AGFC, Partners Honor Six, Educate Hundreds at 2026 Natural State Private Lands Expo

In addition to Greenway Equipment, the cultivating partner of the AGFC’s Private Lands Habitat Division, many more sponsors stepped up to be a part of this year’s event.

“We had Green Habitat Consulting, Helena Ag Herbicide Sales, NativState Carbon Development, Azelis Heribicides and even Camping World of Benton all step up and sponsor this event because they saw the value in working more closely with these landowners,” Hooks said. “That’s in addition to our longtime partner, the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation.”

Hooks says nearly every educational session was packed, with Craig Harper’s keynote and working group breakouts on his recent turkey management research taking top billing.

“Dr. Harper was definitely a big draw for the event,” Hooks said. “He’s a professor of Wildlife Management and extension wildlife specialist at the University of Tennessee, and his work includes more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, books and manuals on deer and turkey management, among other wildlife subjects.”

Hooks said quite a few people attended seminars focused on fisheries as well, especially a breakout session on farm pond management.

“With the keynote being on terrestrial management, it was great to see so many people interested in some of the aquatic habitat side of things,” Hooks said. “Landowners play a critical role in watershed management through their actions, and it was great to see so many recognize that link on their own property.”

Hooks says biologists are already planning for next year’s expo. The event may have outgrown its current home, but he wants to keep it in central Arkansas.

“We had folks from north-central Arkansas, Fort Smith, really all over the state,” Hooks said. “Keeping it centrally located enabled us to have a good showing from just about every corner of the state. We’ll also continue pursuing big names in the conservation industry for presentations. We have experts on staff, but we want attendees to get their information from a variety of well-known sources so they can make the most informed decisions with their land moving forward.”

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CUTLINES:

CROWD
More than 450 guests, vendors and biologists gathered at the 2026 Natural State Private Lands Expo at the Benton Event Center Aug. 28. AGFC photo.

COUPLE AWARD
Mark Morales and his wife, Kathy, earned the Wildlife Habitat Landowner Award for his work on their 40 acres as well as leading the charge to implement prescribed burn associations throughout Arkansas. AGFC photo.

FAMILY AWARD
The Keener and Sons Hunting Club in northwest Arkansas earned the AGFC’s DMAP Club of the Year for their work in improving the deer habitat and herd on their property in the face of chronic wasting disease. AGFC photo.

PRESENTATION
Craig Harper, a professor of Wildlife Management at the University of Tennessee and expert on deer, turkey and quail habitat work, gave the keynote address as well as a few breakout presentations. AGFC photo.

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