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PrizeWhere: Arkansas onlyArkansas onlyClosed for this round

Arkansas Department of Agriculture (funded by Farm Credit)

Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year Contest

A yearly contest that awards $500 or $1,000 to Arkansas schools with great school gardens, including a $500 award for the best plan to start a new garden.

Amount
$500 or $1,000 awards, by category
Can a for-profit school apply?
?Unclear: ask the funder
Deadline
Closed
Who this fits
Private school · MicroschoolPublic and private K-12 schools, early care centers and alternative learning settings with a garden, plus schools planning to start one. Homeschool co-ops aren't named.
New schools
Brand-new schools can apply
Where
Arkansas only
Last checked
Oct 5, 2026on arfarmtoschool.org
See the funder’s page↗(opens agriculture.arkansas.gov in a new tab)

Unconfirmed: check with the funder

We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.

  • ?When does the 2027 contest open, and when is it due?
  • ?Does a microschool count as a “private K-12 school” or an “alternative learning environment”?

What to do now

  1. Step 1: Pick a category (new gardens: Best Start-up School Garden Proposal)
  2. Step 2: Keep notes and photos on how the garden is used for lessons, harvest and community ties
  3. Step 3: Watch the Farm to School page for the next contest
  4. Step 4: Questions: Leslee Tell, Farm to School Program, 501-225-1598

Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.

Who can apply

“Applicants may be public and private K-12 schools, early care and education facilities, or alternative learning environments that had a school garden…”
In the funder’s own words, from arfarmtoschool.org, checked Oct 5, 2026.

That sentence continues: “or any schools planning to start a garden in the following school year.” The Best Start-up School Garden Proposal ($500) is for a school breaking ground next year. Other categories: Best Overall ($1,000), Best Education Based, Best Harvest Partnership and Best Community Collaboration ($500 each). Past winners can enter only the Champion of School Garden Sustainability category ($1,000).

  • K-12 school, early care center or alternative learning setting in Arkansas
  • A garden open last school year, or a plan to start one next year

Timing

The 2026 contest is closed; winners will be announced in fall 2026. It has run every year since 2014. Watch the page for the next round.

Not legal or tax advice. Whether your school should be for-profit or a nonprofit, or take on a loan, is a decision for your CPA or attorney. Always confirm the details on the funder’s own page before you apply.

Spot something out of date? Tell us and we’ll re-check it against the funder’s page.

Homebook Funding Helper

This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Whether your school should be for-profit or a nonprofit, or take on a loan, is a decision for your CPA or attorney. Always confirm the details on the funder’s own page before you apply.

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