Reid McKinney has always called Warren home — and for good reason. It’s where he was born, raised, and now raises a family of his own. It’s also where he’s spent the last 18 years helping local families protect what matters most.
A 2002 graduate of Warren High School, McKinney made a name for himself on the football field playing for the Warren Lumberjacks. In 2001, he was honored with the prestigious Landers Award — often referred to as the “Heisman of Arkansas High School Football” — which recognizes the top high school football players in the state.
After graduation, McKinney went on to play football at Arkansas State University. But in a devastating twist, a spinal injury during a spring game left him temporarily paralyzed. What followed were long weeks of physical therapy and rehab — and the daunting task of relearning how to walk.
Despite the setback, McKinney pushed forward, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in marketing in 2006.
“At first, I thought about becoming a football coach,” McKinney said. “But after my injury, it was just too hard to be around the game in that way.”
Instead, he found his footing in sales. After a short stint with Sysco in the Little Rock area, McKinney felt the pull of South Arkansas. When a position opened at Bradley County Farm Bureau, it felt like the perfect fit.
Eighteen years later, McKinney continues to serve his community through his work with Farm Bureau, celebrating his anniversary with the company on Oct. 1.
“My biggest accomplishment is finding a career that allows me to raise my family in my hometown,” McKinney said. “I like that I’m fortunate enough to raise my kids the way I was raised, in the town I grew up in, with my family by my side.”
McKinney’s role allows him to walk alongside clients during some of their toughest days — and help them get back on their feet.
“The most rewarding part of my job is helping people protect their standard of living,” he said. “Being there for them when things go wrong, that’s what makes it worth it.”
Outside of work, McKinney stays active in the community. He has served as a booster for both the Warren High School softball and football teams and sponsored holes in local golf tournaments. He and Farm Bureau have supported local 4-H programs such as assisting students with the cost to raise livestock for the Bradley County Fair. This year, he helped bring a “dairy cow” exhibit from the Farm Bureau state office to the fair, giving students from Warren and Hermitage schools in kindergarten through third grade the chance to experience what it’s like to milk a cow.
McKinney is also a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Warren and is proud to live near his family and lifelong friends.
“I’ve been hunting and fishing all over this country,” he said. “But there’s nothing like Bradley County. This is God’s country.”
He credits his father as a guiding influence in his life.
“My dad always pushed me to give it my best and never give up,” McKinney said. “He’s been a really good mentor.”
Whether it’s through his career, his volunteer work, or simply showing up for his community, Reid McKinney is a hometown hero who never stopped giving back to the place that shaped him.
