New Teaching Farm in Arkansas to Feed and Educate Thousands of Arkansas Kids

What a great idea. Arkansas State Parks is laying the seeds for a new hands-on learning experience at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in a partnership with nonprofit Apple Seeds. Through this new partnership, they will establish a Central Arkansas Teaching Farm near the historic Butterfield House.

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The project is supported by a Concessionaire Lease Agreement approved back in May this year. It will give Apple Seeds the chance to begin developing garden spaces and educational facilities on about two acres of park property, in coordination with the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation.

A Hands-On Outdoor Classroom in Arkansas

This Teaching Farm will feature garden areas and an outdoor teaching kitchen for field trips, camps, after-school programs, and community events. The programs are expected to begin as early as this Fall, reaching thousands of Arkansas students each year.

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Apple Seeds currently serves more than 20,000 students statewide annually, with 4,500 already in Central Arkansas programs. The new site is expected to expand that reach to 15,000 students per year by 2029, helping students learn to grow, prepare, and enjoy fresh foods.

Education, Nutrition, and Community Impact With Arkansas Teaching Farm

In addition to the education the farm provides, it will grow produce to support food-insecure families, adding a strong community-benefit side to the project.

The initiative aligns with Arkansas’ goals around outdoor education, childhood health, and workforce development while strengthening connections between students and the natural environment.

The agreement also allows early garden development and limited programming as future improvements to the Butterfield House and Barn move forward, ensuring learning opportunities can begin right away.

I think this is such a wonderful idea. My parents were avid gardeners. I wish I could ask them for advice on my plants. I wish we had a program like this when I was in school. Knowing how to grow your own produce can not only save you money but it can also bring a sense of accomplishment and independence.