Allen Donner

Allen Donner of Manila, Arkansas, is a dedicated farmer and advocate for agriculture, proudly representing his state as the board member of the National Peanut Board. As the owner and operator of Blackwater Farms Partnership, Donner grows high oleic runner peanuts, cotton, soybeans, and corn alongside his son, Heath, marking the fourth and fifth generations of farmers in their family. In 2023, Blackwater Farms won the farm family of the year for Mississippi county and also won the district title for the northeast region of the state. His deep-rooted passion for farming is complemented by his education in agronomy at the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University.

A respected leader in the agricultural community, Donner serves as the president of three key organizations: the Arkansas Peanut Growers Association, Cotton Growers Gin (where he has contributed for over 27 years), and the NE Arkansas Area Conservation District. His extensive service also includes past roles on the Mississippi County Conservation District Board, Mississippi County Farm Bureau, and as an advisory committee member for Staplcotn Coop. Beyond agriculture, Donner has been a dedicated community servant, including 15 years on the Manila Public Schools Board of Education (five of those as president) and as a deacon at Manila First Baptist Church.

Donner and his wife, Debbie, a retired schoolteacher, have built a strong family legacy with their three grown children—Heath (Melissa), Adam, and Katie (Evans) (Kyle)—and eight beloved grandchildren. When he’s not on the farm, Donner enjoys water sports, particularly skiing and wakeboarding on the nearby lake.

Excited about the future of peanut farming in Arkansas, Donner is eager to help shape its growth.

“Arkansas is one of the newest states to grow peanuts, and our first peanut buying point is expected to open early next year,” he said. As a member of the National Peanut Board, he is committed to gaining a broader understanding of the industry. “I want to learn more about the peanut industry as a whole, to understand how the Board benefits farmers, and to be able to bring that back to the growers at home.”