The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) recognized six individuals and organizations for their conservation efforts during the second annual Natural State Private Lands Expo on August 28 at the Benton Event Center. The event also drew attendance from more than 450 landowners, vendors, and conservation experts, offering a full day of education and networking opportunities.
Mark Morales received the Wildlife Habitat Landowner Award for his work transforming 40 acres at the base of Mount Magazine and advocating for prescribed fire and burn associations. Garrick Dugger, chief of AGFC’s Private Lands Habitat Division, commended Morales as a model for collaborative private land management. Morales also teaches at the Arkansas Fire Academy and Camp Robinson Fire School, influencing many landowners in the use of managed fire for habitat improvement.
John Chapman and Flow State LLC were honored with the Partner-Nominated Award, following a nomination by the Beaver Watershed Alliance. Chapman’s efforts included restoring over a mile of War Eagle Creek streambank and developing a wetland complex through an America the Beautiful Challenge grant. Becky Roark of the Beaver Watershed Alliance highlighted the broader significance of his work, noting plans to reconnect more than 500 miles of streams in the region.
Lance and Audra Coffman were recognized with the Fisheries Habitat Landowner Award for their conservation efforts in Montgomery County. By fencing off the Caddo River from livestock and planting over 1,200 native trees and shrubs, the Coffmans rehabilitated a previously overgrazed farm, creating a thriving environment for wildlife and aquatic species.
Joe Woolbright earned the Conservation Contractor of the Year Award for decades of work in prairie restoration. Woolbright, through his nonprofit Ozark Ecological Restoration Inc., collaborates with over 200 partners to restore native ecosystems using techniques like prescribed burns and invasive species control.
The Deer Management Assistance Program’s Deer Club of the Year Award went to Lynn Keener and Sons for balancing their deer herd and improving habitat despite challenges such as chronic wasting disease. Their use of prescribed burns and canopy thinning has revitalized the habitat on their property.
Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (AHFH) received the Corporate or Group Award. The nonprofit, led by Executive Director Ronnie Ritter, converts donated venison into meals for local food banks and distributes shelf-stable venison snacks to school backpack programs across Arkansas.
The expo, which evolved from a small recognition dinner, featured educational sessions, vendor exhibits, and networking opportunities for landowners. According to Jason Hooks, an AGFC biologist who coordinated the event, tickets sold out a week ahead of time. The day included seminars on topics such as turkey management, farm pond management, and watershed conservation. Wildlife management expert Dr. Craig Harper, a professor at the University of Tennessee, delivered the keynote address, drawing significant interest.
“We wanted the event to do more than just honor outstanding conservationists,” Dugger explained. “It’s an opportunity to broaden the conservation footprint in Arkansas by connecting landowners with the resources they need.”
The growing popularity of the expo has planners considering a larger venue for next year. “We had representatives from all over the state,” Hooks said. “Keeping the event centrally located allows us to reach as many people as possible.”
Sponsors for this year’s expo included Greenway Equipment, Green Habitat Consulting, Helena Ag Herbicide Sales, Camping World of Benton, and others. Hooks emphasized the importance of partnerships in making the event a success and anticipates continued collaboration as they plan for next year.