Registration opens Feb. 24 for spring edition of Walk Across Arkansas
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
For Arkansans looking to achieve their fitness goals or develop new healthy habits this spring, Walk Across Arkansas offers an eight-week, group-based exercise program that helps get people moving.
The free program is offered each spring and fall by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Participants can sign up in teams of up to 30 people, and they log their total number of minutes spent being physically active each day.
“We encourage participants to get creative with the types of exercise they engaged in, not just walking,” said Heather Wingo, extension health program associate for the Division of Agriculture. “If you’ve been curious about yoga, strength training, or taking a Zumba class, this is a great time to try that out. Any moderate to vigorous physical activity counts, as long as you get your heart rate up.”
Individuals can participate in the program alone, but Wingo encourages Arkansans to participate alongside their peers.
“This program is free and encourages friendly competition between groups of friends, family members, co-workers or church members,” she said. “Anyone who wants to work together towards their physical activity goals would benefit from Walk Across Arkansas.”
Registration for the spring 2025 session opens Feb. 24. Participants can register and log exercise minutes at walk.uada.edu/walk/. The competition starts March 10 and ends May 4.
Health benefits
During the fall 2024 Walk Across Arkansas session, 160 teams of 1,757 individuals from 39 counties reported more than 1.9 million minutes of physical activity.
Wingo said past participants have reported that through Walk Across Arkansas, they had more energy, slept better, strengthened their relationships and lost weight or inches. They also reported lower stress levels and improved their blood pressure and blood panels.
Anyone can participate in Walk Across Arkansas. Division of Agriculture employees must use a personal email address, not their work email address, to register. Visit walk.uada.edu/walk/ to learn more and register or contact your local county extension agent.
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.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Lady Bulldogs Cruise Past Lady Airedales
With five games left in the regular season the race for the top spot is heating up for the Lady Bulldogs. With a second match-up against Farmington looming, the Lady Bulldogs took on the Lady Airedales in 5A-West Conference action, winning 80-34
A smothering defense and a quick offense put the Bulldogs on top quickly. Izzy Smith would open the game with a 3-pointer. After trading free-throws, Alma would answer with a 3-pointer, but that would be their last basket until 1:57 left in the period. Greenwood would go on a 14-0 run in between Alma baskets. A turnover in the closing seconds ended with Kylah Pearcy getting a basket as time expired. Seniors Piper Pitts, Izzy Smith, and Junior Kylah Pearcy had 7 points in the period. Ashlin Rose added 5 more. Greenwood led Alma 26-7.
Period 2 had Greenwood adding 31 points to their total and pulling away from the Airedales 57-20 when the halftime buzzer rang. The Lady Bulldogs were shooting 13/20 in the second with Izzy Smith and Pearcy having a total of 15 points each. Senior Pate Jones had 7 points in the period. Ashlin Rose and Journey Clements added 3 points each. Halie Fox added 2.
The second half of the game saw nearly every Greenwood player that came off the bench scored in the game. Trinity Spicer and Eva Booth would add scores in the half. From there the Lady Bulldogs finished the game 80-34.
“As far as locked in, you know mentally. Ready to play and how we played, I thought we did a really good job on the defensive glass.” Head Coach Ryan Casalman said following the game. “I thought we were really active and had a lot of energy defensively. Offensively, we shared the basketball and moved and our spacing was as good as it’s been all year.”
“Even with our big win at Mountain Home, I don’t know if that [Alma] wasn’t a more complete game.” Coach Caslaman said.
The Lady Bulldogs face the Cardinals in Farmington on Friday night, which could have #1 seed implications.
Obituary: Obie Beshears (1939-2025)
Obie Beshears passed from this world Saturday, February 8, 2025 at his home with his wife and son by his side. OB was 85 years, 6 months and 9 days old. He was born July 30, 1939 to Hubert and Rilla Beshears in Osceola, Oklahoma.
OB loved helping folks, cutting wood, deer hunting, going to church and just being outside. He was a God loving soul all his life and surely walking those streets in Heaven. He was a good husband, a wonderful father, a provider and teacher of life. Those who knew OB knew him to be straight forward, hard working and honest. When the man told someone something, he bent over backwards to see it done. One of the last true loggers mule skinners, and chainsaw hands there was. OB had done it all and found pleasure in that hard line of work. Never meeting a stranger or making enemies, OB will be missed greatly in the lives of those who love him, until they are together again in Heaven.
OB is survived by his true loving wife of 64 years Mary Irene Beshears of Waldron, Arkansas, four daughters: Barbara Thompson of Bates, Arkansas, Lenate Hawkins, Betty Lou Oliver and Tammy Forrest all of Waldron, Arkansas and one son Wes Beshears of Hon, Arkansas as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ob is also survived by his sisters: Mayfern McDaniel and Retha Lou Page. OB will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family, friends and neighbors he loved dearly.
OB is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Rilla Beshears and two brothers: Glen Beshears and A.C. Beshears.
OB’s life celebration will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Bates Assembly of God Church in Bates, Arkansas with Rev. James Self officiating. Interment will follow in the Pilot Prairie Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.
OB’s pallbearers will be William Conley, Trever Hall, Danny Hall, Jeremy Staggs, Zack Oliver and Adam Forrest.
OB’s visitation will be Wednesday, February 11, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.
