Agritourism in The Natural State

ArkansasGrown

Good Times

8

Pumpkin patch, MayflowerTable of Contents

Deep Agricultural Roots ...................

Soybeans ...................................................

Wheat ..........................................................

Rice ..............................................................

Cotton ........................................................

Fish ..............................................................

Wine & Grapes ........................................

Cattle ..........................................................

Poultry .......................................................

Swine ...........................................................

Timber ........................................................

Crop Finder .............................................

Farmers’ Helpers ..................................

Rural Skyline & Iron Horses ..........

Harvest Fun .............................................

Things to See and Do (Map) ............

Attractions By Region:

Delta .............................................

Central ........................................

Ouachitas ..................................

River Valley ..............................

Ozarks .........................................

Timberlands .............................

Frequently Asked Questions ..........

Festivals ....................................................

Planting/Harvesting Timeline ......

Agricultural Research Centers ......

Arkansas Agritourism Resources ...

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This book provides

information about the

agricultural products of

Arkansas and guides you

on a fun, fact-filled tour

with crop maps, harvest

calendars, festival

listings and more

exciting things

to see and do.

While we have tried to

cover operations open to the

public, some may have been

missed or created after our

publication date. It’s always

a good idea to call ahead

when planning a trip.

FUN FACTS Are ShowN ThroUghoUT The book. be SUre To look For TheSe exCiTiNg TreATS oF TriviA.

1

K

Deep Agricultural Roots

nown as The Natural State, Arkansas’s rich history grows out of

fertile soil that feeds millions around the world. Our farmers produce

countless crops to eat and use, from rice and soybeans to poultry,

pork, cotton, catfish, cattle, milk, eggs, sorghum and more. Read this

booklet to discover the treasures growing along Arkansas’s roadways

as you travel around the state and experience our storied agricultural

heritage first-hand.

Before Arkansas was even a state, homesteading farmers accounted

for 90% of the territorial population. The state evolved from a

plantation culture before the Civil War to an era of tenant farming

and share-cropping after reconstruction, then matured into the

modern age of abundance.

The Great Depression began for Arkansas farmers with the Flood of

1927, when water from the Mississippi River and its tributaries inundated

more than 6,000 square miles, destroying crops, homes and some towns.

Meanwhile, the economic crash led to a decrease in housing construction

and a downturn in the timber industry. After the flood came the Drought

of 1930-31 and the resulting Dustbowl era.

In 1934, a group of African-American and white sharecroppers formed

the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union in Tyronza to protect Arkansas

farm workers from eviction. In 1935, the union staged a successful

strike that raised the wage for picking cotton to 75 cents for 100 pounds.

Eventually, machinery and technological advances would change

the face of Arkansas agriculture again.

You might be surprised to learn that Arkansas ranks first in the nation in

rice production, second in chicken broilers, third in cotton, fifth in timber,

tenth in soybeans, eleventh in pecans, thirteenth in grapes and twentieth

in cattle. Nearly one-half of the land in the state is devoted to some form

of agricultural enterprise.

There are plenty of places to see Arkansas’s agricultural heritage in action.

In addition to numerous farms large and small, places like the Heifer Ranch

in Perryville, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute near Morrilton, Plantation

Agriculture Museum in Scott, Fargo Agricultural School Museum near Brinkley,

Southern Tenant Farmers Museum in Tyronza and Museum of the Arkansas

Grand Prairie in Stuttgart offer opportunities to dig deep into

Arkansas agriculture.

Historic Farming Community Home to a LegendFounded in 1934 as part of Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” Dyess was an agricultural cooperative of about 15,144 acres formed to give poor families a chance to start over with land they could work toward owning. The original township had 500 individually owned and operated farms of 20 or 40 acres and was visited by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1936.

Today, it’s best known for being the boyhood home of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Arkansas State University is currently spearheading efforts to restore the home and community administration building.

StuttgartScott

Tyronza

32

ore than three million acres of Arkansas land are planted with

soybeans, with each acre producing around 35 bushels – yielding nearly

110 million bushels of soybeans during 2010-11.

Most soybeans are processed for their oil and protein for animal feed.

Some are used as seed for the next year’s crop. Others are processed for

human food like soy milk, soy flour, soy protein and tofu. Margarine,

salad dressing and mayonnaise contain soybean oil, and many foods

are packed in it.

Soy-based wood adhesives are used in certain types of lumber, carpet

and auto upholstery. Mixed with recycled newspaper, soybeans make up

a wood-like material used in furniture, flooring and countertops. Simple

processing of soybean oil produces a clean-burning, environmentally

friendly diesel fuel, which is also an ingredient in many industrial

lubricants, solvents, cleaners and paints. Soybeans are even used to

produce inks, crayons, candles and the foam in coolers and refrigerators.

SoybeansM

ore than 80,000 acres of

wheat are grown each year in

the Arkansas Delta. It’s planted in

September or October, then grows

slowly through the winter until it takes on

a velvety green appearance in the spring

and is harvested when it turns an amber

color around June. Wheat is ground into flour

and is found in many foods, including breads,

cookies, cakes, crackers and pasta.

M

Wheat

Wheat field at harvest time

AN ACre iS AboUT 90% oF A FooTbAll Field (or AboUT 70 SqUAre yArdS). The AverAge wAlMArT iS 2.5 ACreS iN Size.

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Soybeans growing in the Delta

A combine harvests rice in the Arkansas Delta

rkansas accounts for nearly 50% of all rice grown in the United

States. That’s nearly nine billion pounds produced annually, mostly

in Arkansas, Cross, Jackson, Lonoke, Poinsett and other Delta counties.

It is also grown in smaller amounts in the Arkansas River Valley and

Timberlands. Farmers in more than 40 counties in Arkansas

produce rice, harvesting about 1,785,000 acres in 2010.

Rice is usually planted late March through May. The ground must be

leveled before planting, and farmers use disks, field cultivators or land

planes to prepare the fields. Depending on the weather, farmers plant

rice in three different ways:

1) broadcasting or scattering seeds in all directions,

2) drilling the seeds into the soil with machines or

3) dropping seeds from an airplane.

After the rice is planted, a roller is pulled across the field with a tractor

to ensure the seeds are firmly in the ground. Rainfall is needed for

growth, but farmers may also use the levee irrigation system in the

absence of rain.

As it matures, rice turns from bright green to a rich golden color, and

harvest usually begins in early September. The grain is harvested with

a combine and stored temporarily or taken directly to commercial

grain elevators.

The American Rice Bowl

A

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Once the basket is full, the cotton is unloaded

into a module builder that compresses it for storage

until it is hauled away to the gin for processing.

Cotton gins separate raw cotton fibers from

seeds, and the bale press compresses the cotton

into 500-pound bales for storage and shipping.

Cotton can be found in everything from apparel

and home furnishings to medical and industrial

supplies. The cotton fiber, or “lint,” is separated

from the seed and is used to make textiles,

yarn, medical gauze, compresses and cotton

swabs. Seeds are shelled, crushed and pressed

or treated with solvents to make cottonseed oil

found in margarine, shortening, salad dressing,

soaps, candles, cosmetics, detergents, oilcloth

and other products. Cotton hulls are used in

animal feed, fertilizers, fuel, synthetic rubber

and petroleum-derived plastics. Fiber from the

stalk is used for pressed paper and cardboard.

Lakeport Plantation, Lake Village

Young plants

Cotton flower

Cotton boll

Harvest

Modules

elta farmers plow their cotton land into rows that form firm

seedbeds in April and May. A mechanical planter opens a small

trench in each row, drops the correct amount of seeds and covers

the opening.

In about two months, flower buds called squares appear, and a few

weeks later, cotton blossoms open. Petals change from white to

yellow, then pink to dark red. The blossoms then wither and fall,

leaving green cotton bolls visible in July and August.

Inside the cotton bolls, moist fibers grow and expand until they

finally split the boll apart, and the fluffy cotton bursts out. Bolls

begin to open in early September. Picking begins in late September

and lasts through early November.

Mechanical pickers harvest the cotton crop using moistened spindles

with jagged edges to pull the cotton out of the ripened bolls. Cotton

is temporarily stored in a basket atop the mechanical picker.

From Seeds to Jeans

D

AT iTS peAk, CoTToN wAS growN iN every CoUNTy iN ArkANSAS.

over The lAST CeNTUry, A liTTle peST CAlled

The boll weevil CoST CoTToN FArMerS More ThAN $20 billioN iN Crop loSSeS ANd peSTiCideS, bUT iN 2009, iT wAS FiNAlly deClAred erAdiCATed iN ArkANSAS.

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rkansas is the birthplace of warm water aquaculture in the U.S.

The Natural State ranks third in the production of catfish and produces

80% of all baitfish in the country. Catfish farming dates back to the

1970s, when rice and soybean farmers began looking for something

else to do with their fields. Since then, Arkansas has pioneered several

important developments and created the first successful commercial

catfish farms. Chicot and Desha counties in the Arkansas Delta are

the top producers of catfish in the state.

Fish Farming

CATFiSh whiSkerS Are Covered wiTh ThoUSANdS oF TASTe bUdS ANd Are USed AS exTrA ToNgUeS.

A

Catfish farm

Vintage Wine Country

rkansas is one of the oldest grape juice and wine-producing states

in the South. With its rich soil and moderate climate, the Altus area in

the Arkansas River Valley has a tradition of winemaking dating back

to the 1880s. Today, fourth and fifth generations of families carry

on their ancestors’ legacy. Several local wineries offer free tours,

tastings, festivals and special events. Learn more at the Arkansas

Historic Wine Museum in Paris.

A

On the vine

Harvest time

Stomping grapes at the festival

1110

n 2010, forestry added $1.36 billion to the

Arkansas economy. From Little Rock to the

north, west and south are forests. To the

east is the Delta, where hardwood grows in

the swamps and river bottoms. The Ozarks are home to

a mix of slower-growing pine and hardwood. The Ouachitas to the

west abound in pine on the slopes and hardwood in the valleys.

The rolling hills of the Timberlands to the south contain more pine,

which grows more quickly in the sandy soils and warm climate of

south Arkansas than in the mountains.

Softwood, such as pine, is much lighter and easier to process than

hardwood. There are more species of hardwood trees, but softwood is

still the main supply of commercial wood.

TimberI

Moving timber

Cattle

Poultry

Swine

ore than 30,000 Arkansas farms

raise cattle for both milk and beef.

$20 million worth of dairy goods are

produced yearly from around 130 herds.

1.8 million head of beef cattle produce a

total cash value of more than $432 million.

97% of these farms are family owned and

operated with an average herd size of

30 head.

M

rkansas produces over one billion

broilers each year and ranks second

in the nation in broiler production,

third in turkeys and eighth in eggs. The

poultry industry accounts for more than

40% of Arkansas agriculture on about

7,000 farms. Arkansas exports about

14% of its poultry product, mostly to

Mexico, Russia and Japan.

elcome to Hog Country. Pigs were

first introduced to The Natural State by

the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in

1541. Pigs that escaped from his expedition

are probably the ancestors of the wild

“Razorback” hogs famed as the mascot

for the University of Arkansas. Arkansas’s

domestic pig population peaked in 1940

with over 1.2 million swine. Today, there

are close to 300,000 pigs on commercial farms, while Tyson Foods based

in Springdale is the world’s second largest processor and marketer of

chicken, beef and pork.

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AQUACULTURE

CATTLE

CORN

COTTON

DAIRY

FORESTRY

POULTRY

RICE

SOYBEANS

APPLES

BLACKBERRIES

BLUEBERRIES

GRAPES

PEACHES

STRAWBERRIES

SWEET POTATOES

TOMATOES

WATERMELONS

WINTER WHEAT

Production rankings can vary from year to year based on planting, changes in farming choices and factors impacting yield (natural disasters and pest problems). These rankings are based on the latest processed data.

* Source: Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

RICE

BAITFISH

BROILERS

CATFISH

TURKEYS

COTTON

TIMBER

EGGS

SOYBEANS

SORGHUM

PECANS

CATTLE

SWINE

CORN

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RANKPRODUCT

Agriculture puts Arkansas on the national

map ranking 14th in total cash receipts

among U.S. states. The chart at the right

shows how Arkansas ranks among other

U.S. states on these farm products.*

Leading the Nation

Crop Finder

IZARD SHARP

RANDOLPH

VAN BUREN

STONE

CONWAY

SEARCY

BAXTER

MARIONBOONE

JOHNSON

SEBASTIAN

PERRY

MONTGOMERY

GRANTHOT SPRING

CLARK DALLAS

SEVIER

NEVADA

CALHOUN

LINCOLN

DREW

PHILLIPS

BRADLEY

ASHLEYCHICOT

COLUMBIA

MILLER

NEWTON

CRAWFORD

GARLAND

PULASKI

LITTLE RIVER

LAFAYETTE UNION

OUACHITA

SCOTT

PIKE

CLEBURNE

CLEVELAND

SALINE

WASHINGTON

BENTON

CARROLL

MADISON

LOGAN

FRANKLIN

GREENE

CLAY

JACKSON

FAULKNER

LAWRENCE

POLK

HEMPSTEAD

HOWARD

POPE

YELL

JEFFERSON

DESHA

PRAIRIE

ARKANSAS

LONOKE

MISSISSIPPI

CROSS

CRAIGHEAD

POINSETT

CRITTENDEN

WOODRUFF

ST. FRANCIS

MONROE

LEE

FULTON

INDEPENDENCE

WHITE

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Areas in which Arkansas crops, commodities and produce can be found

in high concentration are color coded or represented by icons.

ollowing the Depression and Flood of 1927, families began “tractor

farming” as a way to maintain their livelihoods. In 1945, International

Harvester revolutionized cotton farming with the introduction of the

first mass-produced mechanical cotton picker.

Farming and farm machinery have evolved dramatically. The threshing

machine has given way to the combine, usually a self-propelled unit

that either picks up rows of grain or cuts and threshes it in one step.

The disk harrow is used more often than plows after harvesting to cut up

the grain stubble left in the field.

Today’s farm machinery allows farmers to cultivate many more acres

than in the past. New technologies like no-till farming are increasing

yields while preserving water and soil nutrients.

Farmers’Helpers

F

A multi-rotor remote sensing system

Steam, gasoline and diesel changed

agricultural machinery and brought

prosperity to the field. The advances

continue with today’s “Information

Age” tools. There are tractors that

come with air conditioning, computer-

monitoring systems, GPS locators and

self-guiding programs that make crops

neater, more efficient and more

environmentally responsible about

seed, fertilizer and fuel. There are

even remote-controlled drones for

crop dusting and seeding from the air.

This rice dryer in Tyronza can dry 10,000 bushels of rice per hour, or about 6,000 100-pound bags.

A planter is towed behind a tractor to sow crops through a field by laying the seed down in a precise manner along rows.

Planter

Combine harvesting wheat Poultry houses Corn harvest Crop duster Milo (Grain sorghum)Rice irrigation

Tyronza rice dryer

1716

Grain elevator

Disk harrow

Grain elevators scoop up and store grain until it is deposited in a silo or other storage facility.

Tractor and plow

A disk harrow is used to cultivate the soil by chopping up unwanted weeds and crop remainders.

A combine harvester is used to reap, thresh and winnow grain crops such as wheat, oats and corn.

Irrigation ensures that crops receive the right amount of moisture for better harvests.

Aerators are used in ponds to improve the water quality for fish farming.

Rural Skyline& Iron Horses

Fish pond aerator

Center-pivot irrigation system

Corn harvest combine and grain truck

Tractors pull chisel plows to loosen hard dry soils in preparation for planting.

1918

Milo (oTherwiSe kNowN AS grAiN SorghUM) iS USed For ANiMAl Feed. iT’S SiMilAr To CorN iN iTS NUTriTioNAl vAlUe For ANiMAlS ANd iS AlSo USed iN birdSeed MixTUreS.

From pink tomatoes to purple hull peas, rich Delta rice fields to

rolling River Valley vineyards, Arkansas yields an abundant crop of

opportunities to taste the many delights of agricultural tourism.

Berry farms, peach orchards, pumpkin patches, dairies and

ranches are just a stone’s throw away from each other and nestled

near exciting city centers stocked with robust farmers markets.

The long growing season of Arkansas leads to plentiful harvest

festivals all around The Natural State.

Harvest Fun

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Talimena National Scenic BywayGreat River Road National Scenic Byway Crowley’s Ridge Parkway

N

S

EW

D e l t a

Brinkley

Paragould

Piggott

Marianna

Forrest City

Wynne

Stuttgart

DeWitt

Grady

Dumas

Augusta

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124 5

Agritourism Icons

ORCHARD

BERRIES

WINERY

PUMPKIN PATCH

FARMERS MARKET

STABLES AND HORSEBACK RIDING

FISH HATCHERY AND/OR FISHING

DAIRY

GROUP TOURS

FARM LODGING

CHRISTMAS TREES

VEGETABLES

MUSEUM, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

HONEY

MEAT

FLOWERS

O u a c h i t a s

O z a r k s

40

7

7

167

7

7

7

82

82

T i m b e r l a n d s

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R i v e r V a l l e y

71

67

65

270

165

278278

278

5

9 40

6262

167

540

71

10

30

C e n t r a l

79

425

Arkadelphia

Conway

ScottLonoke

Mountain Home

Midway

Bruno

Omaha

Parthenon

Huntsville

Eureka Springs

Fayetteville

Springdale

Fort Smith

Hope

El DoradoHamburg

Magnolia

Emerson

Mount Ida

Mena

Pine Bluff

Batesville

Mountain View

Morrilton

Ozark

AltusClarksville

London

Dover

Blackwell

PerryvilleDanville

Mammoth Spring

Russellville

Camden

Harrison

Jasper

Little Rock

Star City

Dardanelle

North Little Rock

Warren

Altheimer

Hampton

Louann

Fouke

Fulton

MalvernBismarckRoyal

HarveyWaldron

Washington

NashvilleDeQueenGurdon

Judsonia

Heber SpringsQuitman

GuyGreenbrier

Wooster

MayflowerBigelow

Roland

CabotJacksonville

BryantBenton

England

Rogers

Bentonville

Alma

Van Buren

Charleston

Wiederkehr Village

Garfield

Cave SpringsGentry

Paris

Hot Springs

Hot Springs Village

Texarkana

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3124

30

42

37

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2529

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10

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382721

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6862

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18

5657

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5960

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7580

Monticello

Things to See and Do

Numbers and icons correspond

to the listings that follow.

2322

67

49

63

79

55

55

49

13

Blytheville 15

Tyronza

Lepanto

1416

West Memphis

7

Helena-West Helena

65

9

McGehee

Arkansas City

Lake Village8

Bald Knob

Newport

Cave City

Walnut Ridge

Pocahontas63 10495

Jonesboro

3

11

90

109

119

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215 pAirS oF jeANS, 3,085 diAperS, 1,256 pillowCASeS or 313,600 $100 dollAr billS.

one bale of cotton can yield

Delta

1 Arkansas County Farmers Market: North Market 870-946-2849 • Uaex.edu/Arkansas/• Main and 6th Streets, Stuttgart.

Fresh produce, baked goods and crafts. Open May-October, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7-11:30 a.m.

2 Arkansas County Farmers Market: South Market 870-946-2849 • Uaex.edu/Arkansas/• Hwy. 165 S., DeWitt. Fresh produce,

baked goods and crafts. Open May-October, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7-11:30 a.m.

3 ASU regional Farmers Market 870-273-2682 • Asuregionalfarmersmarket.org • Stadium Ave. and Aggie Rd.,

Jonesboro. Open Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., May-October; Tuesday and Thursday, 2-6 p.m., June-August.

4 bassham orchard 870-238-2153 • 3422 Hwy. 284 E., Wynne. Peaches and nectarines sold daily

June until mid-August.

5 Cross County Farmers Market 870-238-5745 • 705 E. Union Ave., Wynne. Variety of locally grown fruits,

vegetables and flowers. Homemade crafts. Open late May-October, Tuesday, Noon-5 p.m. and Saturday, 7-10 a.m.

6 desha County Museum 870-382-4222 • Hwy. 54 E., Dumas. Founded in 1979, this five-building museum

complex re-creates life in a typical South Arkansas farming community. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Sunday 2-4 p.m.

7 Floyd brown-Fargo Agricultural School Museum 870-734-1140 • Floyd Brown Dr., Brinkley. Founded in 1919 by Floyd Brown,

the Fargo Agricultural School provided a quality high school education to thousands of African-American students for 30 years. Museum interprets Brown’s legacy. Two miles north of Brinkley off U.S. 49. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

8 lakeport plantation 870-265-6031 • Lakeport.astate.edu • 601 Hwy. 142, Lake Village. Lakeport

Plantation house is the only remaining Arkansas plantation home on the Mississippi River. Today you can tour it, thanks to a gift in 2001 to Arkansas State University from the Sam Epstein Angel family. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tours.

The Delta, which stretches down the entire eastern border of the state along the

Mississippi River, contains some of the most fertile soil in America. Driving the

Great River Road National Scenic Byway, visitors can easily spot rows upon rows

of corn, cotton, soybeans, rice, wheat and other crops. Arkansas is ranked third in

the nation in cotton production, and the Delta produces more cotton than any

other region in the state. Soybeans are also big business in these parts.

Although first introduced for crop rotation, soybeans now occupy more acres of

Arkansas Delta farmland than any other crop, including cotton. Other products

found here include peaches, pumpkins, watermelons, strawberries, pecans,

sweet potatoes, sorghum and catfish.

2524

9 Mcgehee producers gin 870-222-4400 • 2106 Hwy. 65 N., McGehee. Offers free tours during ginning

season, August-October. Learning how cotton is picked, formed into modules and later transferred for ginning is a unique experience to visitors of the Delta. Old cotton trailers can be seen on the property.

10 Museum of the Arkansas grand prairie 870-673-7001 • Grandprairiemuseum.org • 921 E. 4th St., Stuttgart. Depicts

the history of farming in the Grand Prairie with exhibits, library and mini-theater. 20,000-square-foot facility with five auxiliary buildings. Open Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.

11 The painted house Movie Set 870-475-2415 • Greenwood Avenue and East Oak Street, Lepanto. The original

movie set farmhouse, used in the 2003 Hallmark Hall of Fame film production of “A Painted House,” is open for tours. The house is patterned after the Arkansas boyhood home of novelist John Grisham, who wrote “A Painted House.” Many items used in making the movie are displayed in the vintage-looking house constructed for the film.

12 peebles Farms 870-919-6162 • peeblesfarm.com • 76 Woodruff 249, Hwy. 64E between

Augusta and McCrory. 140 acres of watermelons, cantaloupes, corn and purple hull peas. October activities include a 14-acre corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, U-pick pumpkin patch, corn cannon, hay pyramid, hay tunnels, huge tire serpent, food concessions, covered pavilion and horse-and-buggy rides.

13 pumpkin hollow 870-598-3568 • Pumpkinhollow.com • 671 CR 336, Piggott. Pumpkin patch, corn mazes, hayrides, fun house, petting zoo, region’s largest gourd trellis and haunted attractions. Open the last Saturday of September through October.

Group tours available.

14 Southern Tenant Farmers Museum870-487-2909 • Stfm.astate.edu 117 Main St., Tyronza. Exhibits and artifacts focusing on the farm labor movement in the South and the tenant farming system of agriculture. During the early 1930s, the building housed the businesses of H.L. Mitchell and Clay East, two of the principal founders of the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union. Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday, Noon-3 p.m.

15 Spiders web daylily garden870-763-8308 • Spiders-web.org 2926 Hwy. 150, Blytheville. Visitors are welcome, but please call first for an appointment. June-August.

16 whitton Farms870-815-9519 • Whittonfarms.com 5157 W. Hwy. 118, Tyronza. Berries, vegetables, flowers and herbs. Field trips and group tours welcome.

Central

17 Argenta Market Argenta Market501-379-9980 • Argentamarket.com • 521 Main St., North Little Rock. Handmade, local and seasonal foods and specialty products. Open Monday- Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

18 barnhill orchards501-676-2305 • 277 Sandhill Rd., Lonoke. Strawberries, blackberries, peaches, squash, sweet corn, cantaloupes, watermelons, okra, pumpkins, pecans and sweet potatoes. Open seasonally, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

19 benton Farmers Market501-315-8272 • Market Street, Benton. Open-air facility offering Saline County produce. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, May-August.

20 bobrook Farms llC501-519-5666 • Bobrookfarms.com • 13810 Combee Ln., Roland. U-pick berries and vegetables. Hayrides, bluegrass music and arts and crafts. Corn maze and pumpkin patch. School field trips available weekdays. Reservations required. Christmas trees in November and December.

21 The Cabot patch501-605-1313 • Thecabotpatch.8m.com • 500 Mount Carmel Rd., Cabot. U-pick strawberries. Also offering peaches, watermelons, tomatoes, okra, cantaloupes and more. Open daily, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

22 Cadron Crest orchard501-679-3243 • 86 Mode Rd., Guy. U-pick strawberries, apples and peaches. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

23 Cadron Crest orchard Market501-679-1025 • 124 S. Broadview St., Greenbrier. Locally grown produce, jams and jellies. Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m., March-December.

24 Certified Arkansas Farmers Market501-231-0094 • Cafm.locallygrown.net • Main and 6th Streets, North Little Rock. Local produce, meats, poultry, eggs and plants. Basket-A-Month offers fresh seasonal products in one bountiful basket with pickup locations across Central Arkansas. Open Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon, April-September.

In Central Arkansas, rich farmland yields a variety of crops, including cotton,

rice and soybeans, as well as cattle and hogs. The Plantation Agriculture Museum

in Scott offers a closer look at life on a farm with exhibits on everything from

churning butter to picking cotton. The Dortch Cotton Gin Exhibit explains each

stage of the cotton ginning process. The Central region also features U-pick berry

farms, peach and apple orchards, Christmas tree farms, pumpkin patches and

pecan groves. This region is home to one of the largest blackberry growers

in the nation, Gillam Farms in Judsonia.

Little Rock Farmers Market

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every yeAr, ArkANSAS FArMerS plANT eNoUgh

SoybeANS To Cover More ThAN Three MillioN FooTbAll FieldS.

25 Chief whitehorse’s Trail rides501-327-7776 • Horserentals.com/chiefwhitehorse.html • 11621 Barrett Rd., Roland. Guided horseback trail rides near Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

26 Collins round Mountain orchard501-327-0450 • Located 3 miles south of Conway on Round Mountain. U-pick orchard offering peaches, nectarines, apples, pears, blackberries, tomatoes, muscadines and vegetables.

27 Conway Farmers Market 501-329-8344 • 717 Parkway St. and Main St., Conway. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

28 d & M Nuthouse & orchards501-676-2468 • 333 Humke Ln., Lonoke. Excellent Stuart and Desirable pecans. Open daily, November 1-January 1, Noon-dark.

29 geisler’s holiday Forest501-224-3797 • 8917 Dorsey Rd., Jacksonville. Oldest choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm in Pulaski County. Leyland Cypress, Arizona Cypress, Virginia Pine and more. Free hayrides, hot spiced tea and candy canes. Sharp bow saws, tree shaker and netting provided. Open seasonally on Saturday, 9 a.m.-dark and Sunday, 1 p.m.-dark.

30 gillam Farms501-729-5266 • Gillamfarms.com • 251 Hwy. 258, Judsonia. Over 400 acres of fruits and vegetables. One of the country’s largest blackberry growers. On-site store sells jams, jellies and more.

31 heifer village 877-870-2697 or locally 501-907-8800 • Heifer.org • 1 World Ave., Little

Rock. Heifer Village on the Heifer International Campus introduces visitors to the possibility of a world free of hunger and poverty. Heifer Village is home to interactive exhibits that provide a stimulating and challenging educational experience for people of all ages.

32 holland bottom Farms501-843-7152 • Hollandbottomfarm.com • 1986 Pickthorne Rd., Cabot. Strawberries, peaches, melons and vegetables. Open daily during picking season. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

33 j & p ranch501-961-9938 • 966 McCoy Ln., Scott. Small children’s maze, hayrides, horseback rides, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch in season, playground, picnic area and more.

34 joe hogan Fish hatchery501-676-6963 • 23 Joe Hogan, Lonoke. One of the world’s largest working fish hatcheries. Annually produces catfish, largemouth bass, bream, crappie, striped bass and hybrid striped bass. Aquariums, bird watching, fish farming methods; tours available.

35 johnston pumpkin Farms501-679-5078 • Rocky Road, Greenbrier. Pumpkin patch, hayrides, farm animals and country store with fall decorations. Open in October, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

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36 Mary’s pumpkin patch501-847-3900 • Marysplaceinbryant.com • 3705 Hwy. 5 N., Bryant. Pumpkin patch and hayrides. 24-passenger trackless train. Fresh produce, gifts, Arkansas home-canned vegetables and honey.

37 Motley’s Tree Farm 501-888-1129 • Motleystreefarm.com • 13724 Sandy Ann Dr., Little Rock. Operates as Motley’s Pumpkin Patch through October, weekends only. Open Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. At Christmastime, choose-and-cut Virginia Pine, Carolina Sapphire, Leyland Cypress, Eastern Red Cedar and Noble Fir. 3,000-square-foot Christmas store. Free cocoa and candy canes. Open the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday before Christmas, Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

38 Mountain high patch

501-983-8881 • Thecabotpatch.8m.com • 1000 E. Justice Rd., Cabot. U-pick strawberries and peaches. Open daily, 7 a.m.-Noon.

39 Nixon Flower Farm501-982-2379 • Nixonflowerfarm.com • 1412 Graham Rd., Jacksonville. Special event center open May-October.

40 plantation Agriculture Museum State park501-961-1409 • Arkansasstateparks.com/plantationagriculturemuseum Junction U.S. 165 and U.S. 161 S., Scott. Tour the Dortch Gin Exhibit Building and learn how cotton was ginned. Museum exhibits interpret farming life during the

Plantation Era. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

41 river Market Farmers Market501-375-2552 • Rivermarket.info/ farmers_market.aspx • 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Two outdoor, open-air pavilions overlooking Riverfront Park. Fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses and other local products. Handmade arts and crafts also for sale. Open May-October, Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

42 Schaefers & Collins pumpkin

patch and Corn Maze Farm501-470-0014 • 501-269-7903 Schaeferspumpkinpatch.com Schaeferscornmaze.com • 863 Lollie Rd., Mayflower. Sweet corn, purple hull peas, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers, water- melons and cantaloupes. Hayrides, pumpkin patch and corn maze. Picnic area and concession stand on-site. Produce stand open Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon-4 p.m. Fall pumpkin patch: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday Noon-6 p.m.

46 Andrew hulsey Fish hatchery877-525-8606 • Located on Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs. Forty-two ponds. Ninety acres devoted to fish production, including Florida largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, striped bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill sunfish, grass carp and blue catfish. Call for directions and details. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

47 bar Fifty ranch bed & breakfast 501-865-4757 • Barfiftyranch.com • 18044 Ark. 84, Bismarck. Horseback riding, swimming, fishing, hiking trails, bird watching, horseshoes and more. Lodging includes guest rooms, cedar log cabins, RV and horse rig camping sites. Call ahead for availability.

48 brady Mountain riding Stables

501-767-1909 • Bradymountainridingstables.com • 4120 Brady Mountain Rd., Royal. Guided trail rides on horseback through the Ouachita Mountains. 30-minute and one-hour rides offered. 10-minute round pen rides for young children. Group rates and birthday packages available. Call for details and directions.

49 Castleberry riding Stables

501-623-6609 • 537 Walnut Valley Rd., Hot Springs Village. Guided mountain trail rides, hayrides, overnight camping and riding lessons. Advance reservations required. Call for details and directions.

50 Forbes Farms479-462-5631 • Hwy. 28 E., Harvey. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, rasp-berries, corn, cabbage, onions, peppers, broccoli, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, okra, cucumbers and more. Jams and jellies for sale. Call ahead for availability.

51 garner homestead Family Farm501-463-0510 • Garnerhomesteadfamilyfarm.com • 907 W. St. Louis, Hot Springs. Hayrides, live barnyard animal exhibit, self-guided nature walk, corn maze, playground, picnic areas and pumpkin patch. Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, mid-September-early November. Evening hours by special arrangement only.

52 historic downtown hot Springs Farmers Market 501-627-0711 • Cityhs.net/departments_parks_farmers_market.html Broadway and Orange Street, Hot Springs. Fresh local produce, herbs, flowers and handcrafted items for sale under an open-air pavilion. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7-11 a.m., May-October; Saturday, 9-11 a.m., November-April.

53 hot Spring County Farmers Market501-332-5267 • 1415 Smith St., Malvern. Seasonal farmers market. May-October. Call for details and directions.

OuachitasThe Ouachita Mountain region grows good times by the bushel with an abundance

of crops, including watermelons, berries, tomatoes and pumpkins. Don’t miss the

Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs. While driving

through this region, visitors will see rustic timber and rolling ranchland where

cattle are grazing. The Ouachitas are also home to horse breeders who raise

Egyptian Arabians and other Thoroughbreds.

Motley Tree Farm, Little Rock

P. Allen Smith Garden Home Retreat

Plantation Agriculture Museum, Scott Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival

43 Scott plantation Settlement501-351-0300 • Scottconnections.org • Alexander Road, Scott. Showcases typical Arkansas plantation buildings; includes a hand-hewn cypress corncrib, 1840s log cabin, washhouse, several tenant houses and a blacksmith shop. Self-guided, outdoor walking tours. Open mid-April through mid-November, Thursday-Sunday.

44 wye Mountain

501-330-2268 • Wyemountainumc-daffodilfestival.com • Hwy. 113, Bigelow. Seven acres of yellow daffodils celebrated with the Daffodil Festival in March. Check website or Facebook page for exact bloom dates.

45 wye Mountain berry patch and Flower Farm 501-330-1906 • 20309 Hwy. 113, Roland. Raspberries, blackberries and

beautiful flowers. Call for picking days and times.

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P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home Retreat at Moss Mountain Farm offers group tours by reservation for fans of the nationally known garden expert.

54 international hoo-hoo headquarters and Museum

870-353-4997 • Hoo-hoo.org • 207 Main St., Gurdon. Housed in a historic cabin built by the WPA in the 1930s. Contains many artifacts, photographs, publications, books and memorabilia about the international Hoo-Hoo organization and the timber industry.

55 McAlpine Christmas Tree Farm 501-865-3731 • Arkansastreegrowers.com • 197 Christmas Tree Ln. (off Hwy. 84), Bismarck. Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress Christmas trees. Large selection and reasonable prices. Open daily from Thanksgiving through Christmas during daylight hours.

56 Montgomery County Farmers Market 870-867-2311 • Mount Ida Courthouse Square, Mount Ida. Fresh produce and baked goods for sale. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 a.m.-Noon, June-September.

57 Mountain harbor riding Stable870-867-3022 • Mountainharborridingstable.com • 722 Mountain Harbor Rd., Mount Ida. Guided trail rides on horseback through the Ouachita Mountains. Open daily at 9 a.m., June-August. In other months, stables are open by request only.

58 panther valley ranch 501-623-5556 • Panthervalleyranch.com • 1942 Millcreek Rd., Hot Springs. Cabins with kitchenettes, fireplaces and Jacuzzis. Horseback riding and fishing on-site. Steak Dinner Rides include horseback riding and full meal offered seasonally on Friday and Saturday.

59 polk County Farmers Market 479-394-6018 • 524 Sherwood Ave., Mena. Seasonal farmers market. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, May-October.

60 wildacre ranch479-216-9202 • Wildacreranch.com • 165 Polk 191, Mena. U-pick blueberries and purple hull peas. Honeybee operation on-site. Honey and bee products available year-round.

Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery

Panther Valley Ranch, Hot Springs

ArkANSAS blACk AppleS origiNATed iN weSTerN ArkANSAS AroUNd The Mid-19Th CeNTUry.

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One of the oldest wine countries in America is located in the Arkansas River Valley,

where travelers find many old-fashioned, family-owned vineyards, robust orchards

and bustling berry farms. Also located in the River Valley region, Heifer Ranch in

Perryville promotes sustainable solutions to end global hunger and poverty.

River Valley

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61 barnyard Friends petting zoo & Stables

501-208-7287 • Barnyardfriends.net • 110 Jones Ln., Morrilton. Petting zoo, pony rides, horseback rides, and bottle- and hand-feeding of animals. Ideal for day camps, field trips and birthday parties. Horse-drawn carriage rides.

62 Chateau Aux Arc vineyards & winery 479-468-4400 • Chateauauxarc.com • 8045 Champagne Dr., Hwy. 186, Altus.

World’s largest planter of Cynthiana grapes, largest Chardonnay vineyard in the country outside of California and largest Zinfandel planter in Arkansas. Wine tastings. Bus tours welcome with advance notice. The Villa guesthouse, RV and camping available.

63 Conway County Farmers Market 501-354-2393 • E. Railroad Avenue, Morrilton. Locally grown fruits, vegetables,

flowers and herbs.

64 Cowie wine Cellars and vineyards 479-963-3990 • Cowiewinecellars.com • 101 N. Carbon City Rd., Paris.

Arkansas Historic Wine Museum. Wine tasting and tours. Suites and bed and breakfast.

65 Cox berry Farm

479-754-3707 • Coxberryfarm.com • 1081 Hwy. 818, Clarksville. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, cantaloupes, tomatoes, watermelons and pumpkins. Open daily, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. U-pick: Monday-Friday, May-October.

66 Crabtree Farms and produce 479-632-6069 • 1434 Alma Dr., Alma. Cantaloupes and watermelons available

in July. Pumpkins available by mid-September.

67 drewry Farm & orchard 479-331-2987 • Drewryfarmandorchards.com • Off Hwy. 164 E., Dover.

Strawberries, peaches, watermelons, tomatoes and honey. Pumpkins in the fall. Commercial kitchen; fudge, breads and muffins.

68 Fort Smith Farmers Market 2nd and Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith • Fresh produce and crafts. Open

Tuesday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon, May-September.

69 Foshee pecan Farm501-354-3791 • Off Hwy. 64, Blackwell. October-December. Call for availability and directions.

70 heifer ranch501-889-5124 • Heifer.org/ranch • 55 Heifer Rd., Perryville. 1,200-acre working ranch and learning center includes Global Villages, Challenge Course, Conference and Retreat Center with modern lodging and dining facilities, gift shop, livestock and organic gardens. Tours are available for drop-in visitors (7 or less) Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. All overnight programs and group tours require advance reservations.

71 Mount bethel winery479-468-2444 • Mountbethel.com • 5014 Mount Bethel Dr., Altus. Historic cellar continues the century-old tradition of wine making, bottling, tasting and tours. Gift shop on-site.

72 Nanna’s iris garden479-965-7741 • Charleston. One of the largest selections of flowers in the South. Iris and daylilies. Tours of the garden available by appointment only. April-June.

73 peach pickin’ paradise479-754-2006 • 260 County Rd. 3481, Clarksville. U-pick and we-pick.

74 perry County Farmers Market501-889-5124 • Perryville Park, Hwy. 10, Perryville. Locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, meats, eggs and more. Open seasonally, Wednesday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon.

75 petit jean Farm501-727-5659 • 1039 Winrock Dr., Morrilton. Specialty meats, cheeses, honey, jams, baked goods and other products. Farm day tours available Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Minimum of 12 participants.

76 pine grove Christmas Tree Farm479-965-2130 • 2919 Yocum St., Charleston. Hayrides and children’s activities.

77 post Familie vineyards & winery479-468-2741 • Postfamilie.com • 1700 Saint Mary’s Mountain Rd., Altus. Fifth-generation family operated since 1880. Tours include wine and juice tastings. Grape-related gift shop.

78 renee’s berry garden479-293-3229 • 1265 Will Baker, London. U-pick and we-pick blueberries. Late May-June. Closed on Sunday and Thursday.

79 wiederkehr wine Cellars & vineyard479-468-9463 • Wiederkehrwines.com • 3324 Swiss Family Dr., Wiederkehr Village. Family operated since 1880. Swiss-German heritage. Wine tours and tastings, restaurant and gift shop.

80 winthrop rockefeller institute501-727-5435 • Livethelegacy.org • 1 Rockefeller Dr., Morrilton. WRI’s Heritage Farmstead contains a teaching barn, orchard, vineyard, well house, cellar house and smoke house. Demonstrations of heritage and contemporary practices are offered. You’ll find guest rooms, suites and plenty of dining and meeting space to meet your needs. USDA beef products are sold at Winrock.

90 Fenton’s berry and vegetable Farm870-741-9607 • Fentonsberryfarm.com • 7217 Fork Creek Rd., Harrison. U-pick and we-pick strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries mid-April through July. Pumpkins, corn maze and hayrides in the fall. Three-bedroom guesthouse.

91 The garden bistro479-253-1281 • 119 N. Main, Eureka Springs. A fresh dining experience in downtown Eureka! Garden Bistro dishes are created around seasonal, farm fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs and meats.

92 herbhome Farm & hostel805-598-6031 • Herbhome.tripod.com • Off County Rd. 19, Parthenon. Small homestead herb farm. Pesticide-free herbs and vegetables, handmade goat’s milk soaps, classes and Wild Walks every fourth Saturday of the month. Three platform tents sleep up to six guests. Open Monday-Friday, 2-6 p.m.

93 horseshoe Canyon ranch870-446-2577 • Gohcr.com Off Hwy. 74, Jasper. Dude ranch experience. Horseback riding, rock climbing, swimming and canoeing. Overnight stays in comfortable cabins. Available for groups, corporate meetings, reunions and other special events.

94 little heaven ranch870-427-3420 Littleheavenranch.homestead.com Hwy. 235 S., Bruno. Family trail rides and horseback riding lessons.

95 living Farm Museum 870-892-9545 • 320 Kilo Vista Burdel, Pocahontas. Demonstrations of antique farm equipment: horse-drawn plows, harrows, disks, planters, threshers, hay rakes and balers; steam boiler and engine, antique tractors and antique hand tools.

96 Madison County Farmers Market 479-738-1018 • Huntsville Square, Huntsville. Produce, plants and crafts. Tuesday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon.

97 Mammoth Spring National Fish hatchery870-625-3912 • Fws.gov/mammothspring • 302 Fish Hatchery Ln., Mammoth Spring. One of the oldest hatcheries in the country. Maintains the only captive spawning population of Gulf Coast striped bass in the world.

98 Mcgarrah Farms479-451-8164 • Mcgarrahfarms.com • 16329 N. Old Wire Rd., Garfield Pumpkin Patch: 14816 Miser Rd., Pea Ridge. U-pick strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and produce. Pumpkin patch with hayrides and grass maze. Opens in late September.

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21 dAyS To hATCh.

81 Arkansas Frontier501-589-3122 • Arkansasfrontier.com • 1625 Wesley Chapel Rd., Quitman. Working farm with one-room schoolhouse, farm animals, hayrides, train rides and more. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Sunday.

82 bentonville Farmers Market479-254-0254 • Downtownbentonville.org/farmers-market • Main and Central on the historic square, Bentonville. Locally grown produce, meats, baked goods, handcrafted items, food and music. Open last week in April through November, Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

83 boone County Farmers Market870-741-0239 • Park Square, Harrison. Open June-October, Tuesday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon.

84 Christmas in the ozarks Tree Farm870-577-7389 • Christmasintheozarkstreefarm.com • 15965 Warden Rd., Omaha. Choose-and-cut Virginia and Scott pines. Free candy canes and festive Christmas music.

85 dinner bell ranch479-253-2900 • Dinnerbellranchandresort.com • 4462 County Rd. 302, Eureka Springs. Horseback riding, hayrides and luxury lodging. Weddings on horseback or by carriage also available.

86 double S oaks ranch870-481-5225 • Horserentals.com/double-s-oaks.html • 77 Double S Oaks Ln., Midway. One-hour trail ride on 105 beautiful acres with hillsides and creek crossing. Riding lessons for beginners and advance riders. Boarding and horse training also available.

87 dozier’s Sta-N-Step Farms479-361-2789 • Sta-n-step.blogspot.com • 3104 Wildcat Creek Blvd., Fayetteville. Blackberries, raspberries and 10 varieties of blueberries. Primarily U-pick.

88 ewe bet Farm479-903-5556 • Ewebetfarm.com • 1020 W. Wallis Rd., Cave Springs. Locally grown, grass-fed lamb. Apples, eggs and honey. Overnight stays available in private suite with kitchen, fireplace and satellite TV. Feed the animals and fish in the catfish pond.

89 Fayetteville Farmers Market479-236-2910 • Fayettevillefarmersmarket.org • Historic downtown square, Fayetteville. Open first week of April through mid-November, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday only in November.

OzarksWhile famous as the birthplace of the world’s largest retailer (Walmart), the

Ozarks region also contains the nation’s biggest protein provider, Tyson Foods.

Poultry production is a billion-dollar industry in Arkansas. In 2008, the state

produced 1.2 billion broilers, 31 million turkeys and 3.1 billion eggs.

The Ozarks produce the largest number of birds per county in the state.

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99 Micmak hydroponics Farm870-251-1688 • Micmakfarms.wordpress.com • 69 Cedar Dr., Batesville. Family-owned and operated hydroponics farm, which grows plants using water and nutrients and no soil. Studies show this method is more efficient than traditional farming, using 75% less water and no pesticides. Tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini, eggplants, squash and peppers. Open year-round on Fridays.

100 Mountain home berry Farm870-425-7028 • Mountainhomeberryfarm.com • 693 County Rd. 57, Mountain Home. Open seasonally. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black-berries and more. Fall festival with pumpkins, gourds, hayrides, corn maze and petting zoo. Country store offers jams, butters, ciders, sauces, spices and more.

101 Norfork National Fish hatchery870-499-5255 • Fws.gov/norfork • 1414 Hwy. 177 S., Mountain Home. Cold-water hatchery producing rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.

102 ozark Corn Maze479-366-6246 • Ozarkcornmaze.com • 1125 S. Main St., Cave Springs. Corn field labyrinth on six acres. Petting zoo, pumpkin patch, corn cannons, concessions and more. Open seasonally. Call for hours of operation.

103 ozark Folk Center State park870-269-3851 • Ozarkfolkcenter.com • 1032 Park Ave., Mountain View. An adventure in yesterday’s Ozark Mountain way of life that you can see, touch and enjoy today. Spend the night in the Dry Creek Cabins and experience great country cooking at the Skillet Restaurant.

104 Small Farm Fibers llC870-277-4424 • Smallfarmfibers.com • 106 W. Everett, Pocahontas. Farm grows its own ultra-soft, 20-micron fine wool and luxurious mohair that is transformed into the natural luxury yarns sold at the Pocahontas Mill store and online.

105 Tater hill Farm501-728-4943 • Taterhillfarm.net • 24 Long Branch Rd., Heber Springs. Horses, farm animals and a fish pond. Fully furnished cabins for overnight stays.

106 Taylors’ orchard479-736-2004 • 12801 Taylor Orchard Rd., Gentry. U-pick and we-pick blackberries, peaches and nectarines.

107 war eagle Mill479-789-5343 • Wareaglemill.com • 11045 War Eagle Rd., Rogers. Contains a working, water-powered gristmill; restaurant; and gift shop. Educational tours explain how the mill operates.

Ozark Folk Center Sweet potato harvest Norfork National Fish Hatchery

108 Agricultural learning Center

870-774-6455 • Aglearningcenter.com • 3700 E. 50th St., Texarkana. Dairy, agricultural and nutritional education programs.

109 Autumn harvest Maze & pumpkin patch870-896-2300 • 785 County Rd. 1, Fulton. 15-acre walk-through corn maze with pumpkin patch and picnic area. Horse-drawn wagon rides and concessions. Haunted Maze and Field of Screams on Friday and Saturday nights.

110 Camden Farmers Market870-231-1160 • Cash and California Streets, Camden. A variety of fruits and vegetables grown within Ouachita County. May-September, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon.

111 el dorado Farmers Market870-862-4747 • Mainstreeteldorado.org • Main Street, El Dorado. Produce, jelly, pickles, relish, all grown or produced in Union County. Open May-October, Wednesday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

112 The elms plantation870-766-8337 • Theelmsplantation.com • 400 W. Elm Plantation Rd., Altheimer. 1866 plantation listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two cottages on the property sleep up to 10 guests each. Available for retreats, weddings, meetings and reunions. Tours offered on Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call ahead for availability.

113 enoch’s berry Farm870-653-2512 • Berryfarm.com • 1722 MC40, Fouke. U-pick blueberries and blackberries until mid-July.

114 gateway Farmers Market870-772-4558 • 4323 Jefferson Ave., Texarkana. Locally grown produce. Open April-September, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon.

The piNe iS The STATe Tree oF ArkANSAS.

TimberlandsArkansas consisted of 96% forest when settlers arrived in the early 19th century.

Cities such as El Dorado, Camden and Pine Bluff were built when the newcomers, who

were impressed with the region’s dense woods of pine and cypress, decided to settle.

Today, 50% of the state is still wooded. In the Timberlands region, visitors will find

farmers markets, orchards, gardens and festivals celebrating the region’s top crops,

including the Purple Hull Pea Festival in Emerson in June, the Bradley County Pink

Tomato Festival in Warren in June and the Annual Hope Watermelon Festival in

August, where you’ll find some of the largest melons in the world on display.

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115 hardin Farms & Market870-818-1912 • Hardinfarmsandmarket.com • U.S. 65 S., Grady. Pumpkin patch, Indian village, hayrides, pony rides, goat treehouse, petting zoo, face painting and more. Fruits and vegetables grown and sold. Seasonal gift shop. Group rates available.

116 historic washington State park870-983-2684 • Historicwashingtonstatepark.com • Hwy. 278 W., Washington. Historic Washington State Park maintains a homestead garden, herb garden and orchards. Several workshops are offered, including one in which participants experience the basics of safe harnessing and driving mule teams.

117 howard County Farmers Market870-845-1262 • Washington Street, Nashville. Locally grown produce for sale, as well as small organic garden workshops. Open May-October, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon.

118 levi wilcoxon demonstration Forest 870-567-5018 • Intersection of Hwy. 425 & Hwy. 52 south of Hamburg. Over 100 acres of old-age pine forest land. With trees up to 350 years old, it exhibits some of the largest specimens of Loblolly and Shortleaf Pine. A roadside park is available; trails are scheduled for completion summer 2011. Home to the National Champion Shortleaf Pine. Open year-round. Closes at dark.

119 liberty produce 870-689-3588 • 4231 Ouachita Rd. 2, Louann. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cantaloupes, watermelons and peas.

120 old washington Farmers Market870-983-2443 • Oldwashingtonfarmersmarket.blogspot.com • Hwy. 278 W., Washington. All-natural, grass-fed pork, squash, beans, herbs, eggs, blackberries, blueberries and more. Open seasonally, Tuesday, 3-6 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m.-Noon.

121 pine bluff Farmers Market 870-536-0920 • Saracenlanding.com • 200 Lake Saracen Dr., Pine Bluff.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 6 a.m.-1 p.m., May-October.

122 Suzanne’s Fruit Farm870-798-4975 • Suzannesfruitfarm.com • 500 Peach Rd., Hampton. U-pick peaches, plums, blueberries, blackberries, pumpkins and more. Homemade jams, jellies, syrups, gift baskets and more. Open 7-11 a.m., 4-7 p.m., daily.

Pine Bluff Farmers Market Historic Washington State Park Purple hull peas

Hope Watermelon Festival

oNe Cord oF wood (4 x4 x8 ) yields:

7,500,000 TooThpiCkS

250 CopieS oF The SUNdAy New YORk Times

30 roCkiNgChAirS 4140

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ

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What are those tall buildings out in the fields?

Why do the farmers flood their rice fields?

What’s growing in those flooded fields?

They’re probably grain elevators or dryers. Rice, soybeans, wheat and milo are all grains that require drying.

Besides keeping the rice irrigated, flooding helps keep out weeds and pests while the seeds are sprouting and growing.

Rice.

QAHow much does one of those tractors cost?

$50,000 to $400,000 depending on their use.

Why does rice need to be dried?

What do mills do with all those small logs (the ones that aren’t large enough to use for lumber)?

How many chickens live in one of those long houses?

Rice is very moist when it’s harvested by threshing and must be dried quickly for transportation, storage and packaging to retain its nutritional value.

They go to paper mills where they are used to produce paper.

Depending on the length of the house, there could be anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 chickens. (See a picture of poultry houses on page 16.)

QAHow much lumber does an average tree produce?

An average pine tree produces 132 board feet of lumber.

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How did the farmer get his fields so level – and why?

What are those low-flying airplanes spraying on the fields?

Just how deep is the soil in the Delta and where did it come from?

How is winter wheat able to grow during the cold months?

So, why are blueberries so good for you?

What kinds of fish are raised in all those ponds?

Using a rotating laser set in the middle of the field, the farmer points a beam that communicates with sensors fixed on a land scraper pulled by a tractor to achieve precision leveling. The scraper pulls dirt from high areas and redistributes it in low areas to create a level field, which makes watering more efficient and effective.

Airplanes, also known as cropdusters, are sowing grain or distributing fertilizer, herbicides or insecticides.

While the average depth of soil in the world ranges from a few inches to a couple of feet, the soil in the Delta has been deposited by millions of years of river floods and reaches the depth of well over 100 feet in some places.

Winter wheat is planted and sprouts before the first big freeze, then lays mostly dormant until spring when the soil begins to warm and growing starts again. Wheat crops are generally ready for harvest in mid-summer.

QAAre there any Arkansas manufacturers that make agriculture-related products?

There are more than 90 companies in Arkansas that make agriculture-related products, mostly in the form of feed and seed for livestock and crops. Farm machinery makers produce tanks, rollers, scraper blades, animal watering systems and other types of equipment.

They could be catfish, crawfish or shrimp for the dinner table (and restaurants), but there are also a lot that produce baitfish and stock-fish for hatcheries (like largemouth bass) and even goldfish and other ornamental fish like the ones at the pet store.

They contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which some believe reduce the effects of aging and help prevent cancer.

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QAWhat’s the difference between grape juice and wine?

Wine is stored for a time in huge containers while it ferments with yeast. That converts the sugar in the grape juice to carbon dioxide and alcohol.

Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival, Warren

There’s always reason to celebrate the bounty of The Natural State. Below is a list of some popular festivals across Arkansas. For more

information and a complete list of festivals and events, visit

Arkansas.com/calendar.

AprilAlma Spinach FestivalAlma • 479-632-4127 Almaspinachfestival.com

Cabot Strawberry FestivalCabot • 501-628-4044Juniorauxiliaryofcabot.com

Cowie international Amateurwine CompetitionParis • 479-963-3990 Cowiewinecellars.com

hogskin holidays FestivalHampton • 870-798-2100 Hogskin-holidays.com

Tired iron of the ozarksSpring ShowGentry • 479-736-2841 Tiredironoftheozarks.org

University of Arkansas horse FestivalFayetteville • 479-575-8423 Horsefestival.org

MayArkansas Arabian horse ShowTexarkana • 870-773-2941 Fourstatesfair.com

dermott Crawfish FestivalDermott • 870-538-5656 Dermottcrawfishfestival.com

A Feast of Festivals

Magnolia Blossom Festival

Hogskin Holiday Festival

Mayhaw Festival

4544

Magnolia blossom Festival and world Championship Steak Cook-offMagnolia • 870-234-4352 Blossomfestival.org

Mayhaw FestivalEl Dorado • 870-862-9890

Junebradley Countypink Tomato FestivalWarren • 870-226-5225Bradleypinktomato.com

johnson County peach FestivalClarksville • 479-754-9152Jocopeachfestival.8m.com

purple hull pea Festival &rotary Tiller raceEmerson • 870-547-3500Purplehull.com

JulyAltus grape FestivalAltus • 479-468-4684Altusgrapefest.com

rodeo of the ozarksSpringdale • 479-756-0464Rodeooftheozarks.com

AugustCave City watermelon FestivalCave City • 870-283-5959 Cavecityarkansas.info

hope watermelon FestivalHope • 870-777-3640Hopemelonfest.com

pine Tree FestivalDierks • 870-286-2019Dierkschamberofcommerce.com

Tontitown grape FestivalTontitown • 479-361-2615Tontitowngrapefestival.com

Wiederkehr Village Weinfest

Fayetteville Farmers Market

Pink Tomato Festival, Warren

Rotary Tiller Race, Emerson

Tontitown Grape Festival

SeptemberAntique Tractor and engine ShowScott • 501-961-1409Arkansasstateparks.com

Cane hill harvest FestivalPrairie Grove • 479-848-0137Ozarkmerchants.com/canehill_festival.html

Four States open horse ShowTexarkana • 870-773-2941Fourstatesfair.com

Tired iron of the ozarks Fall ShowGentry • 479-736-2841Tiredironoftheozarks.org

OctoberAnnual good earthharvest TimePocahontas • 870-378-0285

Arkansas Apple FestivalLincoln • 479-824-3378Arkansasapplefestival.org

Arkansas rice FestivalWeiner • 870-919-0726 Arkansasricefestival.com

Arkansas State FairLittle Rock • 501-372-8341Arkansasstatefair.com

Forest of Fright and bubba’s butcher barnPiggott • 870-598-3568Horrorinthehollow.com

homestead FestivalHarrisburg • 870-578-2699Parkerhomestead.com

North Arkansas rusty wheel old engine ShowHarrison • 870-743-1511

TimberfestSheridan • 870-942-3021Grantcountychamber.com

wiederkehr village weinfestWiederkehr Village • 479-468-9463Wiederkehrwines.com 4746

APPLES

BLACKBERRIES

BLUEBERRIES

CORN & SORGHUM

COTTON

GRAPES

PEACHES

PUMPKINS

RICE

SOYBEANS

STRAWBERRIES

SWEET POTATOES

TOMATOES

WATERMELONS

WINTER WHEAT

Planting/Harvesting Timeline

dale bumpers National rice research CenterStuttgart • 870-672-9300 • ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm

dale bumpers Small Farms research CenterBooneville • 479-675-3834 • ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=2354

harry k. dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture research CenterStuttgart • 870-673-4483 • ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm

Arkansas Forest resources CenterMonticello • 870-460-1052 • afrc.uamont.edu

University of Arkansas division of AgricultureStuttgart • 870-673-2661 • aaes.uark.edu

University of Arkansas Northeast Research and Extension Center Keiser • 870-526-2199 • aaes.uark.edu/nerec.html

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Aquaculture/Fisheries Center Pine Bluff • 870-575-8141 • uaex.edu/aqfi

University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center Stuttgart (near Almyra) • 870-673-2661 • aaes.uark.edu/rice.html

University of Arkansas Southwest Research and Extension Center Hope • 870-777-9702 • aaes.uark.edu/swrec.html

Agricultural Research Centers

JUNEAPRILMARCHFEBRUARY MAY JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

planting harvesting

Arkansas Agriculture department501-683-4851

aad.arkansas.gov

Arkansas Farm bureauarfb.com

Arkansas Forestry Association501-374-2441

arkforests.org

Arkansas Forests Forever Kid’s Page itm-info.com/arkff

National Agricultural law Center479-575-7646

nationalaglawcenter.org

University of Arkansas winthrop rockefeller institute501-727-5435

uawri.org

Arkansas Agritourism Resources

Arkansas.com/agritourismArkansasgrown.orgAdvance notice required for tours.48 49

S c a n w i t h m o b i l e Q R R e a d e R f oR m oR e i n f o o n

a R k a n S a S ag R i to u R i S m .

Agritourism in The Natural State

ArkansasGrown

Fertile soil, mild seasons and diverse regions cultivate bountiful

harvests of vine-ripened good times in The Natural State.

Arkansas.com/agritourism arfb.com aad.arkansas.gov

®

On front cover: Peach Pickin’ Paradise near Clarksville; on back cover: Arkansas Wine Country