Cooperative Extension Service's Grow Your Own Groceries series continues in 2024

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For people interested in learning to grow healthy, nutritious food at home, the Cooperative Extension Service’s Grow Your Own Groceries webinar series offers monthly Zoom presentations on Arkansas-friendly crops for gardeners of all skill levels.

GROW YOUR OWN IN 2024 — To kick off the new year, the first Grow Your Own Groceries presentation of 2024 will focus on setting up a drip irrigation system. Topics this year will also include potatoes, salad greens, blueberries and more. (Division of Agriculture graphic.) 

Krista Quinn, Faulkner County agriculture agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the Grow Your Own Groceries series is designed to connect Arkansans with extension agents’ knowledge about growing and preparing nutritious food.

“I think there are a lot of people who are interested in gardening but have very little experience,” Quinn said. “Often, they did not grow up in families that gardened, and they didn’t really know where to start. If they start looking for gardening advice on the internet or even in books, they quickly realize that a lot of that information often doesn’t work in Arkansas. With the Grow Your Own Groceries program, we are giving people information based on experience and research from right here in Arkansas, so participants have the best chance of being successful.”

The series is a collaboration between extension agriculture agents and family and consumer sciences agents. In each presentation, agriculture agents discuss how to grow a specific crop, with information on variety selection, growing methods, soil health and common pests or problems. Family and consumer sciences agents then share how to store the produce and demonstrate recipes.

“Increasing access to fresh, healthy food by teaching people how to grow it and how to use it in their cooking is one of the main goals of this program,” Quinn said. “Gardening and cooking go hand in hand, and the reward for gardening is getting to eat the food you grow. At times, home gardeners may have a bumper crop, and it’s nice if they know a variety of ways to use the crop and how to preserve it so it can be enjoyed later in the year.

“There may be crops that people don’t have a lot of experience cooking with, but after seeing how it can be used in different recipes, they may decide to try growing it,” she said.

In 2023, extension agents hosted 11 Grow Your Own Groceries presentations for more than 5,700 registrants. Topics included spring peas, pruning berries, sweet corn, cucumbers, fall gardening, hydroponics and more. Quinn said 962 people registered for the fall gardening presentation in August, the highest number of registrants in the program’s history.

“I get a lot of emails thanking us for doing the programs,” Quinn said. “People seem to really enjoy them, and they like the ease of watching at home. I’ve had several people say they were encouraged to try growing a new crop that they’d never grown before. Others have told me that they learned about mistakes they were making with certain crops and were looking forward to correcting those mistakes. One person said that after watching our program and implementing some of our recommendations, they had their best crop of onions ever.”

Quinn said it’s important for Grow Your Own Groceries to provide accessible information to participants of all skill levels.

“By focusing on individual crops or techniques in each program, we can provide a lot of quality information that is helpful to both beginners and more advanced gardeners,” Quinn said. “We’re also living in a time of change, with erratic weather patterns, invasive pests and new technologies available. Through this program, we’re able to keep people up to date on current challenges and opportunities we’re seeing in the state.”

The first Grow Your Own Groceries presentation of 2024 is scheduled for noon on Jan. 18, and the topic will be setting up a drip irrigation system. In 2024, Quinn said her team also plans to cover potatoes, salad greens, blueberries, aquaponics and more.

For more information about Grow Your Own Groceries, visit the program’s page on the Cooperative Extension Service website, or contact Krista Quinn at klquinn@uada.edu or 501-329-8344.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. 

Division of Agriculture seeking input from sheep and goat producers

By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is looking to evaluate the state’s sheep and goat industry in an effort to make improvements. To do so, extension specialists are requesting input from sheep and goat producers across Arkansas.

RUMINATING ON RUMINANTS — Dan Quadros, extension small ruminant specialist for the Division of Agriculture, is leading an effort to evaluate the state of the sheep and goat industry in Arkansas in hopes of identifying weaknesses that can be improved upon. (Division of Agriculture photo.)

Dan Quadros, extension small ruminant specialist for the Division of Agriculture, has developed a working plan to assess the current production system in Arkansas for sheep and goats, identify issues and challenges within the production system, and organize solutions to existing challenges in the entire value chain. However, each step in this process requires direct input from producers.

“To start, we really want to X-ray our production system for sheep and goats here in Arkansas,” Quadros said. “We want to know the basics of the farms in our state. Are they commercial or hobbyists? How many animals do they have? What are their health management practices? This is the basic information we are starting with.”

To gather this basic data, Quadros and his team have developed an online survey for Arkansas sheep and goat producers. The survey takes about 10-20 minutes to complete, and all responses will remain anonymous.

The survey is open from Oct. 1 – Oct. 30.

Next steps

The next step is to gather more in-depth and informal information from producers, for which there will be two options: interactive webinars and an online open channel.

“In addition to this basic data from the survey, we want to know firsthand from producers what the challenges and the bottlenecks — on- and off-farm — are in the small ruminant industry in Arkansas as well as collect suggestions on how to overcome them,” Quadros said. “Hopefully this will give more context to the basic data collected in the survey and give us a better idea of what issues we should be focusing on.”

The first option to participate is a series of interactive webinars. There will be five webinars, all following the same agenda. Each will involve a presentation, a special guest and open participation.

“We’re hoping these webinars will provide a space where producers can give honest answers about the challenges they face,” Quadros said. “We need to know what their biggest concerns are and what possible solutions we need to pursue.”

The webinar schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, Oct. 12, noon — Special guest: Johnny Gunsaulis, Benton County extension staff chair

• Friday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. — Special guest: Bryce Baldridge, Lawrence County extension staff chair

• Monday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. — Special guest: Jennifer Sansom, Little River County extension staff chair

• Wednesday, Oct. 26, 3 p.m. — Special guest: Stacey Stone, Nevada County extension staff chair

Those interested can join the webinar via Zoom at the above times.

For those who are unable or do not wish to participate in the webinars, there is an online, open channel available to give written responses. This allows producers to outline their main challenges – on and off the farm – and provide any suggestions to overcome these challenges and strengthen the sheet and goat value chains in Arkansas. The open channel is available Oct. 1 – Oct. 31.

At the end of this process, we will invite several organizations and representatives of different segments of the small ruminant value chain to discuss the results and build our development program.

Read more about the survey, webinars and open online channel on the Division of Agriculture Small Ruminants Blog.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Economist highlights freight industry misconceptions, soft peak season

by Jeff Della Rosa (JDellaRosa@nwabj.com)

Peak shipping season is expected to be weak amid high inventory levels and holiday spending uncertainty, a supply chain economist said.

In a recent Project44 webinar, Jason Miller, professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University, said consumers have spending power but are strained. Still, they’ve yet to reach a breaking point.

“The real question is going to be how much gets spent on goods for the holidays versus gets spent on experiences and services,” he said. Miller explained multiple misconceptions in trucking activity, including that “we’ve fallen off a cliff. Now, we are in a freight recession and have been since the third quarter of 2022.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/08/economist-highlights-freight-industry-misconceptions-soft-peak-season/

NALC’s Rollins to discuss WOTUS definition after SCOTUS ruling in July 19 webinar

By Tru Joi Curtis
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — How the Environmental Protection Agency will define the key Clean Water Act term “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, is unclear following a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on a case involving wetlands, said National Agricultural Law Center Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins.

Brigit Rollins, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center, will present a July 19 webinar on the current state of WOTUS and the recent Sackett ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett vs. Environmental Protection Agency determined that only those wetlands that share a continuous surface connection with a water body recognized under the WOTUS definition can be regulated under the Clean Water act, or CWA. This has created some inconsistencies with the EPA’s 2023 definition of WOTUS which includes some wetlands that do not share a surface connection with another body of water.

The definition of WOTUS determines what water bodies can be protected by the CWA, which is the primary federal law regulating water pollution in the United States. The CWA requires anyone who might introduce pollutants into a body of water protected under the CWA to acquire a permit from EPA. Introducing pollutants into a WOTUS without a permit can result in fines and criminal prosecution under the CWA. Therefore, it is incredibly important to understand the scope of WOTUS.

“The EPA will most likely have to revisit its 2023 definition of WOTUS because that rule is out of step with the court’s ruling,” Rollins said. “In particular, the Sackett opinion limits what wetlands can be covered by the Clean Water Act beyond what the EPA included in its 2023 rule.”

Confusion over the WOTUS definition and the protection wetlands should receive is nothing new. Since the CWA was passed in 1972, the degree of protection for wetlands has been a point of contention for policymakers.

Rollins will be discussing the current state of WOTUS and the recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court during NALC’s upcoming webinar, “What’s Up with WOTUS: A Look at the Current WOTUS Definition and Recent Supreme Court Decision.” This webinar will be held Wednesday, July 19, at 11 a.m. Central/noon Eastern.

“I look forward to shedding some light on the court’s recent ruling, and what that may mean for the definition of WOTUS going forward,” Rollins said.

The webinar is free of charge and registration is online.

“We are thrilled to have Brigit discuss the court’s ruling and the WOTUS definition in this webinar,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “Because the definition affects so many industries and how they conduct their work, it’s critical to understand the status of WOTUS.”

The July webinar is the second in a series regarding WOTUS. The information and recording for the first part, “What’s Up with WOTUS: An Overview of ‘Waters of the United States’ and Why it Matters to Agriculture,” can also be found online.

Rollins will present a third installment on Nov. 15, titled, “What’s Up with WOTUS: Post-Sackett and Beyond.” The November webinar will look at subsequent events and consider the long-term effects of the Sackett ruling. Registration and information for the third part of the series is available online.

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture, which issues twice a month.

NALC webinar to provide overview of U.S. charitable food system

By Tru Joi Curtis
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Food insecurity affects more than 34 million Americans in the United States and more than a quarter of them are children, according to Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.

Audry Thompson, staff attorney at Penn State Law, will discuss the U.S. charitable food system in the National Ag Law Center webinar on June 21.

To help those facing hunger, farmers and food processors all play a role by assisting the U.S. charitable food system and federal and state food surplus programs. The U.S. charitable food system includes a network of over 200 food banks: regional organizations that source, warehouse and distribute food.

“Food insecurity is an issue that has so many facets,” National Agricultural Law Center Director Harrison Pittman said. “It’s important to understand the important role that charitable food programs play for millions of people every day and what it means for those who donate food.”

The U.S. charitable food system’s success depends on connecting food producers with consumers. This allows donations by producers to be distributed to consumers and families in need.

“Ensuring food security for families and children within the United States is essential,” Audry Thompson, staff attorney at the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, said. “Food processors, as well as agricultural producers, play an important role in providing necessary assistance through the charitable food system.”

With recent higher grocery costs, the need for surplus donations is more urgent. Producers who donate benefit from various forms of protection, including liability.

Thompson will discuss the federal and state food surplus programs, as well as how they connect agricultural producers with consumers, in the NALC’s next webinar, “An Overview of U.S. Charitable Food Surplus Programs.” The webinar will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at 11 a.m. Central/noon Eastern.

“This webinar will highlight these programs, discuss how federal and state programs connect producers with consumers, and outline liability and other protections put into place for those donating their surplus,” Thompson said.

The webinar is free of charge and registration is online.

“We’re looking forward to hearing Audry discuss these programs that work to benefit millions of Americans who are in need,” Pittman said. “With the current need for surplus donations from producers, it is extremely important that people know more about charitable food programs in the U.S.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge to The Feed, the NALC’s newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing agriculture, which issues twice a month.

April 5 webinar to focus on National Ag Law Center’s partner and outreach expansion efforts

By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An April 5 webinar will be all about the future for a one-of-a-kind institution that has served public, private, legal and other agricultural and food industry professionals for nearly 40 years.

Congress established the National Agricultural Law Center in 1987 to serve as a nonpartisan, objective resource for the nation’s agricultural community. Today, it is the only institution of its kind in the United States with partners throughout the country, serving stakeholders at all levels of the agriculture and food supply chain.

NALC Director Harrison Pittman will discuss the future of the NALC in a webinar on Wednesday, April 5. The webinar, “Expanding Partners and Outreach: Strategic Update on the Future of the National Agricultural Law Center,” will begin at 11 a.m. CDT. Registration is free of charge online.

Harrison Pittman will talk about the future of the National Agricultural Law Center in an April 5, 2023, webinar. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo).

“The NALC has grown considerably in recent years, with a key strategic goal of expanding public and private sector partnerships and outreach throughout the United States,” Pittman said.

Pittman will discuss the NALC’s recent expansion efforts including the inaugural Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, establishment of regional advisory boards such as the newly formed Western Ag Industry Advisory Board, establishment of agricultural law scholarships and student-focused efforts such as the NALC Bridges Initiative.

“The purpose of this webinar is to provide a strategic update on the NALC and invite state agriculture departments, commodity and trade organizations, Cooperative Extension Service professionals, student organizations, law firms, law schools and other interested individuals and entities to collaborate and partner with us,” Pittman said. “As the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information, it is a tremendous priority for the NALC to continue expanding its partners and outreach.”

The webinar is an opportunity for longstanding supporters of the NALC’s mission to not only hear about recent developments and initiatives, but also help those not as familiar with the NALC learn about its objectives and growth.

“There is much to be excited about with the future of the NALC,” Pittman said. “We are in a time of exponential growth and look forward to sharing this update on what’s in store for the future.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Farm-focused conservation research programs in four states to present updates in March 28 webinar

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For more than a decade, the Discovery Farms program has tested and researched conservation practices on working farms under real-life conditions in Arkansas, Minnesota, Vermont and Wisconsin.

“The Discovery Farms concept has proven itself in all four states in terms of conservation methods tested and the resulting recommendations,” said Mike Daniels, director of the Arkansas Discovery Farms program. “This is work that will continue to help farmers of all types be the best steward of our resources they can be.

DISCOVERY FARMS -- Discovery Farms tests conservation concepts under real-world conditions on working farms.

“This program works because we make farmers a part of the solution process,” Daniels said.

On March 28, representatives from the four states will present updates on their programs and share conservation learnings during a free webinar. The multi-state webinar starts at 9 a.m. central/10 a.m. eastern. Registration is available online: https://bit.ly/4-States-Webinar. Three soil and water management continuing education unit credits are available for agricultural consultants.

Topics for the webinar include:

• Building a Network of Conservation Practices: Can we improve our water quality impact?

• More Than a Pipe

• Expanding the Arkansas Discovery Farm Program

• Managing Nitrogen on Grass Fields

Learn more about the Discovery Farms program in Arkansas.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

Feb. 15 webinar focuses on successful estate planning for farm families

By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Heir strategies, distribution plans, incorporating trusts, and more: a lot goes into estate planning. Preparing for the future can present challenges for farm families, but it can also set families on a path towards success.

“Estate planning can go overlooked, but it is a very important topic for farm families to think about,” said Robert Moore of the Agricultural & Resource Law Program at The Ohio State University. 

ESTATE PLANNING EXPERT — Attorney Robert Moore knows the challenges farm families face in estate planning. He will discuss ways to achieve planning success in a Feb. 15, 2023, webinar. (Image courtesy Robert Moore).

Moore is no stranger to succession issues on the farm. He not only has degrees in dairy science and agricultural economics in addition to his law degree but was also raised on a farm.

Moore will bring his expertise as the presenter on Feb. 15 for a National Agricultural Law Center webinar, “Estate Planning Challenges and Strategies for Farm Families.” The webinar runs from noon to 1 p.m. EST. There is no cost to register, and registration is online.

“There are many moving parts to estate planning for farm families,” Moore said, “but this webinar will shed light on details about the process and explain strategies that can be used to combat the challenges. I’m looking forward to presenting another webinar for the NALC; the partnership between the NALC and OSU Extension is valuable and important for delivering timely agricultural updates.”

The Agricultural & Resource Law Program is one of the NALC’s partners, aiding in the NALC’s mission of delivering authoritative, timely, and objective agricultural and food law research and information.

“We’re fortunate to have Robert’s background and expertise for our next webinar as well as for our upcoming 10th Annual Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference,” NALC Director Harrison Pittman said. “He is an excellent resource for the NALC, having presented for our webinar series before. We know this presentation will likewise be informative and top-notch.”

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit https://nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter.

About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.

The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.

New collaboration between Ag Law Center, 4-H opens opportunity to explore new career paths

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new collaboration between the National Agricultural Law Center and Arkansas 4-H will enable students to explore potential law careers in food, agriculture and the environment.

“Growing Careers in Ag and Food Law for Pre-College Students,” will kick off with a Sept. 14 webinar that runs from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. CDT. The hourlong session will include ample time for a question-and-answer period. This is the first of a quarterly series. Online registration is available. 

PRESENTERS — Patrick and Jill Dillon, Iowa attorneys, will present at the first webinar for the Growing Careers series. (Image courtesy Dillon Law)

Patrick and Jill Dillon, both agricultural law attorneys and farmers, will discuss careers in law and agriculture, their individual career paths, and offer insight and advice to pre-college students and others who may be interested in agricultural and food law issues or careers. The two form Dillon Law, with three offices in Iowa.

Patrick Dillon regularly represents clients in district, associate district and magistrate courts for agricultural, real estate, criminal and collection issues. He is a recent past president of the American Agricultural Law Association and current member of the organization’s Board of Directors. He drafts wills and trusts, creates estate plans and helps clients through the probate process.

Jill Dillon is a former assistant Fayette County prosecutor and a certified family law mediator. She still has ties to her family farm operation which includes a dairy herd. Jill Dillon focuses on bankruptcy, adoptions, and mediations.

A unique field of practice

“Agriculture is unlike any other industry and has many nuances and unique legal and policy aspects that require specialized knowledge among attorneys,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center. “There is a great need to develop a long-term pipeline of talent into the ag and food industry, and this partnership with 4-H is a part of our effort to help do just that.”

Pittman said sessions in the Growing Careers program are perfect for high school students considering a law career, as well as educators preparing students for careers.

Both the National Agricultural Law Center and the Arkansas 4-H program are part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“Arkansas 4-H is a program that has more than 100,000 participants all over Arkansas and is also part of the Division of Agriculture,” Pittman said. “Working in partnership with 4-H, the state’s premier youth development program, was a natural fit.”

Angie Freel, associate department head – 4-H, said “the Arkansas 4-H program is privileged to partner with the National Ag Law Center on this initiative to further educate 4-H members about the possibilities available to them in the area of agriculture.

“By building their networks now, they can rely on those relationships when they have a firm grasp on their chosen career field,” she said. “We are spreading the word nationwide about this unique opportunity for 4-H members to be involved in a national educational experience.”

 Bridges Initiative

The Growing Careers program is part of the National Agricultural Law Center’s Agricultural & Food Law Bridges Initiative, which is a student-focused, public-private partnership that offers professional development, networking, and increased legal knowledge to pre-college, undergraduate, and law students interested in agricultural and food law issues and/or careers.  

The goal of the Bridges Initiative is to help provide a legal-focused pipeline of talent into the agricultural and food industries while furthering the NALC’s national mission of serving as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The Bridges Initiative includes a specific focus on minority students and others traditionally underrepresented in the agricultural and food law fields.

For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit https://nationalaglawcenter.org/  or follow @Nataglaw on Twitter.

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/media-resources/news/2022/august/08-18-2022-ark-nalc-growing-careers.aspx

Relinda Ruth, Director of UA Cossatot's Educational Resource Center, to Lead a Segment of a National Webinar

With the announcement of a chamber coffee and open house at the newly remodeled Educational Resource Center (ERC) on the UAC Nashville campus, Wednesday, August 4th, from 9:30 until 11 am, UA Cossatot continues to advance its role as Open Educational Resource (OER) leader in the state and within the OER world. Director of Educational Resources and OER Specialist, Relinda Ruth, will lead a segment of a national webinar entitled Open Educational Resources in Dual Enrollment. Ruth will lead the topic OER, Dual Enrollment and Student Success. Her segment can be viewed at https://www.sreb.org/post/making-case-student-success

Tanya Spilovoy, director of open policy, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and Dr. Gerry Hanley, the executive director of MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) and SkillsCommons are also contributing to the webinar series

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) invited Ruth to lead the webinar. SREB works with states to improve public education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and help policymakers make informed decisions by providing independent, accurate data and recommendations. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization is headquartered in Atlanta and includes 16 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Arkansas members of the board include:

Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas, Little Rock, ex officio

Joyce Elliott, State Senator, Little Rock

Bill Gossage, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, Little Rock

Lori Griffin, Principal, Ballman Elementary School, Fort Smith

Teresa Inman, District Instructional Technology Coordinator, Paris Public Schools