LITTLE ROCK — In recognition of September as Rice Month, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture is celebrating the success of the Rice in Schools initiative and announcing plans to expand the program for the 2026-27 school year. The Department will also host the inaugural Rice in Schools Conference later this month.
“Arkansas rice feeds families across our state, our country, and our world – and there’s no better place to serve it than in our own schools,” said Governor Sanders. “That’s why we launched Arkansas Plate and Rice in Schools last year: to put healthy, nutritious meals on students’ plates, support the farmers who grow it, and teach the next generation about one of Arkansas’ most important industries.”
“Governor Sanders’ Arkansas Plate and Rice in Schools initiatives are a top priority for the Department of Agriculture. September is Rice Month, and there is no better time to honor Arkansas’ rice industry and support efforts to get more Arkansas-grown rice on school plates,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Rice in Schools connects students with our state’s largest industry while giving school nutrition professionals new tools to incorporate a healthy, locally grown product into school meals.”
Governor Sanders launched the Arkansas Plate and Arkansas Rice in Schools initiatives in September 2025 to increase the use of Arkansas-grown products in schools. The program is supported through partnerships with USA Rice, Arkansas Rice, and the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. USA Rice donated 10 commercial rice cookers to school districts across the state, and the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board contributed $15,000 to expand program resources.
During the 2025-26 school year, 20 schools participated in the Rice in Schools initiative, providing 4,668 students with hands-on cooking labs and taste tests. Of the participating students, 82 percent said they loved or liked the featured rice dish.
In June, 103 school nutrition managers completed culinary training through the Arkansas Plate initiative, preparing recipes featuring Arkansas rice, beef, eggs, beans, strawberries, spinach, and other locally produced foods.
The Department will host the first Rice in Schools Conference Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Northeast Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center (NERREC) bringing together school nutrition directors from across the state to increase the use of Arkansas rice in school meals. The conference will include hands-on culinary training, a farm and rice mill tour, and opportunities to speak directly with Arkansas rice farmers.
For the 2026-27 school year, Arkansas Plate will also launch a farm-to-school menu model and lesson plan series, while Rice in Schools will continue classroom demonstrations, school visits, and training for school nutrition professionals.
Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry with diverse production which includes row crops, livestock, poultry, forestry, specialty crops, and aquaculture. Arkansas is the largest rice producing state in the nation.
About the Arkansas Department of Agriculture
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture, forestry, and natural resources to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while conserving natural resources and ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation. For more information, visit agriculture.arkansas.gov/.
