HARRISBURG, AR -This week, USA Rice traveled here to participate in the Rice in Schools Conference held at the Northeast Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center. The one-day event, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and USA Rice, brought school nutrition officials from across the state together to learn more about its rice industry and how to increase the use of Arkansas-grown rice in schools.
The inaugural event celebrated the success of Governor Sanders’ Arkansas Rice in Schools initiative that was launched during the 2025-2026 school year and build on that success for the 2026-2027 school year. This year, the program is expanding into more schools with classroom demonstrations, school visits, and training for K-12 nutrition professionals focused on promoting the consumption of locally-grown rice.
Conference attendees toured the rice research facility, took part in a hands-on culinary training session, listened to a presentation by USA Rice vice president of domestic promotion Cameron Jacobs on the oversized role of rice in school nutrition programs, and got the opportunity to meet Arkansas rice farmers. They also received an overview of USDA local procurement and earned five continuing education credits for taking part in the event.
The highlight of the conference was the Arkansas Rice Farmer Panel, which featured David Gairhan, Jennifer James, Scott Matthews, and Robin and Tim Ralston. Each panelist discussed their farming operations, highlighted the importance of conservation efforts, and encouraged more communication between the school nutrition sector and the rice industry. They also shared personal insights and fielded questions from the audience.
“The Rice in Schools initiative is truly one of a kind and deserves a lot of praise,” Jacobs said. “Not only is it working to increase consumption of Arkansas rice through nutritious school meals, it is also fostering a connection between students and the importance of where their food comes from and helping them develop a better understanding of nutrition. USA Rice is proud to continue to support this program and commends the state, Arkansas Rice, and the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board in its commitment to expanding the initiative to more schools.”
To learn more about the Arkansas Rice in Schools program, click here.