Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center

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The Arkansas Insect Festival is back this fall and includes the varying sizes and colors of crawling insects and arthropods kids love, but there are changes this year.

In the past, the every-other-year event was held during the week and primarily served as a field trip experience for students from area schools. This year, kids are still welcome, but with their families and friends. The family-friendly event gives visitors of all ages the chance to discover facts, learn the benefit and value of, and the beauty of insects through hands-on exhibits, live critters and expert guidance from local entomologists.

Arkansas Insect Festival 2026 is a free event set for Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center (1335 W. Knapp Dr., Fayetteville). A sensory-friendly hour, for those wanting a quieter environment, is scheduled from 9-10 a.m.

Insect Fest is put on by faculty, students and staff in U of A's Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The event is a service and outreach effort to introduce families to the world of insects.

"We are so excited to be hosting this event once again," said Ken Korth, department head. "Along with our fantastic community partners, we will share the importance of insects, agriculture and science in the daily lives of Arkansans. The festival will have a slightly different format this year, but the emphasis is still the same with cool displays, accurate information and fun."

Visitors will meet entomologists and plant pathologists from across the state; interact with live critters in a safe, educational setting; enjoy returning favorite activities, including live cockroach races; and learn how insects impact food production, the environment and everyday life.

Planned activities and exhibits include insect displays; live arthropod zoo; butterfly house; cockroach races (cheer for a Madagascar hissing roach); honeybee display (peek inside a live hive); Scott Family Amazeum hands‑on activities; aphids: plant vampires; bats and other insect‑eating animals (Arkansas State Parks); butterflies in the garden (Master Gardeners); insects of medical, veterinary, agricultural and forest importance; Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists; insects in culture and the arts; microscope display; plant disease diagnostic clinic; and insect crafts and coloring.

Individuals and groups wanting to host an exhibit as a Community Partner Exhibitor or serve as a volunteer should complete the registration form.

Since 1993, the Arkansas Insect Festival has been a biennial event welcoming more than 3,000 community members to each event to explore the world of insects and arthropods. Most visitors spend one to two hours enjoying the full range of displays and activities.

The festival is hosted by the: Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the U of A System Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College.

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AG | FOOD | LIFE

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Arkansas Entomology Entomological Society of America The Bug Chicks Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Fayetteville Flyer KUAF 91.3 Public Radio Ozarks at Large Only In Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette CitiScapes Magazine

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, You don't want to miss this event. Trust when I say you will be blown away!

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Wild Hog CDE

Saturday, February 28th

Regular Registration closes tonight at 11:58

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What a start to the year! We are pretty excited coming home from the first trip of the year and can’t wait for the rest of the spring semester!

🟣CATTLEMAN’S CONGRESS🟣

6th HIGH TEAM OVERALL
8th High Team Reasons
7th High Team Swine
7th High Team Sheep/Goats
7th High Team Cattle
7th High Team Cattle Reasons

KYMBER LENDERMAN
13th High Ind Sheep/Goats

ERIN ARNEY
8th High Ind Swine

🗻NATIONAL WESTERN ON THE HILL🗻

8th HIGH TEAM OVERALL
8th High Team Reasons
9th High Team Sheep/Goat
9th High Team Swine
3rd High Team Cattle
5th High Team Cattle Reasons
1st High Team Feedlot Cattle

ELI RICH
High Ind Feedlot Cattle

BRAYDON DECOUNTER
2nd High Ind Cattle

KYMBER LENDERMAN
Tied for 10th High Ind Feedlot Cattle

JACEY SMITH
14th High Ind Overall
12th High Ind Cattle
14th High Ind Feedlot Cattle

⭐️NWSS CARLOAD CONTEST⭐️
5th High Team Overall
3rd High Team Placings

JACEY SMITH
11th High Ind Overall

Kicking off 2026 with a list of important dates! We hope to see you all at one of the State 4-H Livestock contests. Each of these contests will qualify teams to represent Arkansas 4-H at various national contests.

🍀April 15th: Meats Evaluation (Fayetteville)
🍀April 16th: Livestock Judging (Fayetteville)
🍀May 6th: Grassland Evaluation (Batesville)
🍀July 22nd: Livestock Quiz Bowl (Fayetteville @ State O'Rama)
🍀July 30th: Livestock Skill-a-thon (Benton)

‼️Applications due January 30th‼️
Join the Extension Animal Science team for a 12-week, paid summer internship in Little Rock! This program will showcase Extension programming at the state level. Interns will have a flexible experience with opportunities to shadow the various Animal Science specialists and work more closely with their specific area of interest. Interns will work with Extension Animal Science faculty to implement research-based educational programs and 4-H youth development experiences.
Applicants should have good communication and organization skills. Livestock and youth animal science programs experience preferred, but not required. Open to college juniors and seniors. Inexpensive housing is available.
Application documents or questions can be directed to Allison Harman at [email protected].

‼Registration for the Beef Quiz Bowl Qualifiers is due January 30th‼
These contests are open to Senior 4-H and FFA teams, but limited to the first 24 teams registered for each qualifier. The top two teams from each qualifier will advance to the Beef Quiz Bowl Finals to be held at the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention on August 8th.

SOUTHERN Qualifier:
🗓Friday, February 20th at 8am
📍Four States Fairgrounds in Texarkana
NORTHERN Qualifier:
🗓Friday, February 27th
📍Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Arena in Fayetteville

🔗For more contest information (including eligibility for each qualifier) and the registration form, see the Arkansas 4-H Livestock webpage under the "Beef Quiz Bowl" tab.

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