Commission recognizes outstanding achievements in Arkansas classrooms

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at its May 21 meeting recognized 13 teachers and 10 outstanding students for their leadership roles in introducing students in Arkansas schools to outdoor opportunities and conservation education programming offered through the AGFC’s Education Division.

The AGFC Teacher Leader Council is part of the AGFC’s outdoor education initiative, inspired by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas’s First Gentleman Brian Sanders. The council engages veteran teachers at elementary, middle school and high school levels to create opportunities to expand outdoor curriculum in Arkansas schools.

“We aren’t just promoting the outdoors in these teachers’ schools, but with their help, we’re building the foundation to reach out to more schools with ready-to-go lesson plans they can incorporate into their days,” Mary Beth Hatch, chief of the AGFC’s Education Division, said. “Not only are these teachers devoting time to their students and schools, but they’re also redesigning how the next generation of Arkansas students will learn about and love the outdoors.”

According to Hatch, six teachers in the current Teacher Leader Council began working with the AGFC in 2024 and have worked diligently to improve the experience for seven newcomers this year.

“We want to recognize all of these teachers for their dedication to their students and to conservation,” Hatch said. “Many of the inaugural class of teachers were well known by AGFC staff for their conservation commitment long before we developed this program, and they’ve really helped break down some of the barriers for other teachers trying to implement our conservation- and outdoor recreation education programs in other schools.”

The seven new teachers in the program have also hit the ground running, with students completing many assignments in the AGFC’s School of Conservation Leadership designation, as well as attendance in the AGFC’s inaugural Generation Conservation Summit last fall.

Commissioners all took a moment to reflect on the accomplishments these teachers have made in the last two years.

Commissioner Jaimie Anderson from Lonoke commented about the amount of work done to move the needle in conservation education during the last few years.

“What they’ve accomplished in the last two years, we probably would have thought it would have taken 10 years,” Anderson said. “I love seeing the teachers and students that have jumped in with both feet, and I just think the sky is the limit for you all.”

Brandon Adams spoke directly to the teachers receiving the recognition during a brief statement at the end of the meeting.

“The education initiatives that we’re doing are probably going to be the legacy of the agency and the Commissioners sitting here right now,” Adams said. “I’ve seen y’all all over the state at different events. Those efforts don’t go unrecognized. We see it, and we really appreciate you for it. Thank you.”

AGFC Teacher Leader Council:

• 2024–2026 Cohort: Justin Keen (Fayetteville School District), Hailey Robinson (Lincoln School District), Michael Ankton (Arkadelphia School District), Freddy Penka (Mountain Home School District), Lindsay Beaton (DeWitt School District), Jennifer Jackson (Bentonville School District).

• 2025–2026 Cohort: Alicia Mahan (Clinton School District), Amanda Wicker (Little Rock School District), Curtis Dunham (Mayflower School District), Misty Hardgrave (Clarksville School District),  Courtney Self (Izard County Consolidated School District), Payton Reep (Warren School District), Taylor “Bingo” Colliver (Bergman School District).

Outstanding students were also recognized for their leadership roles in outdoor education during the meeting. The AGFC Student Leader Council was created last year to offer immersive learning experiences alongside AGFC staff to bring back awareness and knowledge to their classrooms and communities. Many of these students participated in regional and state-level conservation-based competitions at the Conservation Summit as well.

Generation Conservation Student Leader Council 

2025-26 Cohort: Phierce Hatch (Forest Heights STEM Academy), Laiden Lindsey (Greers Ferry High School), Anna Claire Beaton (DeWitt Middle School), Steele Smith (Pinkston Middle School), Jonah Mahan (homeschool), Dean Smallwood (Ruth Barker Middle School), Everett Hutton (Arkansas Connections Academy), Sara Kate Davis (Vilonia High School), Raley Booth (Little Rock Christian Academy), Logan Dodson (Valley Springs High School)

Commissioner Chris Caldwell from Little Rock spoke about his enthusiasm for the student-focused portion of the education program.

“That’s what really got me today was these students,” Caldwell said. “The seed is being planted now, how important the investment is into that generation to come that continues to preserve this state’s natural beauty and resources. What I really loved to see was the diversity in the students, not just geographic diversity, but we had kids from private schools, public schools, charter schools and homeschools. I believe that in just a very short time, we’re going to be leading the nation in conservation education.” [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

The Commission also formally adopted a new application process for special user groups, such as archery clubs and field trial organizations, to outline how to reserve and hold special events on any AGFC-owned wildlife management area. The permitting process will become effective July 1, 2026, and will help accommodate special interest groups who traditionally used two special use areas under AGFC ownership which recently saw a change in their designation.

“We have many field trials and other special events that take place on other WMAs throughout the state, and we want to keep our primary focus on providing excellent habitat for free-ranging wildlife and maintain public opportunity for all Arkansans,” Luke Naylor, chief of wildlife management for the AGFC, said. “With some minor adjustments, most special interest groups conducting events on AGFC WMAs will still be able to enjoy the pursuits they traditionally engaged in.”  [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

Commission Chairman Anne Marie Doramus took a special moment to present the Little Rock Garden Club with the AGFC’s first Community Conservation Partnership Award for their work to re-establish native prairie ecosystems on portions of Central Arkansas Water’s property near Lake Maumelle. Libby Davis and Susan Borné are co-founders of the club’s special section “The Covey,” which works to gather native wildflower seeds from the remnants of known native prairies and works to re-establish those plants in areas where they once thrived.

“I have wanted to get this presentation on the agenda since my freshman year on the Commission,” Doramus said. “What I love about this presentation is that it highlights conservation in a different way. A lot of what we normally think of in conservation is hooks and bullets. It’s our nonconsumptive users, too.” [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION].

In other business, the Commission:

• Recognized Katherine Hindsley from the office of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders who announced the Governor’s proclamation of the 2026 Free Fishing Weekend, to be held from noon, June 12, to midnight, June 14. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Awarded retiring game warden Capt. Ben Sisk his service sidearm for 30 years of service to the AGFC and the people of Arkansas. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to perform all necessary duties to complete the purchase of 33 acres adjacent to Keeland Lake on Petit Jean River WMA. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to perform all necessary duties to complete the sale of three tracts of land in east Pulaski County totaling 229 acres that do not offer any significant public opportunity to begin a new AGFC land acquisition fund to help with future land purchases that offer better opportunities for public hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

A video of the meeting is available on the AGFC’s YouTube Channel.

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CUTLINES:

STUDENT LEADER COUNCIL (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Larami Burge (AGFC Program Coordinator), Anna Claire Beaton, Phierce Hatch, Steele Smith, Jonah Mahan, Dean Smallwood, Everett Hutton, Mary Beth Hatch (AGFC Education Chief). Not pictured: Laiden Lindsey, Sara Kate Davis, Raley Booth, Logan Dodson.

TEACHER LEADER COUNCIL 2024-26 COHORT (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Becky Bloomfield (AGFC Postsecondary Education Program Coordinator), Freddy Penka, Lindsay Beaton, Michael Ankton, Jennifer Jackson, Hailey Robinson, Justin Keen, Mary Beth Hatch (AGFC Education Chief)

TEACHER LEADER COUNCIL 2025-26 COHORT (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Becky Bloomfield (AGFC Postsecondary Education Program Coordinator), Taylor “Bingo” Colliver, Alicia Mahan, Misty Hardgrave, Amanda Wicker, Mary Beth Hatch (AGFC Education Chief). Not pictured: Curtis Dunham, Courtney Self, Payton Reep.

AWARD PRESENTATION Members of the Little Rock Garden Club received the AGFC’s first Community Conservation Partnership Award for their work in restoring native prairies in central Arkansas to enhance habitat for northern bobwhites and pollinator species.