Jackson County Extension Center grand opening set for June 9
June 2, 2023
By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Public reception scheduled for 5 p.m.
- Facility features about 350 tillable acres for crop research, trials and demonstrations
- Grand opening will be a catered event, open to the public
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(Newsrooms: View and download photos of the new facility.)
NEWPORT, Ark. — After years of cramped meetings in small spaces or under shade trees, the new Jackson County Extension Center is finally opening its doors. The 4,800-square-foot facility will host its grand opening in Newport at 5 p.m. on June 9.
“We are really excited about this new facility and the doors it will open for future meetings and partnerships in the ag industry,” said Tom Barber, extension weed scientist and director of the Jackson County Extension Center. “Jackson County has a rich agricultural history and this event gives us the chance to rejuvenate our relationship and show our appreciation to local farmers and residents. It also gives us an opportunity to showcase the work we do and the benefits of this new facility to our research and to the growers in the area.”
The event will be held in the new building, known as the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Producers Building. The name recognizes both the state’s growers and the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board, which donated $250,000 for the completion of the new facility. The Jackson County Quorum Court provided $20,000 to support the main building and $5,000 for the center’s 4-H Outdoor Skills area.
The center will house the following Jackson County extension staff:
- Matthew Davis, staff chair: Agriculture, 4-H and community and economic development
- Alan Honey, farm operations technician
- Darlene Madden, administrative specialist III
- Nathan Pearrow, farm operations manager
- Joy West, county extension agent: Family consumer science, 4-H and community and economic development
- Sarah Dickerson, county extension agent: Agriculture and 4-H
The center will also feature about 350 acres of demonstration plots of almost every row crop grown in Arkansas, benefiting producers statewide.
“The center houses research faculty and staff who conduct research in soybean, corn and cotton agronomic programs, plant pathology research in corn, soybean and peanut, and weed science,” Barber said.
The Jackson County Extension Center is located at 649 Jackson Rd 917 in Newport.
The grand opening will be a catered event, open to the public with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Those interested in attending can RSVP to (870) 523-7450 or dmadden@uada.edu. Read more about the new Jackson County Extension Center at bit.ly/Ark-Jackson-Co-Ext.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter 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 Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter 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 University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Darlene Madden at 870-523-7450 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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 five system 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.
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Media contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
501-671-2120