BENTON — Anyone looking to improve the wildlife habitat or aquatic habitat on their property should make plans to attend the inaugural Natural State Private Lands Expo from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Benton Event Center in Saline County.
Since the inception of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Private Lands Habitat Division, the agency has celebrated the success of a handful of individuals whose efforts showcase the best combination of hard work and partnerships to improve wildlife and stream habitat on their properties. This year’s expo adds the next step of connecting more landowners with the many resources available to maximize the results of their own habitat work.
“We’ve been looking for a way to grow this event, and this year’s format is a big step in that direction,” Garrick Dugger, chief of the AGFC’s Private Lands Habitat Division, said. “We absolutely want to showcase success stories, but we want to do what we can to help create even more successes on the ground.”
The event will begin with lunch and a keynote address from Kip Adams, chief conservation officer for the National Deer Association.
“Kip’s been with the NDA since 2002, and he’s worked with many of our private lands biologists through the years to help improve wildlife habitat in Arkansas,” Dugger said. “He has a great working knowledge, not only of the techniques that can improve wildlife management efforts, but also of the roadblocks to fulfilling your goals and how to negotiate them.”
The keynote will be followed by the presentation of this year’s Natural State Landowner Awards to showcase efforts that can be used as inspiration for other landowners to transform their properties. Each award will be highlighted with a short video to bring attendees on a journey alongside the award recipient to learn more about their work.
“This year’s event really takes a turn from previous awards ceremonies after that,” Dugger said. “We’re going to have a series of six half-hour breakout sessions where people can choose from two different topics each round. Some are terrestrial habitat management topics, and others are aquatic habitat management topics. We’re also going to line up a series of vendors to participate in the day, so people can visit with them.”
In addition to Greenway Equipment, the AGFC’s cultivating partner in private lands management, vendors of herbicides, drone services, tree nurseries and seed companies will all be available to meet. Attendees can gain valuable contacts through these sessions to learn what resources are available to best manage their properties.
“We’re celebrating this year’s award winners, and hopefully helping create next year’s examples of excellence,” Dugger said. “We hope that everyone will take advantage of this opportunity to have everyone under one roof. We will also have a few demonstrations available to show attendees some of the latest technology available that dramatically cuts down the amount of labor needed to achieve your goals.”
A limited number of tickets are available for the expo, so anyone interested in learning more about managing their property for wildlife should act quickly to reserve their seat. The event costs $25 per person or $40 per couple and includes lunch in addition to all the informative sessions. Visit www.agfc.com/habitat and click on the “Register now!” link to enter the ticket sales platform.
