UAM recital to feature percussionist
The University of Arkansas at Monticello Division of Music will host the Fall 2025 UAM Faculty Recital featuring Kylan Bigby, assistant professor of percussion at UAM, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Fine Arts Center.
The recital is free and open to the public, according to a news release.
Bigby is a percussionist, educator and performer currently pursuing a Doctor of Music in percussion performance at Florida State University, where he studies with John W. Parks IV.
He holds degrees from the University of Georgia and Auburn University, with additional studies under Timothy Adams Jr., Kim Toscano and Doug Rosener.
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Bigby has taught at the collegiate level with the University of Georgia Redcoat Band, directed the UGA Steel Pan Ensemble and worked with the Auburn University Marching Band.
As a performer, he has appeared with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Tallahassee Ballet, South Georgia Ballet and Florida Studio Theatre.
A career highlight includes performing with the FSU Percussion Ensemble at the 2023 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), where the group earned top honors.
The recital program will include works by Burritt, Másson, Bach, Rieppi and others. Details: UAM Division of Music at (870) 460-1060.
Rice in Schools Pilot gets $15,000
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture continues to move forward with the implementation of the Arkansas Rice in Schools Pilot Program, an initiative designed to increase the use of Arkansas-grown rice in school meal programs and connect students with local agriculture through classroom learning.
The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board voted Wednesday to provide $15,000 in funding to support the pilot program’s implementation. The funding will be used to provide equipment, such as rice cookers, to participating schools, helping facilitate the integration of Arkansas-grown rice into school meal programs.
Twenty schools have been selected to participate for the 2025-2026 school year, including the DeWitt, Monticello and Sheridan school districts. Additional schools have expressed interest, and the department looks forward to seeing many schools participate in the program. Participating schools will feature Arkansas-grown rice in school meals, participate in hands-on cooking demonstrations, and integrate classroom lessons on agriculture and nutrition. Each school will host a “demo day” led by program coordinators to introduce rice-based menu options, provide training for cafeteria staff, and engage students with interactive learning opportunities.
Students will also participate in taste tests and surveys to help refine recipes for broader statewide use.
Guided by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ commitment to connect Arkansas agriculture with student nutrition, the department is advancing one of the first initiatives since the transition of federal nutrition programs, ensuring locally grown food remains central to school meals statewide. “Rice isn’t just part of Arkansas’ economy; it’s part of who we are,” said Sanders.
“Thanks to this new program, Arkansas students will learn how our farmers turn hard work and innovation into the food that sustains families around the world, and they’ll get to enjoy Arkansas-grown foods in their school cafeterias, helping them to develop healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.” The pilot phase will run through spring 2026. The program serves as a foundational component of the Arkansas Plate Initiative, a broader statewide effort by the department to connect Arkansas producers with schools and communities through nutritious, locally sourced meals. Details: https://agriculture.arkansas.gov/.