First Ward Pantry sets event
First Ward Living Grace Food Pantry, 1201 Commerce Road, will host a Labor Day celebration from noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 29. There will be free food, music and activities. The community is invited to attend.
Also, the Grassroots Revival Real Clean Team of Benton will offer free showers for homeless residents, according to a flyer.
Pastors invited to breakfast
More than 50 pastors from Pine Bluff and across the state will attend the Arkansas Gospel Music Heritage Breakfast to fellowship and discuss ways to unite churches, cultures, communities, and the state through the power of Gospel Music.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The breakfast will be held Saturday from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Rice’s II restaurant, 3141 W. 28th Ave. Attendees will also hear more about the Arkansas Gospel Music Heritage Month Celebration 2025, scheduled to take place Sept. 11–14 in Pine Bluff, according to a news release.
“It is our desire to include not only male pastors from African American churches, but also female clergy, and Christian pastors from all races, nations, and tongues,” said Dedric L. Jones, state coordinator for the 2025 celebration. “We envision this experience as a spark that will ignite a fire, creating an explosion of unity as we embark upon this statewide festival in the city of Pine Bluff.”
Jones also thanked the sponsors Ephesus Christian Bookstore, Dr. Kenneth J. Lambert, Paradise Funeral Home and Rice Catering. For event details or to RSVP, call (870) 413-9154.
Workshop to cover native grasses
Growing native warm-season grasses can be a boon for both cattle and quail, and a workshop Thursday at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana campus will offer a how-to for ranchers and those seeking to improve wildlife habitat.
The workshop, held from 6-8 p.m. is being presented by the Cooperative Extension Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
“This workshop is an opportunity to discuss how our farms can support both production and wildlife,” said Jonathan Kubesch, extension forage specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “I’m excited to see how our perspectives will help farmers decide if these native grasses fit their farms.”
There’s no cost to attend, but participants are asked to register at https://ar-events.s3licensing.com/eventprofile/124 for the meal head count.
Wildfire suppression kits available
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for wildland fire suppression kits through Sept. 30.
Through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service, the department plans to distribute 75 wildland fire suppression kits to rural volunteer fire departments across the state this year. Since 2014, more than 830 kits have been provided to enhance local wildfire response capabilities, according to a news release.
“Our partnership with rural volunteer fire departments is the foundation of wildfire response in Arkansas,” said State Forester Kyle Cunningham. “These departments are on the front lines with us, and this program is one of the most important ways we can equip and support them. Their dedication, local knowledge, and quick response are critical to protecting communities, property, and natural resources across the state.”
The necessary equipment and gear in the kits include lightweight wildfire-resistant coveralls, wildland gloves, rakes, backpack water pumps and leaf blowers.
Rural volunteer fire departments are encouraged to apply online, but paper applications are available upon request. Applications are evaluated based on the population of the fire district, the number of square miles covered, the average number of wildfires a department responds to annually and other factors.
The selected departments will be notified in November, and kits will be delivered in the spring of 2026 or as soon as supplies are received.
Applications can be submitted at https://www.cognitoforms.com/ArkansasAgriculture1/_2025ApplicationForWildlandFireSuppressionKit . Details: Kathryn Mahan-Hooten at kathryn.mahan@agriculture.arkansas.gov.
Webinar to explore agri labor law
From wage rates to worker programs, navigating agricultural labor laws can be complex — but an August webinar from the National Agricultural Law Center will help producers and other professionals sort through it all.
The National Agricultural Law Center ( NALC) will host “Ag Labor Pointers and Pitfalls for Farming Operations: A Conversation with Ag Attorney William L. Mencer” on Aug. 20. The webinar, which is free to attend, kicks off at 11 a.m. Registration is available at nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/ag-labor-pointers-pitfalls.
“Labor continues to be one of the most pressing legal and operational challenges facing agriculture,” said NALC Director Harrison Pittman. “With the recent change in presidential administration, there is even more to discuss.”
The webinar will feature a Q&A-style conversation between Pittman and William Mencer, an Arkansas-based agricultural attorney. Mencer has extensive experience advising producers and agribusinesses on compliance with the H-2A program and other labor regulations. He founded The Law Office of William L. Mencer, where he focuses on ag labor, estate planning, business law and more.
Pittman and Mencer will explore labor law topics such as the H-2A guest worker program, common compliance challenges, wage and hour requirements, regulatory developments and other topics during their conversation.
A recording will be available following the event on the NALC Webinar Series page.