Arkansas
Fighting Hunger in Fayetteville, Arkansas
At Apple Seeds teaching farm, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the simple act of unearthing a carrot can be life changing.
Executive Director Mary Thompson remembers one child in particular, a fourth-grader who had just harvested a carrot. “He washed it and put it in his pocket. Later, he took it out and took a nibble like he was really savoring it, then put it back,” she says. “I told him we could harvest another carrot, and he said, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you. I’ve really, really been trying to save this to take home to show my mom. She would never ever believe where this carrot came from.’”
In Washington County, food insecurity rates are among the lowest in Arkansas. Those low rates are driven at least in part by many years of remarkable community-driven hunger relief efforts there.
Since 2007, Apple Seeds, a nonprofit, has worked to teach children about the wonders of fresh produce and inspire healthy eating through garden-based education. Recently, this mission took on new urgency: The state of Arkansas has had the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation for three years running, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Household Food Security report.
In Washington County—where Fayetteville is located—food insecurity rates are among the lowest in Arkansas. Those low rates are driven at least in part by many years of remarkable community-driven hunger relief efforts there, led by Apple Seeds and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance (AHRA), in collaboration with the Fayetteville Public School District.
The 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill terminated SNAP-Ed and trimmed funding for the Farm to School program, among other budget cuts. The federal policy changes, which reduced nutrition education for children and are likely to exacerbate food insecurity for many Americans, are affecting Fayetteville too.
While only a small portion of farm to school grant funding has been reinstated for 2026, most of Fayetteville’s efforts continue regardless, providing a look at how proven solutions are adapting to address hunger.
Fighting Hunger in Fayetteville
Nearly 20 percent of Arkansas households lacked adequate access to nutritious foods in 2024, based on the most recent USDA data available. That equates to nearly 600,000 Arkansans facing hunger, as well as 1 in 4 children.
Washington County had one of the lowest food insecurity rates in Arkansas at 17.4 percent, according to the most recent Map the Meal Gap data collected in 2023 by Feeding America. Though higher than the national average of 13.5 percent, it is significantly lower compared to other areas in the state, such as Searcy County, where 24.3 percent of residents experienced food insecurity that year.
For Searcy County children, the rate was much higher than for the county’s general population—32.2 percent—which is a common pattern in counties across the state. Washington County, however, is an outlier; the rate of food insecurity among children there in 2023 was lower—16.8 percent—compared its general population. And Washington County’s childhood hunger rate was the second lowest in the entire state.
Apples are just one of many kinds of fruits and vegetables that grow on the two acres of land that make up Apple Seeds Teaching Farm, which students can pick themselves and enjoy as a healthy snack. (Photo courtesy of Apple Seeds)
These numbers reflect local efforts to focus on students. The work spans the public and private sectors: For roughly 20 years, nonprofit organizations like Apple Seeds and the AHRA, in collaboration with the Fayetteville Public School District, have shown how giving kids access to fresh produce and helping them have positive experiences with vegetables early in life can have lasting and far-reaching impacts.
The AHRA started working to boost food security in 2004. The Little Rock–based nonprofit began as a coalition of six Feeding America food banks in the state, which continue to operate. In addition to providing food for Arkansans in need, AHRA also partners with local and federal organizations on advocacy and educational programming to mitigate hunger in the long term. This includes everything from leading cooking classes to helping people enroll in the SNAP program to coaching volunteers on how to ask lawmakers to negotiate additional funding for the program.
Another driving force is the Fayetteville Public School District, which created edible gardens at its 17 schools between 2009 and 2014. In 2013, the school district received a $99,000 USDA Farm to School grant to expand a sustainable farm-to-school program, and in 2021 it received a second Farm to School grant for $82,000, but this latter grant was never implemented due to COVID restrictions and staffing issues. Currently, the gardens are managed with $450 per school per year.
In 2015, Apple Seeds signed a 20-year lease for 2 acres from the City of Fayetteville at no cost—the land was a gift from the city “in exchange for the services we provide the community,” said Thompson. They built a barn with a kitchen and dining space, placed wooden benches in a semicircle around an old pecan tree for an outdoor classroom, and cleared a plot to plant vegetables. The teaching farm is just 14 miles from the Northwest Arkansas Foodbank, one of the six food banks that form the AHRA.
“While they might not have [had] any interest in trying broccoli at first, if they grew it,…they would literally eat the broccoli off the plant.”
The initial Apple Seeds curriculum was created with the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, based on seven years of lessons developed by the Fayetteville Public School District. The curriculum covered nutrition, cooking, and gardening with hands-on activities in the school gardens and field trips to the Apple Seeds teaching farm.
In 2018 came a moment of synergy: The farm, the research institute, and the school district combined forces with the AHRA to further develop the on-farm curriculum with components of the AHRA’s nutrition education program, Cooking Matters.
“I learned with my own kids that while they might not have [had] any interest in trying broccoli at first, if they grew it, we wouldn’t even bring it inside; they would literally eat the broccoli off the plant,” says Stephanie Jordan, a nutritionist and the school district’s part-time garden coordinator.
Jordan helps kids plant, harvest, sort through seed catalogs, study pollinators, manage a compost bin, and supply leafy greens to the cafeteria salad bar. Jordan’s enthusiasm for these programs is formidable, limited only by resources.
Arkansas
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Arkansas
Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.
Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.
“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”
The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.
With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.
“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”
“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”
Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.
About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.
About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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