The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) voted unanimously on Thursday to award $690,625 in conservation education grants to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services. The funds, derived from wildlife and boating violation fines collected across the state, will support educational programs in schools during the 2026-27 academic year.
Kyle Curry, the AGFC’s Customer Experience Section lead, explained during the meeting that the commission does not retain any of the fine revenue, with all funds instead allocated to counties for local schools. “They administer grants for conservation education programs, such as Fishing in the Natural State, Project WILD, Archery in the Schools, and educator workshops and field trips to nature centers, hatcheries, and other conservation-focused facilities,” Curry stated.
Curry emphasized the goal of these grants: to educate young Arkansans about conservation practices, thereby fostering a deeper respect for natural resources. “The idea is to inspire the next generation to safeguard Arkansas’s outdoors and perhaps encourage some to become the next conservation stewards,” he said.
On hand for the meeting were members of Magnet Cove High School’s archery team, who were honored for their achievements in the National Archery in the Schools competitions earlier this year. The team won state championships in both Bullseye and 3-D categories in March before securing third place in 3-D at the national level and 18th in Bullseye. In June, they placed third in Bullseye and second in 3-D at the World Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Magnet Cove head coach Kimberly Farber said the students’ success was a product of hard work and commitment despite being only in their second year of participating in the archery program. “They’re a young team that really put their hearts into it,” Farber said, noting that they practiced at least twice a week.
Team member Ellie Sowell shared how joining the archery team had transformed her socially. “Before this, I was shy and probably had only a few friends. Archery allowed me to meet so many new people and taught me patience and how to communicate better,” Sowell said.
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock praised the program’s impact on young Arkansans, highlighting that some schools are assembling large archery teams while struggling to form other athletic teams. “These programs reflect Arkansas’s passion for the outdoors,” Schoenrock said.
In other updates, Schoenrock reported progress on the Lake Conway renovation, including the installation of a new bridge at the dam’s water-control structure. He also detailed recent advocacy efforts to preserve wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, emphasizing the collaborative work between AGFC, other states, and government entities to protect critical breeding grounds for Arkansas waterfowl.
The Commission also made significant decisions about hunting regulations. It approved a permit-based draw hunt for a portion of the St. Francis Sunken Lands Wildlife Management Area, beginning with the 2026-27 waterfowl season. Adjustments to the initial proposal were made after public feedback, including increasing the permitted party size from four to eight hunters, extending hunt durations, and reducing the size of the draw area to leave more land available for first-come, first-served access.
Additional decisions included clarifying firearm possession rules on wildlife management areas, adjusting daily and possession limits on game species, and accepting a donated 3-acre tract along War Eagle Creek in Madison County for new stream access development. The donation, facilitated by the Walton Family Foundation, aligns with ongoing efforts to expand public access to land and waterways in northwest Arkansas.
The commission also denied petitions challenging the $10.50 Wildlife Management Area/Lake Conservation Permit passed earlier this year. Meeting details and discussions can be viewed on the AGFC’s YouTube channel.