Arkansas School Garden Contest

Some green thumbs could be beneficial for Arkansas students.The Arkansas Agriculture Department and Farm Credit remind potential applicants that entries are being accepted for the second annual Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year contest till August 31, 2015.  Applicants can be any Arkansas school, grades pre-K through 12, that had a school garden open during the 2014-15 school year and can provide documentation through photos or video of its uses and existence. Entries will be judged by a committee.

Farm Credit is providing funding for the following award categories:
•           Best Nutrition Education Based Garden  - $500
•           Best Community Collaboration Award  -  $500
•           Best Environmental Education Focused Garden - $500
•           Overall Winning Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Award  - $1,500

“We are looking forward to receiving applications from schools across the state, said Wes Ward, Arkansas' Secretary of Agriculture.

Ward said “research shows that students, teachers and communities benefit from the many learning opportunities school gardens offer such as responsibility, teamwork, hands-on science and math instruction along with improved nutrition education and behavior.

Applications must be submitted online by August 31, 2015 here.