11 Reasons No One Should Ever Underestimate Arkansas
By J.B. VanDyke|Published November 23, 2016
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J.B. VanDyke
Author
J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
When it comes to being underestimated, there’s probably no state in the union more maligned than Arkansas. After all, there’s even a meme about us that says “because even Alabama needs an understudy.” You’d think they’d say that about somewhere like West Virginia or Oklahoma or something, but no, it’s Arkansas. Poor ole Arkansas. Well, I’ve collected 11 reasons why those underestimations are patently false. Arkansas is undeniably awesome, and these 11 reasons prove that anyone who thinks we’re any state’s understudy is making a serious mistake.
If you take a poll, you’ll find most Arkansans have been on a little adventure called a "float trip." That’s because we know how to let our natural spaces soothe away our stress.
Bentonville's Crystal Bridges is a world class art museum, Fort Smith’s downtown area is covered in murals and installations, Little Rock is home to some gorgeous galleries, and that’s just what’s happening in the visual arts. Arkansas is home to some amazing theater companies and you’d be hard pressed to find a county without a few impressive musicians hanging around. The Natural State is home to great art, and you can find that art just about anywhere.
Atop Petit Jean Mountain you’ll find more than exceptional views of the Arkansas wild. The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is an educational institute and conference center committed to giving great minds a place to find solutions for global problems.
5. We’re trying to fix, feed, and comfort the world.
Heifer International, located in Perryville, is a place devoted entirely to global issues of poverty. They’re combating worldwide hunger by focusing on sustainable farming practices and helping global communities in tangible, proactive ways.
If you want to find someone strong-minded, have a conversation with just about any Arkansan or Arkansawyer you can find. There may be something to the "hillbilly" stereotype after all. It can’t all be bad, right? We’re plucky, we solve problems, and we never back down when it really counts.
