Friday was the 33rd Annual Arkansas Agriculture Ag Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon. The more than 600 attendees gathered to honor six new inductees: Jane Ross, Gene Sullivan, Leo C. Sutterfield, George Tidwell, Thomas Vaughns and William E. (Gene) Woodall. See highlights and learn more.
James and Ashton Dixon of Magnolia are new members of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. James is a fifth-generation poultry farmer and a lcoal firefighter, while Ashton is completing a nursing degree. Learn all about this unique couple's story in our latest video.
Centerpoint School District recently announced a new charter school program called Centerpoint Academy of Agriculture and Skilled Trades. Funded by some major grants, this new initiative launches in August of this year.
Construction of the Pump Station in Scott, Ark. for the Bayou Meto Water Management District was completed in 2014. Unfortunately the station's pumps have been idle, as work continues to secure additional funding for construction of the canals and infrastructure needed to deliver Arkansas River water to farms and communities in the district. Once federal and state funding is received, officials hope to complete the project and turn the pumps on, delivering surface water to subscribers in 2026.
At the Faulkner County Library in Conway, patrons can check out more than just books. It's the location of the state's first "seed library," where visitors can check out vegetable and flower seeds, grow them out, then save and donate a portion of the seeds back to the library.
Just four years ago cotton prices bottomed out, Arkansas acreage and production dropped and only a handful of cotton gins remained open. But in 2019, prices, acreage and production saw a dramatic increase, bringing a need for more ginning capacity. In southeast Arkansas, the Day family joined others there to build a new gin at Winchester, south of Dumas. The gin began operating in January and provides a new facility to process what is expected to be expanded acreage this year.
What’s the most unusual farm animal in Arkansas? It might just be the peculiar-looking alpaca. Deborah Shannon of Sweet Clover Alpacas in Conway talks about these South American imports, which she raises for their fleece.
SalScilla Farms owners Judith and Tim Allen have established a simple mission statement for their 50-acre farm near Mayflower: "Maintain a farm retreat providing a place for faith, friendship, food and fellowship." Watch to learn more.
We paid a visit to Allen and Barbara Primm of Hampton, in Calhoun County. The couple were the 2019 Southwest District Farm Family of the Year and they've partnered together for 26 years raising cattle, timber and hay. They love life on their farm and introducing others to it. This is their story.
We visited the Heart Hospital's garden and greenhouse to see how the hospital's culinary team is growing and incorporating microgreens and other fresh produce into their hospital's meals.