65th Rural Life Conference Set for Friday, March 15

The 65th Annual Rural Life Conference is set for Friday, March 15, at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Complex, 1204 L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive. The conference begins with registration at 7:30 a.m. and the opening session at 8:30 a.m. The program concludes at 4 p.m.

This year’s conference theme is “Legacy Opportunities for Community Service and Outreach – Connecting, Collaboration and Commitment.” Sponsored by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences, the conference includes over 20 workshops, as well as a poster session highlighting research projects and exhibits by governmental and community agencies. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and door prizes will be awarded.

Those who are not able to attend the conference in-person can take part in some of the planned activities virtually. The workshop sessions will be available via the Zoom video-conferencing platform.

The public is also invited to the UAPB School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences a day before the conference, Thursday March 14, for a screening of the film “Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land.” Produced by Al Roker, the film documents the causes, effects and solutions to the problem of the dwindling ownership of farmland by African Americans. The film screening is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. at the S.J. Parker 1890 Extension Complex auditorium located at 2300 L.A. “Prexy” Davis Drive.

The conference is free to producers, students, veterans, homemakers and retirees. For registration rates for professionals and agency personnel, contact Karen Lee at (870) 575-7225 or leek@uapb.edu. Professionals and agency personnel can register and pay for their entry via credit card by contacting the the UAPB Cashier’s Office at (870) 575-8279.

Early registration is strongly recommended for accurate breakfast and lunch counts. To preregister, contact Tamera Ford at (870) 575-8806 or fordta@uapb.edu. The registration form for the conference is also accessible online. Email leek@uapb.edu to have the link to the form sent to you. Alternatively, you can use the following link to register: https://shop.uapb.edu/.

Simon Alexander Haley, director of agriculture at AM&N College (now UAPB), initiated the idea of a Rural Life Conference. The first conference was held in 1950 and attended by 15 people. In 1955, Dr. Sellers J. Parker expanded the conference format and made the event an annual university program. He continued as chairman for 30 years.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.