her involvement in 4-H and FFA, she developed an interest in swine showing and livestock judging. While in high school and college, Mary Grace worked at Powell Home & Hardware, where she gained firsthand insight into the needs and challenges faced by local agribusinesses and rural communities. This experience solidified her commitment to pursuing agricultural law and using her legal skills to advocate for rural communities and agriculturists.
Research Fellow
Colby Johnson, B.A.
Colby is a law student at Drake Law School, where he expects to graduate in May 2028. He attended Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical & Theological Studies.
While in law school, Colby has been an active member of the Drake Agricultural & Environmental Law Association, currently serving as the student organization’s Vice President. In addition to his J.D. degree, Colby is also pursuing a Food and Agricultural Law Certificate.
His passion for agriculture derives from his upbringing on a farm in central Minnesota. Colby’s family runs a broiler chicken and wean-to-finish hog operation, while his in-laws manage a Bison herd. He is an avid hunter and enjoys all things outdoors.
After law school, Colby plans to pursue a career in food or agricultural law in the Midwest.
Research Fellow
Riata Meldrum, B.S.
Riata is a student at the University of Idaho College of Law, where she is expected to graduate in May 2027.
She completed her undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University-Idaho with a major in Agribusiness, a minor in Communications, and a cluster in Human Nutrition. As an undergraduate, she was heavily involved in several agriculture clubs and organizations, including founding a new collegiate chapter of the Idaho Young Farmers and Ranchers. Riata also served as Idaho FFA State Secretary 2020-21. In law school, she has continued to remain involved in the realm of agriculture advocacy, serving on the Idaho State Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and as president of the Idaho Agricultural Law Society.
Riata is a 6th generation farmer/rancher and grew up on a commercial cow/calf operation. When not engaged in school work, she can be found working on the small cattle operation she and her husband share, riding in a tractor as a passenger princess, or testing the limits of her cooking and baking abilities (or lack thereof).
After law school, she plans to continue pursuing agriculture and food law and looks forward to the opportunity to continue to work with farmers and ranchers.
Research Fellow
Carly Oldag, B.S.
Carly Oldag is a student at The University of Tulsa College of Law, where she expects to graduate in May 2028. She currently serves as President of the school’s Student Bar Association.
A first-generation college graduate from the small rice-farming town of El Campo, Texas, Carly earned dual degrees in Poultry Science and Agricultural Leadership & Development from Texas A&M University. As an undergraduate, she competed on the collegiate poultry judging team, represented the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences as a Student Senator, and participated in the Agricultural & Natural Resources Policy Internship Program (ANRP) in Washington, D.C. While in D.C., she worked with an advocacy group and contributed to policy newsletters about the Farm Bill. Prior to law school, she gained international agriculture experience at Perrotis College in Thessaloniki, Greece, working on the university’s educational farm and vineyard. Her full-time roles in higher education, including as an advisor at Texas A&M, strengthened her passion for land-grant universities and their mission of research, outreach, and education.
Upon graduation, Carly plans to practice law in rural Northeast Texas. Driven by a deep commitment to public service, she hopes to use her legal career to expand access to quality representation for those in rural communities.
Research Fellow
Pangla Toumai, B.A.
Pangla is a law student at the University of California, Davis School of Law and expects to graduate in May 2028. As a 1L, she was an article editor for the Business Law Journal and participated in the intraschool Moot Court and Negotiation competitions. Pangla received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Science and minors in Cognitive Science and Latin American Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, where she was a McNair Scholar and graduated summa cum laude.
Post-graduation, Pangla forged a passion for agriculture during a decade as a community organizer and agricultural laborer on livestock, produce, and commodity crop farms in both the Global South and North. That experience exposed her to the economic powerhouse that is our modern global food system. Pangla hopes to leverage her Juris Doctor to support agricultural producers participating in international markets.
Communications Specialist
Julia Chimka
Julia Chimka is an undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas, enrolled in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business with a concentration in Pre-Law and is expected to graduate in December 2026. A native of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Julia grew up racing on the Agri Park cross-country course. When she isn’t studying or preparing for the LSAT, she can still be found running the familiar trails.