Last September, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) hosted its inaugural Natural State Private Lands Expo at the Benton Event Center. The event brought together private landowners, habitat professionals, vendors, and conservation partners for a day focused on practical habitat improvement. For a $25 registration fee, attendees received lunch and access to workshops, equipment demonstrations, and breakout sessions covering both terrestrial and aquatic habitat management.
The keynote speaker was Kip Adams, Chief Conservation Officer for the National Deer Association. AGFC also presented Natural State Landowner Awards in several categories, including Conservation Contractor, Fisheries Landowner, Group/Corporate, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Club, Greenway Stream Habitat, and Greenway Private Lands. Each winner received a plaque, and short videos highlighted the impact of their work. Throughout the day, attendees were able to choose from six half-hour concurrent breakout sessions and visit with vendors showcasing tools, equipment, and services that support habitat improvement projects.
The inaugural expo was a strong success and appears to have exceeded expectations. Building on that momentum, AGFC has announced that the event will return in 2026 with an expanded lineup of sessions and additional vendors. The 2026 expo is scheduled for August 28 at the Benton Event Center from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Registration is $25 per person or $40 per couple and includes a catfish lunch.
Arkansas includes roughly 33.3 million acres within its borders, and approximately 90 percent of that land is privately owned. That means private landowners have an important role to play in improving habitat across the state. While public agencies manage a portion of Arkansas lands, the greatest opportunity for meaningful, statewide habitat improvement rests with the people who own and manage private property. Every acre matters, and even small habitat projects can benefit wildlife, water quality, and the overall health of Arkansas’s natural resources.
Landowners who cannot attend the expo can still receive assistance from an AGFC Private Lands Biologist. The AGFC Private Lands Habitat Division website includes a map showing biologist coverage areas across the state, along with contact information for the biologist assigned to each region.
I encourage landowners to support this expo, help it continue to grow, and take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about habitat management on their own property. Hope to see you there—and while you’re at the expo, be sure to stop by and take a look at the AlphaFire system.
