Resident News Network

Cooperative Extension Service’s ‘Grow Your Own Groceries’ Series Continues in 2022

Outdoors

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6:12 pm

Cooperative Extension Service’s ‘Grow Your Own Groceries’ Series Continues in 2022

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

The Cooperative Extension Service’s series of “Grow Your Own Groceries” online presentations will continue in 2022. The virtual classes connect Arkansans with agents’ expertise in growing, preparing, and preserving fruits and vegetables at home.

“We’ve had such a good response,” said Krista Quinn, agriculture agent with the Faulkner County Extension office, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We get a lot of emails and sometimes even handwritten notes from people saying thank you. All the webinars are free, and I think it’s been filling a need. With the pandemic, we’ve got so many more people who are becoming interested in vegetable gardening or growing some kind of edibles in their home garden, so these programs really provide a lot of information about how to get started.”

During the last program year from October 2020 through September 2021, “Grow Your Own Groceries” hosted 21 live Zoom sessions, with over 8,500 registrants for the classes. Each registrant received an email following the program with a link to watch the recorded program and access to fact sheets and recipes. Many people opted to watch the recorded program rather than the live program.

Quinn added that the program provides information for gardeners of all types, skill levels, and with varying access to resources.

“Everybody has different resources,” Quinn said. “Whether people are growing in-ground, or in containers, or in raised beds, we try to give information on all of those.”

In each one-hour presentation, an agriculture agent or specialist will discuss the crop: how to select the right variety, how to grow it, and how to deal with common pests and problems. Then, a family and consumer science agent will discuss nutrition and food preservation and provide a cooking demonstration.

The first “Grow Your Own Groceries” class of 2022 will take place at noon on Thursday, Jan. 13, and the topic will be microgreens.

“The microgreens topic is fun because it’s an edible crop that people can grow indoors in the winter, or really any time of year,” Quinn said. “There’s not a lot of things that you can harvest in January.”

Last year, classes were offered on the first and third Thursday of each month, but as more in-person programming returns, Quinn said the webinars will now occur monthly.

While all dates and topics for this year’s series have not been finalized, Quinn said the classes will continue to focus primarily on single crops, with occasional presentations on more general topics. Quinn added that this year she hopes to offer a “Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening” session for beginners.

To register for the Grow Your Own Groceries: Microgreens presentation and get information about upcoming classes, visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/grow-groceries. You can also view all upcoming gardening events at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/gardening-events-programs/

New COVID-19 Antibody Test For Donors Test Detects Natural or Vaccine Response

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6:11 pm

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New COVID-19 Antibody Test For Donors Test Detects Natural or Vaccine Response

Arkansas Blood Institute celebrates National Blood Donor Month by offering donors a NEW COVID-19 Antibody test.

January 3 – 31, blood donors will receive a new COVID-19 antibody test, which detects natural or vaccine response, and their choice of holiday movie-themed long sleeve t-shirt.

Donors can take advantage of this new testing by donating blood with Mansfield High School on Wednesday, January 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.on the bloodmobile.

“We value the generosity of our donors and are committed to providing them important information about their health,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Arkansas Blood Institute. “This new antibody test provides even more clarity to Arkansans regarding their body’s response to either COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccine. This information will provide value to vaccinated donors and those who are not yet vaccinated.”

The antibody test was created by Abbott, an American health technology company. Test results will be available on the donor portal, in the same area as other standard testing like cholesterol and blood pressure.

Arkansas Blood Institute is the local, non-profit blood supplier, supporting the inventory for patients in more than 40 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances statewide.  

Appointments can be made by calling 1-877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org. More information on Arkansas Blood Institute can be found at arkbi.org. Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives.

State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

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Resident News Network

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6:09 pm

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State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

LITTLE ROCK – This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Arkansas Supreme Court’s landmark decision in the Lake View school funding case.

In 2002 the court ruled that the state’s system of funding public school was unconstitutional. The legislature approved massive increases in school funding, and enacted tougher school standards.

One result of the Lake View decision is that the legislature now regularly conducts an assessment of the adequacy of school funding. The purpose is for students to be academically proficient for their grade level.

The Senate and House Education Committees have begun the current adequacy study. During a two-day meeting, the committee heard a report on academic progress that Arkansas students have made since the state initiated a series of education reforms to comply with the Lake View ruling.

Arkansas students showed academic improvement during the first ten years the Lake View ruling, but those improvements have not been consistent.

An analysis of academic indicators shows that “progress … has stalled or, in some cases, declined since around 2013. When current data is compared with other states, Arkansas often ranks among the lower performing states.”

It was difficult to draw conclusions in several categories because Arkansas has changed its standardized testing multiple times. More than 20 years ago a judge in the Lake View case cited test scores indicating that only 44 percent of fourth graders were proficient in reading, and only 34 percent were proficient in math.

Recent test results are mixed, showing that 40 percent of fourth graders are proficient in reading and 43 percent are proficient in math.

Arkansas fourth graders and eighth graders are still below the national average in math, reading and science.

After the Lake View case Arkansas high school students caught up to the national average on the ACT college entrance exams. However, their average scores began to drop again in 2017. The decline probably was due to the fact that more students were taking the ACT. With college entrance exams, it’s generally true that when more students take the test, the lower their average scores will be.

Arkansas is 42^nd in the nation in high school graduation rates, up from 46^th in the year 2000. In rankings that compare the number of adults with a college degree, Arkansas is still 49^th. The most recent surveys indicate that 23.3 percent of adults in Arkansas have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Average teacher salaries have gone up by $16,000 since 2000. Arkansas was ranked as high as 46^th in 2019, but went down to 48^th in 2020.

Legislators on the Education Committee expressed disappointment with the lack of continued academic progress, considering the size of the state’s investment in public schools.

The Lake View case began 30 years ago, in 1992. The Lake View School District was a small, rural district in Phillips County that sued the state over disparities in how it funded education.

Public schools represent the single largest spending category in state government. Last year the state distributed $2.2 billion through the Public School Fund. That accounted for 40 percent of all state general revenue spending.

Jr Lady Tigers Earn Conference Win Over Rattlers

Sports

Resident News Network

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2:30 pm

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Jr Lady Tigers Earn Conference Win Over Rattlers

The only things guaranteed in life are death, taxes, and excellent Mansfield Lady Tiger basketball. The JR Lady Tigers were challenged to fill some big shoes from the 2020-21 team who set records on their way to a conference and district title. Not only did the JR Tigers accept the challenge, but they’re also en route to beat it. Mansfield continued their unprecedented winning streak with a 32-16 win over the Magazine Rattlers on Friday, January 8th.

Right once Mansfield’s Kaylee Ward won the tip-off, the Lady Tigers went to work. It didn’t take long for Mansfield to get on the board with a Presley Curry three-point shot. The Tigers were able to get a Kaylie Lowery bucket and a Kaylee Ward free throw in after Presleys shot, but that was all she wrote offensively. Although Mansfield had a height advantage on the Rattlers, Magazine was able to cripple the Lady Tigers offense with a speedy defense causing the Lady Tigers to turn the ball over on multiple occasions. At the end of the first quarter, Mansfield held a narrow 6-3 lead over the Rattlers.

The Lady Tigers knew before the game that they would be short a couple of key players against Magazine so a couple of areas of the game plan would be questionable. The answer to those questions was summed up in one player….. Kaylie Lowery. Lowery took the hardwood by storm dominating every aspect of the game in the second quarter as she hung up six points and multiple rebounds against the Rattlers. Presley Curry remained a hot dish for Mansfield putting up a smooth two-point shot followed by Kaylee Ward who dumped a powerful layup to extend the Mansfield lead to 16-7 at the half.

Mansfield’s defense took over the story against Magazine in the third quarter. The Lady Tigers held Magazine to a mere two-point the entire quarter. Everywhere Magazine looked they would have Trinity Triska in their face, have a shot stuffed by Kaylee Ward or Kaylie Lowery, have Presley Curry stealing the ball, or see Ambria Whittaker barreling their way. Mansfield wasn’t happy allowing two points, so Kaylee Ward and Ambria Whittaker decided to put up six combined points in the quarter putting the Lady Tigers up 22-9.

The game was in hand for the Lady Tigers as the fourth quarter started, but Mansfield has a mindset of playing until the final buzzer and that’s exactly what they did. Trinity Triska was held silent offensively by the Rattlers for three quarters and she had had enough of that. Triska took a pass from Presley Curry and burned the floors down the court and hit a layup after being fouled giving her an “and one”. As the Lady Tigers continued their drive for the final buzzer, new faces joined in for the fight. Meghan Emery snatched a steal from the Rattlers and ditched a pass to Kaylie Lowery for the duce basket. Izabella Escalante acquired a steal and score also as the Lady Tigers heard the final buzzer giving them a 32-16 conference victory.

An impressive performance by Kaylie Lowery led the team with 10 points in the game followed by Kaylee Ward who rounded up 9 points. Presley Curry finished the game with 5 points, Ambria Whittaker downed 4 points, Trinity Triska knocked out 3 points, and Meghan Emery rounded out the Lady Tigers scoring with a one-point free throw. The win puts Mansfield undefeated with a 15-0 record as they prepare for a trip north to battle the Mountainburg Lady Dragons on Monday, January 10th.

Paris Splits With Cossatot River and Charleston in Conference Play in First Week of January

Resident News Network

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2:29 pm

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Paris Splits With Cossatot River and Charleston in Conference Play in First Week of January

While January rings in the new year, high school basketball across the state resumed their conference basketball schedules this week. For the Paris basketball program, the Eagles and Lady Eagles hosted Charleston on Tuesday and then made the trip to southwest Arkansas to play at Cossatot River. And when the dust settled, it was a conference split for the Paris boys, losing to Charleston and then defeating Cossatot River. For the Lady Eagles, their struggles continued with a pair of conference losses on the week.

Both the Paris boys and girls programs have struggled as of late. The girls, started the season with just six players on the roster, and added senior Jacee Hart last week. But an injury to junior Brailey Forst has also hindered the team. It has been an uphill battle for the Paris girls, and the team now will turn its attention to perhaps the toughest stretch of the conference season with upcoming games with conference powers Cedarville and Booneville.

The Eagles boys team continues to search for consistency in scoring. Inconsistent outside shooting has hurt the Eagles throughout the season, and new coach Josh Ferrell continues to search for outside scoring. Bright spots for the Eagles have included seniors Mequeil Ellingberg that has been a force under the basket, and Jude Simmons who has brought energy and tough play inside for the Eagles.

According to Scorebook Live, the Paris girls are now 2-3 on the conference season. The Paris boys are 3-2 in conference play, and 11-5 overall. They have a big game next week against the Cedarville Pirates that, with a win, could move them up to third place in the conference. Both teams need a big home crowd next week to support the teams in this important stretch in the conference schedule.

Resident Press will be in Paris and Booneville next week to bring you coverage of the Paris games. Stay with Resident Press for complete coverage. So, put on your winter gear and head to Paris Gymnasium next week for a very important conference match-up!

See you there!

Senior Lady Tigers Take Homecoming with Convincing Win

Resident News Network

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12:52 pm

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Senior Lady Tigers Take Homecoming with Convincing Win

The players that make up the Mansfield SR Lady Tigers team are good. This group of young ladies has proven how for years as they’ve added title after title to the Mansfield trophy case. So it has been a shock to the system for fans to see them a little off this season with a 10-7 record going into their matchup against the Magazine Rattlers on Friday, January 7th which was uncharacteristic of the squad. Apparently, they were playing possum this whole time as they throttled the Lady Rattlers 69-29 for a Homecoming victory.

Right from the tip-off, the Lady Tigers showed Magazine that they were there to dominate. Mansfield jumped out early on the Lady Rattlers with some sweet swish music from three-point range from Harlie Fuller, Sadie Roberts, and Skylynn Harris. The Lady Tigers defense was top-notch also as Kynslee Ward struck quicker than a snake to steal the ball and bring it back for a quick basket. All-Star board basher Alyson Edwards didn’t allow a ball to bounce off of the backboard without her snatching it and putting it back up. Although the Lady Tigers lead 17-8 at the end of the first quarter, the score was still too close for comfort.

mansfield-tiger-basketball-magazine-rattlers — Skylynn Harris reaches rebounds a missed Rattler bucket shot

The second quarter was all Mansfield. The Lady Tigers tattooed their name on every stat in the book as they looked like a 17-0 team, not a 10-7 team. Seven Sanderson made her presence known on the court by outrebounding Magazines entire team in the quarter while also racking up 9 points. With Magazine now focusing their attention on Sanderson, they left Sadie Roberts and Harlie Fuller wide open. An open Roberts and Fuller means only one thing, draining three-point shots and that is exactly what they did. The Lady Tigers were dominating at the boards and perimeters which began to frustrate Magazine causing them to foul. As the fouls accumulated, free throw opportunities became available. With the price being free, Natalie Allison, Seven Sanderson, and Alyson Edwards cashed in hitting 5 of their combined 6 shots. Mansfield’s defensive dominance held Magazine to 10 points in the second quarter while the Lady Tigers offense racked up 23 points as Mansfield headed into halftime with a whopping 40-18 lead.

The Lady Tigers began rotating in their player right from the get-go in the second half. For some teams, this would mean that their opponents would have a chance for a comeback. Not for this ten-player Mansfield squad though. Players like Brooke Adams, Raine Hecox, and Sarah Fisher proved that Mansfield is capable of having ten starters at any given moment as they smothered the Lady Rattlers offense like gravy on top of biscuits. Skylynn Harris & Harlie Fuller kept the Lady Tigers offense hot with more three-point shots while Sadie Roberts was able to close the third quarter with a breakaway layup to give Mansfield a commanding 56-23 heads up on Magazine.

Mansfield kept their rotations fresh in the fourth quarter giving every player a fair shake and that shake continued to rattle Magazine. It seemed as if Mansfield’s luck number for the night was three as Sadie Roberts knocked down two perimeter shots and Sarah Fisher got into the scoring mix also with a three-point shot of her own. Seven Sanderson continued to be a backboard beast for the Lady Tigers pounding out six points off of rebounds. Natalie Allison caught an open pass down the court for a layup and decided to sink a couple of free throws while she was at it. Why? Because she could. The game was over before it even started as Mansfield rolled on to end the game with a 69-29 win.

This is the Lady Tigers did exactly what everyone knew they were capable of. Although they played a little bit of possum earlier in the season, Mansfield sent a message to their conference opponents with their win over Magazine. The message was a simple two-word letter that reads “We’re Back”. Mansfield will face off against another fierce conference reptile on Tuesday, January 11th as they travel into the Mountainburg Lady Dragons den.

Frasher Takes Top Honor as Queen

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Sports

Jason Baggett

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12:38 pm

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Mansfield Senior, Alysaa Frasher was crowned 2022 Homecoming Queen at last-nights festivities where the Tigers hosted the Magazine Rattlers.

2022 Mansfield Tiger Homecoming court in photos

mansfield-tigers-basketball-homecoming — Senior Maid, Sadie Roberts escorted by Greyson Baggett (L), and Zach Hayslip (R)

Creating an Emergency Binder

Madison VanRavensway

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6:03 pm

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An emergency binder is a place to put all the important information you will need in the event of a disaster or emergency situation. It’s one thing to grab in the event you need to evacuate, there’s no need to dig.

All my important things are scattered in a file cabinet, I’m really not sure it’s fire proof. My brain is an interesting place, so sometimes I just think about where the title is for our car, or our marriage license. I usually don’t look for these things, I just tell myself they are in that cabinet. Also in that cabinet is random things I probably don’t have to hold on to like utility bills from a house I don’t live in, a letter of recommendation for scholarships from high school, and various tax things. The tax things are likely all I need. I

f you are thinking well Madison go organize your file cabinet, know I’m thinking that too. But I probably won’t be organizing it, it’s just not high on my priority list.

Rather than organizing the whole file cabinet like a good organized person, I’m working on pulling out the things I really will need in the event of an emergency. And then I will get a fireproof box for it to call home.

Organizing a family binder ensures all the essential documents are in a grab and go, easy to transport if needed, storage place. No more digging through high school transcripts. I only have one, so I guess it’s not much digging through those… nevertheless the binder is easier.

Why do you need a binder? Picture this- a tornado rips through my home and nothing is left standing but I grabbed my binder with insurance papers, kids socials, and banking information we are going to take a lot of stress off ourselves. My lovely little file cabinet is going to be in the wind, but the binder I hide in our safe place with us is going to be intact.

Where the binders home is is important. Choose a waterproof and fireproof container. Due to the sensitive material stored here, it should be put up. Let one of two people know it’s location and how to get in it in case something tragic were to happen to you.

There are premade binders. That is the easiest option, but if you want to create your own you can! I am constructing ours, though I may purchase one in the future.

Now let’s get to what include!

Emergency contacts and phone numbers

-Family, friends, and neighbors

-School contacts

-Employer and work related contacts

-Non-emergency lines for police, fire department, and hospital

-Doctors office number

-Veterinarian- yours and any emergency vets

Photo Copies or hard copies of Vital Records

-Your utility companies phone numbers and account numbers

-Drivers license (photo copy of front and back)

-Social security card (or numbers written out/copy of cards)

-Passport

-Birth certificates

-Credit cards (front and back)

-Any military records

-Adoption papers

-Foster records

-Immigration or Naturalization paperwork

-Death certificates of any family members recently deceased

Medical information

-Medical history

-Copies of everyone’s insurance cards (both sides)

-Allergies

-List of current medications

-Immunization records

Insurance Information

-Homeowners policy

-Auto policy

-Life Insurance information

-Agents phone number for all applicable policies

-Insurance cards (dental, medical, vision, etc)

-Home inventory

Financial Information

-All bank info for all accounts- account & routing numbers, photo copy of debit card, and voided check

-Credit card account number and login information

-Information for any investment accounts

-Most recent statement for any and all accounts

-Information for safety deposits

Legal documents

-Copy of any legal document including but not limited to POA, will, marriage license, house deed, vehicle titles, lease information, etc.

Other

-Spare keys

-Cash (optional but handy)

-Maps

-Evacuation plan if you have one

-USBs with photos

-Current photo of everyone in household (update yearly, use individual photos if possible)

No one wants emergencies to happen, but being prepared gives us all a jumpstart on repairing any damage the emergencies cause. Once you have gathered all your information store it in an accessible place in a binder or other organizer inside a waterproof, fireproof safe. Kickstart 2022 with emergency preparedness!

What Is the Best Horse for a Beginner To Ride?

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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10:38 am

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What Is the Best Horse for a Beginner To Ride?

Horseback riding is one of the most relaxing and beautiful experiences a person can have. However, some horses react to riders better than others. Thus, what is the best horse for a beginner to ride? Let’s look at some of the best breeds.

Morgan

A Morgan is a premier choice for a family looking for their first horse due to its social and caring demeanor. As the state animal of Vermont, the Morgan is one of the most popular horses among many caretakers.

It’s a solid starter horse for those looking for a calming stroll. But the Morgan is also excellent for experienced riders because it’s intelligent enough to follow commands. After all, you know it’s a top-tier horse when it’s the first horse you receive with Arthur Morgan in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2.

Friesian

If you’re looking for a horse with a dog’s personality, the Friesian is the right choice for you. It’s a rambunctious breed that enjoys playing in the mud or strutting through the water. What makes the Friesian a prevalent choice is its gorgeous mane and tail. You will have to groom this horse consistently to maintain its beautiful outward appearance, but it’s well worth the extra attention.

American Quarter or American Paint

On most occasions, the American Quarter Horse is an even keel breed, making it a breeze for novices jumping on the saddle. It’s the number one-horse breed in America, so you won’t have a shortage of owners who can share their experiences and tips for riding one.

Or you can opt for an American Paint Horse instead. The American Paint Horse is mellow, and it can form strong connections with its owner. Plus, these horses are lovely around children, making them perfect for first-time horse owners.

Tennessee Walking Horse

Jumping on a horse for the first time can be a bit intimidating, so you will want a graceful and gentle horse. The Tennessee Walking Horse couldn’t be better for neophytes because its running walk is as smooth as a silk sheet. It makes the perfect companion for a trail ride and can handle a larger individual on its back.

Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse

The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse is suitable for beginners but even better for elder riders who struggle with joint and back pains. You can safely ride this horse without any strain, seeing as you will hardly move when in the saddle.

Missouri Fox Trotter

Thanks to its stepping habits, the Missouri Fox Trotter won’t surprise you with sudden and swift movements. It’s another gentle breed that will please any families and amateurs as their first horse.

Hopefully, going over these breeds answers the question of what the best horse for beginners to ride is. Regardless of what you choose, a horse is one of the best buddies anyone can ask for, so you will not regret bringing one home.

Arkansas Bass Anglers Ready for Tournament Season Openers

Jason Baggett

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12:35 pm

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Arkansas Bass Anglers Ready for Tournament Season Openers

It doesn’t seem that long ago where anglers were preparing for their year-end championships all across the state, anxiously awaiting 2022 event schedules to be released.

With the new year already underway, anglers are anxious to get back in tournament mode with outdoors shows, boat shows, and events starting to take place later this month beginning the anticipated on the water action.

We’ve put together a list of the areas tournament trails, and dates with websites below.

Arkansas Bass Team Trail – LINK
Jan 15 – Lake Hamilton
April 2 – Big Bass – Lake Degray
April 3 – Big Bass – Lake Degray
April 30 – Crappie Tournament – Lake Greeson
August 6 – Rumble on the River – Ouachita River

AR Hawghunter Team – LINK
March 5 – Tenkiller
April 2 – Sardis
May 14 – Ft. Gibson
June 4 – Eufaula
July 9 – Dardanelle
August 6 – Kerr
Sept 10 – Ark River (Ozark Pool)
Oct 8-9- Ft. Gibson (Championship)

AR Hawghunter Solo – LINK
March 19 – Tenkiller
April 30 – Sardis
May 21 – Fort Gibson
June 25 – Eufaula
July 23 – Dardanelle
August 2 – Kerr
Sept 17 – Ark River (Ozark Pool)
Oct 29-30 – Eufaula (Championship)

Beaver Lake Elite Series – LINK

March 19
April 2
May 7
June 18
July 16
August 13
September 17
October 15 and 16 Classic

*Beaver Lake Elite Series events are pending

Fish ‘N Stuff Extreme Team Trail – LINK
March 19 – Ouachita
April 23 – Dardanelle
May 7 – Greers Ferry
June 18 – AR River TBA
Sept 3 – AR River Pine bluff
Oct 8-9 – Bull Shoals

Major League Fishing Arkie Division – LINK
Feb 12 – Lake Hamilton,
Feb 26 – Lake Ouachita
Apr 9 – Greers Ferry
May 21 – Dardanelle
Oct 1-2 – Dardanelle

Major League Fishing Okie Division – LINK
Mar 19 – Lake Eufaula
Apr 23 – Arkansas River (3 Forks)
May 14 – Lake Eufaula
Jul 9 – Fort Gibson
Sep 17-18 – Grand Lake

Mr Bass of Arkansas – LINK
Feb 6 – Degray
March 6 – Ouachita
April 10 – Greers Ferry
May 22 – Arkansas River (Pool TBD)
September TBD Bull Shoals

Trader Bill’s Team Trail – LINK
Feb 19 – Ouachita
March 12 – Degray
April 16 – Hamilton
May 14 – Championship

River Rat Bass Circuit – LINK
Arkansas
March 20 – Shoal Bay
April 10 – Piney Bay
May 15 – Clear Creek
June 12 – Spadra
July 17 – Clear Creek
August 14 Springhill Park
September 18 – Shaal Bay

Oklahoma
March 13 – Applegate Cove
April 17 – Cowlington Point
May 8 – Applegate Cove
June 19 – Keota Landing
July 10 – Applegate Cove
August 21 – Keota Landing
September 11 – Cowlington Point

R

Morgan

Friesian

American Quarter or American Paint

Tennessee Walking Horse

Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse

Missouri Fox Trotter

RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK