Over the years, Rick served Export Leaf Tobacco, a subsidiary of Brown & Williamson Tobacco, as a leaf buyer and supervisor and was named senior manager of leaf sales in 1991. Eight years later he was promoted to director of leaf buying and sales. In 2006 Rick formed Independent Leaf Tobacco Company after retiring from a 39-year career of buying and selling tobacco around the world for Export Leaf Tobacco Co. in Wilson, NC. ⁠

This page was given in honor of Rick Smith by the Tobacco Farm Life Museum's Board of Directors in honor of Rick receiving the Excellence in Agriculture Award from the museum in 2010.