Arkansas State Parks has announced a new partnership with Apple Seeds to establish a Central Arkansas Teaching Farm at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, creating a unique outdoor classroom where students can learn about gardening, nutrition and healthy living.
The project is being developed in partnership with the Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation through a Concessionaire Lease Agreement approved on May 1, 2026. The agreement allows Apple Seeds to begin developing approximately 2 acres near the historic Butterfield House into a hands-on teaching farm and outdoor learning kitchen.
The Teaching Farm is expected to welcome students as early as Fall 2026 through field trips, after-school programs, summer camps and community events.
Apple Seeds is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring lifelong healthy eating habits by connecting children with gardening, nutrition education and culinary experiences. The organization currently serves more than 20,000 Arkansas students each year, including approximately 4,500 students in Central Arkansas.
Officials say the new Teaching Farm will expand that impact, serving an estimated 15,000 students annually by 2029. Students will have opportunities to plant, harvest, prepare and enjoy fresh foods while learning about agriculture in an outdoor environment.
The farm will also grow fresh produce that will be donated to food-insecure families, helping improve access to healthy foods in Arkansas communities.
State officials say the partnership supports Arkansas’ goals of improving childhood health, expanding outdoor education, strengthening workforce development and connecting families with Arkansas’ natural resources.
The Teaching Farm also complements Arkansas State Parks’ mission of conservation and environmental stewardship by introducing children and families to agriculture through hands-on experiences in one of the state’s most visited parks.
Construction of gardens and educational spaces is expected to begin immediately while future improvements to the historic Butterfield House and Barn continue.
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