Arkansas Announces 2026 School Garden of the Year Winners: Eight Schools Honored, Top Awards of $1,000
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Farm Credit, has announced the winners of the 2026 Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest, held in conjunction with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' proclamation naming October as Arkansas Farm to School Month. Eight schools across the state were honored.
Four schools received $1,000 awards: Carolyn Lewis Elementary in Conway (Best Overall School Garden), Little Rock Christian Academy in Little Rock (Best Education-Based Garden), Wild About Learning Academy in Bentonville (Best Education Garden, Early Childhood), and Yellville-Summit Schools in Yellville (Champion of Garden Sustainability). Four schools received $500 awards: Pulaski Heights Elementary in Little Rock (Best Community Collaboration), the Agricultural & Veterinary Science Elementary in North Little Rock (Best Harvest Partnership), Nemo Vista High School in Center Ridge (Best Community Collaborative Garden), and Glenview Elementary in North Little Rock (Best Start-Up Garden).
Governor Sanders said that when students plant a seed and care for it through harvest, they learn to appreciate the hard work it takes to put food on the table. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward said Farm to School Month highlights how integrating agriculture into classrooms helps students understand where their food comes from.
The contest is open to public and private K-12 schools, early childhood education facilities and alternative learning environments statewide. Applications are evaluated on defined goals, incorporation of garden-based learning into the curriculum, community involvement, use of harvested produce, and strategies for long-term garden sustainability.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：学生们为园艺活动挑选手套（资料图）。公共领域，经维基共享资源。 / Students selecting gardening gloves (file photo). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
