Yellville-Summit Schools Win Garden of the Year
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture recognized the district in its statewide school garden contest during Arkansas Farm to School Month.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Healthy Food
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The Arkansas Department of Agriculture named Yellville-Summit Schools a winner in the Garden of the Year contest, and the district also won $1,000 in the Champion of Garden Sustainability category. The contest is sponsored by Farm Credit and runs as part of Arkansas Farm to School Month.
Why it matters
The contest recognizes schools for their efforts in garden development, education, and community engagement, drawing attention to garden-based learning across the state. Schools statewide used the month to highlight their gardens and farm to school activities.
Yellville-Summit Schools received $1,000 in the Champion of Garden Sustainability category of the Garden of the Year contest. The contest is open to public and private K-12 schools, early childhood education facilities, and alternative learning environments.
The players
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
The state agency that administers the Garden of the Year contest and announced the winners.
Farm Credit
The financial cooperative that sponsors the Garden of the Year contest.
The details
Applications were evaluated on defined goals, garden-based learning in the curriculum, community involvement, use of harvested produce, and long-term garden sustainability. Schools across the state highlighted their gardens and farm to school activities during the month.
Timeline
November 2026: Arkansas Farm to School Month, when schools highlight gardens and farm activities.
November 5, 2026: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced Yellville-Summit as a contest winner.
Season Trajectory
The award comes during Arkansas Farm to School Month, an annual statewide observance in which schools highlight their gardens and farm activities. The recognition builds on that yearly push by rewarding schools for garden-based learning and long-term sustainability.
Students across Arkansas schools that take part in garden-based learning gain hands-on exposure to growing and using fresh produce. Families in districts with active school gardens may see produce from those gardens used in classroom and community activities.
The takeaway
School gardens tie classroom lessons to real food and community involvement. Parents and educators interested in starting a similar program can look to the criteria the contest uses, including long-term sustainability and use of harvested produce.
Further reading
For more on school-grown produce and nutrition, see Healthy Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTLO.
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