[title subtitle=”WORDS and IMAGE courtesy Arkansas River Valley Lawn and Garden Show and Pat Robbins, Master Gardener”][/title]
The 27th Annual Arkansas River Valley Lawn and Garden Show will be held March 20 through March 22 at Kay Rodgers Park Expo Center. Since 1994 the River Valley Master Gardeners and the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Arkansas have sponsored this three-day event as a garden exposition with an impressive line-up of seminars, demonstrations and expert speakers discussing a wide variety of gardening topics. The theme for the 2020 show is “Through the Garden Gate.”
Vendors will showcase the newest and best garden products and plants along with many area nonprofit organizations and attendees to the Lawn and Garden Show will discover demonstrations and seminars (please note times and dates). This year’s slate of speakers from across the state will cover an assortment of topics including Urban Farming, The Scientific Evidence of Mental Health Benefits of Gardening, Starting Your First Garden, Curb Appeal for Residential Homeowners, Moles and Gophers, Berries, Herbs, and Caring for Your Turf. Several demonstrations will be presented, including Growing Plants from Seed, Tomatoes, Fresh Flower Arranging, and Creating Cement Planters. Terri Hargrove, owner of Yogaterrium, will return for the popular Yoga for Gardening Health sessions as well.
Clyde Fenton, Sebastian County Extension Agent, will speak about berries. Clyde began to develop an interest in berry production as a teenager in New York state where he harvested strawberries for his uncle on Fenton’s Berry Farm which was located on his grandparents’ farm. After college, Clyde became the farm manager and eventually, the owner. In 2002, Clyde relocated to North Central Arkansas and established Fenton’s Berry Farm in Harrison where his family has grown strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. As the County Extension Agent, Clyde shares his knowledge and provides resources for the county in all aspects of agriculture but is always excited to talk with people about berries, his longest and greatest agricultural passion.
Jeremy Prater, Urban Program Coordinator for the Sebastian County Conservation District, will speak on the topic of Urban Farming. Jeremy works with local groups to start or improve community gardens, pollinator habitat, and pocket prairies. He’s is a third-generation farmer in Crawford County, and formerly worked for the National Park Service.
Anje Nevala, retired Clinical Social Worker with over thirty-three years of experience in mental health services, will speak on the Scientific Evidence of Mental Health Benefits of Gardening. Anje is an Advanced Master Gardener with the University of Arkansas, Pulaski County Extension Service. She has had the pleasure of giving back to the community by providing horticulture therapy at local hospitals and through her Master Gardener project at Baptist Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Little Rock. Her primary objective in utilizing horticulture therapy is to provide an opportunity for participants to engage in “hands-on” activities that are based in nature and that will positively influence their lives.
Other speakers include Berni Kurz, Consumer Horticulture Specialist and the state coordinator of the Arkansas Master Gardener program, Mike Wilbanks, H. C. Varnadore, Mary Evans and Jason McGaugh.
For more information, find the Arkansas River Valley Lawn and Garden show on Facebook or at fslawngardenshow.com.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
2020 Arkansas River Valley Lawn and Garden Show
Kay Rodgers Park Expo Center
4400 Midland Blvd, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Hours:
Friday, March 20: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday, March 21: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, March 22: 10 am – 4 pm
Admission:
A 3-day ticket is $5.00
Children 11 and under – free
Free Parking
Schedule of Events:
Friday, March 20
10:30am Growing Plants from Seed – Mary Ross
1:00pm Starting Your First Garden – Berni Kurz
2 – 4:00pm Yoga for Gardening Health – Terri Hargrove
3:00pm Urban Farming – Jeremy Prater
5:00pm Curb Appeal for Residential Homeowners – Mike Wilbanks
Saturday, March 21
10:00am Let’s Talk Tomatoes – Mary Smith
11:00am Curb Appeal for Residential Homeowners – Mike Wilbanks
12:15pm Fresh Flower Arranging – Kay Schlaefli
1:00pm From Soil to Soul – Anje Nevala
2:15pm Cement Pots: DIY Project – Veronica Fenton
3:00pm Berries, Berries, Berries – Clyde Fenton
4:15pm Moles and Gophers – H.C. Varnadore
Sunday, March 22
2:00pm Herbs Through the Garden Gate – Mary Russell-Evans
3:00pm Caring for Your Turf – Jayson McGaugh
