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Arkansans can gobble up savings with Thanksgiving meals costing 20% less than last year

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Arkansans can gobble up savings with Thanksgiving meals costing 20% less than last year


With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many Arkansans are asking the question: How much will my Thanksgiving dinner cost?

According to new data from the Arkansas Farm Bureau, your Thanksgiving meal may cost less than it did in 2024.

The Farm Bureau released its findings from its annual Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, and it found that meal prices across the board are lower than it has been since before the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“It’s about a 20% drop from last year. I think we said it was around $71 last year and $56 this year,” Director of Commodity Economics with the Arkansas Farm Bureau, Tyler Oxner, said.

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According to the survey, the total average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for a family of 10 in 2025 is $56.77, which is $5.68 a person. In 2024, the total cost was $71.29, which is $7.13 a person. The pricing decrease is also evident across various items.

“The protein is what we’re seeing the biggest decrease in. We got a 7% decrease in turkeys year over year. About a third of the price of last year’s ham,” states Oxner.

A 16-pound turkey cost $15.13, or $0.94 per pound. In 2025, that same turkey may cost $14.10 and .88 a pound.

The survey also reports that a 4-pound ham cost Arkansans $21 last year. Now it’s costing $14.07, a 34% decrease.

Several classic Thanksgiving sides have also seen a decline in average cost:

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  • -3-pound bag of Sweet Potatoes from $3.03 to $2.40 (21% decrease)
  • -5-pound bag of Russet Potatoes from $2.97 to $2.47 (17% decrease)
  • -12-ounce package of Fresh Cranberries from $1.83 to $1.43 (22% decrease)
  • -16-ounce package of Frozen Green Peas from $1.44 to $1.02 (29% decrease)
  • -16-ounce package of Frozen Green Beans from $1.77 to $1.57 (11% decrease)
  • -9-inch Frozen Pie Shells from $3.29 to $1.94 (41% decrease)
  • -14-ounce package of Cube Stuffing, Herb Seasoning from $3.99 to $2.61 (35% decrease)
  • -12-count package of Dinner Rolls from $4.20 to $1.68 (60% decrease)
  • -30-ounce can of Pumpkin Pie Mix from $4.20 to $3.98 (5% decrease)
  • -1 gallon of Whole Milk from $4.23 to $3.64 (14% decrease)

Some products did not see the same declines. The price of 1 pound of fresh carrots increased by 12%, jumping from $1.04 to $1.16. The price of 1 bunch of fresh celery jumped up by 66%, from $1.05 to $1.74. A 1/2-pint carton of whipping cream also soared by 54%, increasing from $1.92 to $2.96.

Of course, this all depends on where you shop.

“You’re going to see, depending on what grocery store you go to, what promotional deals they have going on at those stores,” says Oxner.

“Arkansas is normally cheaper, and the South in general is normally cheaper than the rest of the United States,” he adds.

These prices not only depend on what retailer you shop at, but what county you shop in.

The survey reports that prices on Thanksgiving meals range from $50.89 in Boone County to $68.36 in Garland County. All of the other counties that the Farm Bureau surveyed came in under $60:

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  • -Hempstead County: $51.27
  • -Faulkner County: $53.58
  • -Craighead County: $55.89
  • -Sevier County: $56.34
  • -Sharp County: $57.48
  • -Carroll County: $58.46
  • -Lonoke County: $58.54

Oxner credits these pricing trends to one group.

“Arkansas families may see lower prices for their traditional Thanksgiving meal, and they just need to know that this is the work of those Arkansas farmers out there that are working tirelessly to provide sustainable food.”

Oxner says that these prices have the potential to continue to decline in the coming years, but that all depends on various factors, such as changing transportation and production costs, as well as if the Avian Influenza becomes a problem again in Arkansas like it was in 2024.



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Sax star Merlon Devine joins Lupus Foundation of Arkansas to jazz up awareness month

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Sax star Merlon Devine joins Lupus Foundation of Arkansas to jazz up awareness month


Purple is the color of the month in Arkansas, and Lupus Awareness Month is bringing a busy stretch of events, including a mayoral proclamation and a smooth jazz concert featuring acclaimed saxophonist Merlon Devine.

A proclamation for Lupus Awareness Month is set for 6 p.m. in North Little Rock, with Mayor Hardwick expected to present it. Organizers encouraged lupus warriors and supporters to come out.

Anita Boone, President of the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. and a former lupus warrior, described the day-to-day reality of living with the disease: “One minute you’re feeling amazing, the next minute your body is saying we can’t do this.”

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, described during the interview as a condition where the immune system attacks the body “inside out.” It can affect organs throughout the body, including the brain, lungs, heart and kidneys. Boone also shared personal impacts, saying, “I am losing, actually, ear from hearing, just because of lupus.”

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The Lupus Foundation of Arkansas is also inviting the community to a Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert this Sunday, May 17, at 3:30 at The Space with Grace event venue, 2005 Main St., North Little Rock.

Gale Davis, committee chair for the Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert shared details about the concert.

Davis said guests are encouraged to “dress to impress,” though formalwear isn’t required. The event will include a photo backdrop, light hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and sponsored tables aimed at networking. It’s also a chance for people to meet other lupus warriors, learn more about the foundation’s work, and watch a video presentation highlighting events from the past year.

The featured artist, Merlon Devine, was described as an acclaimed saxophonist known for a soulful, smooth jazz sound, with a career spanning more than two decades and performances across the country and around the world. He’s also an Arkansas native who attended Little Rock Central High School. He now lives in Southern Maryland, outside Washington, D.C.

Davis said Devine’s connection to lupus is personal. She said his father had lupus and has since died, though he didn’t die from lupus. They also said Divine had a sister who died from lupus in 1981 and that he currently has two sisters living with lupus.

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She also shared that, according to his doctors, Devine was born with acute asthma and underdeveloped lungs. His latest single, released last year, is called “Mercy.”

Tickets must be purchased online and will not be sold at the door. They’re available online by clicking on the flyer. Prices are $40 for individual tickets, or $400 for a table of nine, with an option to sponsor a table.

Organizers also noted another proclamation is planned for the Little Rock side with Mayor Frank Scott tomorrow, and encouraged people to follow the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas on social media for updates.

The concert will take place this Sunday at the Space With Grace Venue in North Little Rock.



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A 21-year-old Arkansas man, formerly from Newaygo, died after crashing dirt bike into tree

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A 21-year-old Arkansas man, formerly from Newaygo, died after crashing dirt bike into tree


An Arkansas man died after crashing a dirt bike on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Arkansas man, formerly from Newaygo, crashed into a tree while riding a dirt bike on private property in Ashland Township near Grant on Sunday before 2:30 p.m., according to Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers.

Emergency responders tried to save his life but he died at the scene.

Troopers are still investigating but do not suspect drugs or alcohol as factors in the crash.

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MSP did not initially release any additional information.



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Arkansas softball heading to NCAA Tournament | Seed, opponent, regional info

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Arkansas softball heading to NCAA Tournament | Seed, opponent, regional info


FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas softball will once again host an NCAA Regional, this time as the No. 5 overall national seed.

The Razorbacks (42-11) will be the top seed in Fayetteville and open the tournament against fourth-seeded Fordham (27-26) at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15.

Washington (36-18) is the two-seed and will face three-seed South Florida (42-15) that same day inside Bogle Park.

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Arkansas is paired with the Durham Regional hosted by Duke (39-14) for a potential super regional. Arizona (35-16), Marshall (37-17) and Howard (28-17) are joining the Blue Devils in the regional.

This is the sixth consecutive season the Razorbacks will host a regional. It is also the program’s eighth straight NCAA Tournament berth under coach Courtney Deifel. Arkansas has reached the NCAA tournament 14 times, and more than half of those appearances have come under Deifel.

Arkansas ended the season No. 1 in the RPI despite finishing seventh in the SEC standings. The Hogs were eliminated by Alabama in the conference tournament quarterfinals.

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Last year, Arkansas lost to SEC rival Ole Miss in the Super Regionals. The Hogs fell one win shy of reaching the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history. They are hoping to take that elusive next step this summer and book a trip to Oklahoma City in two weeks time.

Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. 



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