Arkansas Farm Bureau Purple Circle Club
The Arkansas Farm Bureau Purple Circle Club was created in 1953 as a venue to further recognize youth exhibitors at the Arkansas State Fair. It is a prestigious awards program that recognizes those junior exhibitors who earn championship honors with their exhibit at the Arkansas State Fair. Since 1953 over 8,700 exhibitors have been inducted into the Purple Circle Club.
Mission Statement: In the spirit of excellence, the mission of the Arkansas Purple Circle Program is to acknowledge the accomplishments and honor youth exhibitors who have set themselves apart from their peers in livestock competition at the Arkansas State Fair.
Learn more about Purple Circle Club.
Youth Cooking Contests
Rice is Nice
We are pleased to announce the 2025 Rice is Nice Youth Cooking Contests. Arkansas produces just under 50% of the nation’s rice each year, and this contest is designed to introduce budding chefs to rice as a crop and as a versatile diet staple. Students aged 9-18 or in the 4th through 12th grades as of January 1, 2025, and living in Arkansas may enter. Home-schooled students are welcome to enter. Contestants will compete in one of two categories: Main Dish and Party Ideas The Rice is Nice Youth Cooking Contest is sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation and will be held Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock. Counties may conduct contests as they see fit to select their entrants into the state contest into the Main Dish and Party Idea categories. Entries are due by June 20, 2025. Three finalists will be chosen for each category, and they will be notified of their selection by June 30, 2025.
Learn more about the Rice is Nice Cooking Contest.
Dairy Foods Contest
We are pleased to announce the 68th annual Arkansas Dairy Foods Contest, which will be conducted as an in-person contest. This annual event is sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau and the Arkansas Dairy Cooperative Association. The contest is divided into two categories: Main Dish and Party Ideas. Each county may enter one recipe in each of the two categories. Students enrolled in 4-H aged 9-19 or in the 4th through 12th grades as of Jan. 01, 2025, and living in Arkansas may enter. Home-schooled students may also enter. Entries must be approved by the county dairy committee or by the county Extension agent. Each contestant must agree to participate in the in-person state cook-off if his or her recipe is selected for the semifinals. Local entries must be received for selection of state finalists by June 20, 2025.
Learn more about the Dairy Foods Contest.