FIVE OAKS AG RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER INC

FOR DETAIL.DURING 2024, THE FIVE OAKS AG RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER (FOAGREC) CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS (UA), THE UA DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE UA AT MONTICELLO (UAM) TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. THIS PARTNERSHIP INCLUDES A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (GCP) AT UAM IN WATERFOWL HABITAT AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT, WHICH USES THE FIVE OAKS PROPERTY IN HUMPHREY AR AS ITS FIELD STATION AND LEARNING LAB.FOAGREC CONTINUED TO BUILD CAPACITY AND CONSERVATION REACH THROUGH ACQUISITION OF THE LITTLE SIBERIA AND BLACK WOODS PROPERTIES. THESE ACQUISITIONS SUPPORT LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF KEY BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FORESTS AND EMERGENT WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS. CONSTRUCTION ALSO BEGAN ON A NEW OPERATIONS CENTER TO HOUSE FOAGREC STAFF, SUPPORT HABITAT MANAGEMENT, AND SERVE AS AN EDUCATION AND EVENT SPACE.THE THIRD COHORT OF GCP STUDENTS COMPLETED PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND WERE AWARDED CERTIFICATES DURING THE MAY 2024 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY AT UAM. A NEW CLASS BEGAN IN FALL 2024. TO DATE, THE GCP HAS PRODUCED 12 GRADUATES, ALL OF WHOM ARE WORKING IN WATERFOWL AND WETLAND CONSERVATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.FOAGREC'S YOUTH PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CONSERVATION-BASED EDUCATION FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES FROM AROUND THE REGION. THE MIKE MALLARD PROGRAM OFFERS STUDENTS OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES RELATED TO ECOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AND RECREATION AT NO COST TO PARENTS OR SCHOOLS. IN 2024, FOAGREC HOSTED AROUND 300 CHILDREN AND APPROXIMATELY 60 TEACHERS AND CHAPERONES. AN AT-HOME VERSION OF THE PROGRAM WAS ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PACKAGED ACTIVITY BOX, AND SUMMER CAMPS WERE EXPANDED FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES.FOAGREC CONTINUED ITS COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WITH UAM FACULTY AND OTHER PARTNERS IN THE MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY ON PROJECTS FOCUSED ON AGRICULTURAL AND WETLAND HEALTH AND ON UNDERSTANDING WATERFOWL MOVEMENT AND BEHAVIOR. THESE STUDIES PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO HOW LANDSCAPE DYNAMICS IN THE MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY INFLUENCE WATERFOWL ECOLOGY AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THESE RESOURCES.FOAGREC CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY WATERFOWL HABITAT THROUGH ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AND SHARES ITS EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER PRACTITIONERS THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH FIVE OAKS DUCK LODGE, APPROXIMATELY 300 HUNTER-CONSERVATIONISTS VISITED DURING THE 2023-24 DUCK SEASON. THESE HUNTS SUPPORT THE NONPROFIT THROUGH TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS ABOVE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE EXPERIENCE. HUNTERS RECEIVE CONSERVATION EDUCATION FROM STAFF AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AS PART OF THEIR VISIT.IN ADDITION TO HOSTING HUNTER-CONSERVATIONISTS, FOAGREC CONDUCTED FIELD DAYS IN COORDINATION WITH DUCKS UNLIMITED, USDA-NRCS, AND OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, AND PRIVATE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. THESE EVENTS FACILITATE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AMONG STAKEHOLDERS AND HIGHLIGHT THE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS OCCURRING AT FIVE OAKS.