Ayden Duncan photo/Arkansas Department of Agriculture
State officials on Monday, March 16, 2026, celebrated Arkansas Arbor Day, with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture paying a visit to its Caddo Valley office on Lower Dam Pike.
Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward joined local and state forestry officials in delivering the governor’s proclamation for the event. Arkansas Arbor Day is observed on the third Monday in March.
Potted trees are growing at the Caddo Valley office ahead of the upcoming Free Tree Fridays and Arkansas ReLeaf giveaways.
The 2026 Free Tree Fridays events are set for March 20 through April 24 (National Arbor Day). The local event will be held Friday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clark County Natural Resources Conservation Service Center, 640 S. 6th St., Arkadelphia. Residents may obtain up to five free seedlings. Species will include a mix of at least two of the following native species: pecan, sycamore, overcup oak, and/or Shumard oak.
“There are 12 billion trees in the state of Arkansas, and they provide resources for wildlife and play a significant role in the state’s economy,” said Kyle Cunningham, DOA state forester. Cunningham applauded the local office — particularly urban and community forestry coordinator Krissy Kimbro — for working with communities, landowners, parks and cities to establish tree programs such as Tree City USA recognition.
In addition to Free Tree Fridays, the Arkansas ReLeaf is a giveaway program created to provide trees for residents in communities suffering tree canopy losses due to storms or other natural disasters.
The upcoming Arkansas ReLeaf event will be held Friday, March 20, from 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. in Hot Springs Village at 4501 Highway 7 North across from the west gate. Residents may receive one potted tree and up to five bare root seedlings per person, while supplies last. Kimbro said Hot Springs Village was selected as a giveaway location based on Garland County’s significant losses to community forests during tornadoes in recent years.
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