Explore ag careers, network with industry leaders through Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour

LITTLE ROCK — For Arkansas college juniors and seniors pursuing agriculture-related majors, the upcoming Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour provides a unique opportunity to explore careers in the state’s top industry and network with potential employers.

The professional development opportunity is a program of the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach branch of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The five-day tour, scheduled for May 11-15, will include stops at JBS Foods in Russellville, Riceland in Stuttgart, Greenway Equipment in Newport, Anheuser-Busch in Jonesboro and more.

There are 50 spots available for the 2026 tour, and participation is free. Transportation, lodging and food are provided through the support of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. Participants must register online by May 8.

“We are so grateful to these commodity promotion boards for their support of the Future Ag Leaders Tour,” said Julie Robinson, extension professor of community, professional and economic development for the Division of Agriculture. “Because of them, we have been able to provide this incredible experience to more than 80 Arkansas college students over the past five years. Many of these students have gone on to find employment with the companies that served as tour stops, and this has strengthened the future of agriculture in our state.”

The 2026 tour will kick off with a day of professional and leadership development activities at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock. Over the next four days, students will travel around the state and tour farms, processing facilities, lumber companies, farm agencies and more.

For current students, Robinson said she encourages them to take advantage of the doors this program can open to future careers and industry connections.

“Arkansas agriculture needs your ideas, your energy and your leadership,” she said. “The Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour is a chance to see firsthand where you can make an impact, connect with industry leaders and discover the many career paths shaping our state’s future. If you’re a junior or senior wondering what’s next, this experience can help you find your place in something bigger.”

Visit the Arkansas Future Ag Leaders Tour page for more information or contact Robinson at jrobinson@uada.edu.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.