10 questions
Story & Photography By Susan O'Connor

Growing up on a farm in rural Lawrence County, entrepreneur and farmer David Smith learned lessons that proved to be essential to his success.

“When I’d get in from school, I’d get on my Honda and find my dad and start doing whatever work needed to be done,” Smith said. “My dad (Monroe Smith), from a very early age, taught me a good work ethic and I’m very proud of that.”

Smith graduated from Walnut Ridge High School and studied agriculture business at Arkansas State University. He farmed consistently with his father during high school and college and headed straight into the farming business.
Smith said he spent a lot of time during those years delivering his crop to graineries and mills.

“Then,” Smith said, “there was a place to sell a rice crop on every corner. From 1975 until now, the number of mills has dwindled and dwindled until there are only four or five places in the country. As my acreage grew — crop revenue being a great part of my income — there were limited places to sell. This hamstrung my ability to make money.”

So, 14 months and $14 million later, Smith opened the doors of Windmill Rice on Highway 1 South, the first food grade mill built in the U.S. in 25 years, he said. “The industry has taken us in overwhelmingly. Our timing couldn’t have been better.

“I’ve always had the dream of taking my product all the way to the grocery store shelves,” he added. With his new state-of-the-art rice mill, his dream is a reality.

Smith is married to the former Jennifer Cox, a passionate worker in the community. She serves on the NEA Women’s Crisis Center board of directors, and is very involved with the NEA Humane Society. She has served as chairperson for the humane society’s annual fund-raiser for the last two years, raising nearly $100,000. She is also the personnel advisor for Chi Omega at ASU, and is involved on the national level with the Chi Omega Foundation.

What was the first job your father gave you on the farm? My job was to move tractors from field to field. I was so young I recall having to stand up to use the clutch. I was proud to help.

In addition to teaching you a strong work ethic, what is the most valuable lesson you learned from your father? He encouraged me to work smart and most of all, manage everything efficiently.

How has the rice farming industry changed since you were 20? When I was 20, only a handful of farmers focused on the marketing of their crop. Today, most farmers focus on marketing, as well as production. By aggressively marketing you have more control over the price of your crop. I have also watched the number of farmers rise in the areas of production and conservation.

What factors in the world today led you to make the decision to build Windmill Rice? I believe in my lifetime that food will become the next crude oil. Having a mill will allow me to capture the opportunities that the marketplace and future provides.

How is the growing demand for food around the world affecting the individual farmer? The increase in worldwide demand for food will cause more drastic swings in the market. In turn, this will cause farmers to keep their marketing skills very sharp, look to increase production and keep expenses down.

You are the type of businessman who always has a project in the works. What venture is next on your horizon? I am working on establishing a company that can become a regular for delivery at the Chicago Board of Trade for rough rice futures.

You are a self-described workaholic. What do you do to relax? I enjoy going home to spend time with my wife, my son and my girls (two Italian greyhounds named Roxy and Rita). It is a peaceful, warm environment that relaxes me.

What do you want people to remember most about you? I want to be remembered as an honest, fair person who truly enjoyed giving and helping others.

If you could have dinner with any three people in the world today, who would they be? Oh, that is easy: Don Henley (lead singer of the Eagles), Tiger Woods and Warren Buffet.

What is your favorite dish that Jennifer cooks? Jennifer loves to cook and I love everything she makes. But my favorites are her chicken alfredo, beef tenderloin, chocolate pie and of course, her sausage and rice.