Minority Outreach

The Minority Outreach Program seeks to introduce minority agriculture and forest (woodlands, woods, trees) landowners and their children to the various forestry and agriculture programs and services available to them. It is also a concentrated effort to educate and encourage them to become good stewards of their land and to explore forestry and/or agriculture-related fields as a career.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has designated an outreach coordinator to lead the agency's outreach efforts who can assist you with scheduling landowner workshops, providing speakers for outreach meetings, local forestry contacts, and more.

Outreach Coordinator
Evette Browning 
1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR  72205
Office: (501) 219-6385
Cell: (501) 516-5684
Email: evette.browning@agriculture.arkansas.gov                 

What's Going On In Outreach? 

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Forestry Division is proud to announce that we are one of the partnering agencies, with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), in an effort to clear up heir property barriers for forestland owners. UAPB submitted a grant and was awarded funding through the US Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Sustainable Forestry African American Land Retention Program. Under this program, Arkansas has “Keeping it in the Family” (KIITF) and will offer this assistance to landowners in Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Jefferson, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Sevier, and Union counties. The new project deadline is September 30, 2024. There's no obligation by enrolling in KIITF.

Although legal representation through this project is no longer available to new clients, all other assistance still is (one-on-one forestry assistance, workshops, will clinics, limited legal advice, etc.). Fill out the enrollment form and email it to the outreach coordinator or mail it through the postal service to the address above. Enrollment only gets the ball rolling for us to assist you. Don't delay, enroll today!

Helpful Resources:

Please click on the brochure below for more information.  

Sustainable Forestry & African American Land Retention Program Brochure

Unlocking Heirs Property. What Can You Do? Brochure

Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Enrollment Form

Arkansas Century Farm Program
This program recognizes landowners whose land has been in the same family for 100+ years. It is a great way to honor those who worked hard to obtain land. Landowners inducted into this free program receive a certificate, customized signage for the property, and special recognition with photos during a ceremony with the Governor. Click here to learn more.

EXCITING NEWS! 

The Understanding Heirs Property course is available to help educate individuals, families, and community leaders on the basics of heirs’ property, including what it is, how to prevent it, and some considerations in resolving issues. Legal advice will not be given to attendees unless an attorney is present. To request this course, please contact Evette Browning at (501) 219-6385.

Upcoming Outreach Events:

Keeping it in the Family - Estate and Succession Planning Webinar
Coming in November

Keeping it in the Family - Understanding Your Land and Mineral Rights Webinar
Coming in December

Media Resources 

Listen to a Leadership Nature Podcast of Outreach Coordinator Evette Browning- Sustainable Forestry African American Land Retention Program "Keeping it in the Family" and other outreach efforts across the state.
Listen to Podcast

Watch the 2017 Rural Life Conference video - Keeping it in the Family Workshop
Watch the Video

The Department's Forestry Division offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap, and are Equal Opportunity Employers.