Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Jamie Anderson as the newest commissioner on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at the commission’s headquarters in Little Rock on Wednesday.
Anderson, a fourth-generation aquaculture farmer from Lonoke, replaces now-former AGFC Chair John David “J.D.” Neeley for a seven-year term. Anderson is Sanders’ second appointment to the AGFC. She appointed her campaign manager, Chris Caldwell, to the commission in July 2024.
Anderson is co-owner of I.F. Anderson Farm, the largest minnow and bait fish farm in the world, according to Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
Anderson is one of the founders of the Arkansas Waterfowl Association, a nonprofit that provides outdoor educational opportunities to underserved youth. During the announcement, Sanders praised Anderson’s commitment to conservation and to educating young people about conservation and getting involved in the outdoors, adding that they aligned “perfectly” with her administration’s recently-announced outdoor education initiative.
“I know that during his term on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, he’ll put his energy towards preserving, protecting and promoting Arkansas’ great outdoors, because he cares about building a future in which our state’s greatest natural resource is available to every single Arkansan,” Sanders said.
Anderson thanked Sanders for the nomination, calling it “a dream come true.”
“Anyone who knows me knows that I eat, sleep and breathe the outdoors. It’s not just what I do in my free time, it’s my life’s work,” Anderson said. “For the past 32 years, I’ve worked on our family fish farm, learning every day if you don’t take care of the resource, it will not take care of you.”
Anderson praised the commission, saying it is one of the best regarded game and fish agencies in the country.
“At a time when some states are politicizing and weaponizing agencies that are charged with managing their natural resources, I’m proud to say Arkansas stands firm,” Anderson said. “We’re committed to a biological and common sense approach.”
Neeley also spoke, advising Anderson to “listen, listen, listen” to the commission’s staff, whom he described as being some of the best at what they do. It was “amazing” how many different things AGFC touched and dealt with, Neeley said.
“Game and Fish is the tip of the spear of conservation,” Neeley said.
In addition to his latest appointment to the AGFC, Anderson has been on the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board since 2017, and was previously appointed by President Donald Trump to the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee.
Anderson was a donor to Sanders’ 2022 campaign, contributing roughly $5,800, according to Open Secrets’ campaign donor database.
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