Noted farm journalist Stewart Doan dies at 52

Stewart Doan, senior editor at Agri-Pulse Communications Inc., died unexpectedly Thursday, May 10. He was 52. He is survived by his wife, Leslie, and daughters, Lauren, 19, and Sara, 15.

Agri-Pulse Editor and Publisher Sara Wyant noted Doan's "incredible work ethic and dedication," indicating that he had called her from the ambulance on Friday to let her know he would not be able to finish his assignments for the day. "He always thought of others first," she wrote.

Doan was born in Cynthiana, Ky., and for more than 30 years he covered agricultural news for a variety of media, beginning with radio. He was considered the premier cotton and rice journalist in the nation, Wyant writes. Based in Arkansas, he was no stranger to Washington. He was president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in 1998 and was recognized by the National Cotton Council, the USA Rice Federation and the Arkansas Farm Bureau for his reporting on a wide range of agricultural policy issues.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas spoke Friday of Doan's passing: "Beyond being a talented journalist and broadcaster, Stewart was a quality person. His passing is a tremendous loss to all of us who appreciated and respected his fair storytelling and analysis. His brand of reporting on farm policy and his role in our community will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues." 

Agri-Pulse has established a fund to help for the college education of Doan's children. To contribute, checks should be made out to Stewart Doan's Children's College Fund and mailed to Peoples Bank, 20409 Arch Street, Little Rock, AR 72206. Or you can contribute online at this link.