The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced on April 6 that it is now accepting entries for the annual Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest, in partnership with Farm Credit. Schools, early childhood education centers, and alternative learning environments that have operated a school garden during the 2025–2026 school year or plan to start one in 2026–2027 are eligible to apply. Entries will be accepted through June 26, and winners will be named in fall.
The contest aims to encourage hands-on agricultural learning for students across Arkansas. By participating, schools can involve students directly in growing and harvesting fresh foods while competing for awards that support their garden programs.
Greg Cole, President and CEO of AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, said, “We’re proud to support a program that gives students such meaningful, hands‑on experiences. When kids get the chance to plant, grow, and harvest food themselves, it opens their eyes to the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.”
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward said, “Investing in school gardens is investing in Arkansas’s future. These hands‑on learning experiences give students real opportunities to explore agriculture and nutrition. We’re grateful to Farm Credit for supporting a program that continues to grow stronger every year.”
Applicants may compete for several categories: Best Start-Up School Garden Proposal ($500), Best Education-Based School Garden ($500), Best Harvest Partnership School Garden ($500), Best Community Collaboration School Garden ($500), Best Overall School Garden ($1,000), and Champion of School Garden Sustainability ($1,000). The contest was established by the department with Farm Credit sponsorship in 2014; since then it has recognized more than 70 school gardens statewide and awarded over $48,000.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture manages an agricultural sector contributing more than $24.3 billion annually with about 37,400 farms spanning roughly 13.7 million acres per its official website. The department also oversees funding boards supporting research and market development for commodities like rice and soybeans according to its website, maintains reforestation efforts through Baucum Nursery as reported by its website, honors forest management excellence each year according to its website, promotes access to safe water supplies according to its official site, supports resource conservation initiatives as noted on its site, and advances sustainable practices across agriculture and forestry sectors as stated on its official page.
Additional information about the contest is available on the Department’s website.
