For its April “Farm Tour Session,” the 2024 Leadership Pine Bluff class participants put on their boots and jeans for an entire day spent outdoors.
Leadership Pine Bluff is a program of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The first stop of the day was the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Office, where the class received an overview from extension agents on services they offer, according to the Chamber newsletter.
The group also toured the garden of the Jefferson County Master Gardeners, where more than 4,000 pounds of fresh produce is grown each year and donated to the community.
The next stop was the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where the class learned more about the world-renowned Aquaculture/Fisheries Department.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The department conducts research on fish life. The group toured the lab to learn about the important work that goes on there in the field of medicine. They also headed over to the ponds and learned more about catfish food research and the shrimp farming industry.
The last stop of the day was in Grady at the Clemmons Family farm that is currently farmed by the 2020 Jefferson County Farm Family of the Year leader Chad Render. The group learned about what it takes to get into the industry of farming and just how expensive the necessary equipment is to purchase.
The presenting Leadership Pine Bluff sponsor is Saracen Casino Resort.