The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced on March 19 that it will host its sixth annual “Free Tree Fridays” campaign in recognition of Arbor Day, offering free bare root seedlings to residents every Friday from March 20 through April 24 at locations across the state.
Kristine Kimbro, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, said, “Free Tree Fridays embody the spirit of Arbor Day by offering people the opportunity to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees in their own backyards and in their communities. Rather than just celebrating Arbor Day once, we are excited to offer multiple seedling giveaways across the state during the six weeks between our state’s Arbor Day and National Arbor Day.”
Two events within this campaign will also serve as Arkansas ReLeaf distributions to support replanting efforts in communities affected by tornadoes and other natural disasters. These events are scheduled for March 20 in Hot Springs Village and April 3 in Paragould. Each giveaway will feature tree species native to Arkansas, with selections varying by location but including options such as Shumard oak, overcup oak, sycamore, or pecan. Attendees may receive up to five free seedlings per person on a first-come, first-served basis.
A full schedule of giveaway locations and dates is available on the Department’s website. Funding for this project comes from the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and additional support from the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture serves as a state government agency focused on resource conservation and industry support, according to the official website. The department manages an agricultural sector contributing more than $24.3 billion annually with about 37,400 farms spanning roughly 13.7 million acres; it also oversees funding through boards that allocate millions for research, extension and market development in commodities such as rice and soybeans; promotes access to safe water supplies; maintains the Baucum Nursery which produces millions of seedlings each year for statewide reforestation efforts; and honors outstanding forest management through its annual Forest Stewards of the Year recognition— all according to information provided by its official website.
More details about Free Tree Fridays can be found on the official roster page.
