LITTLE ROCK, AR –USA Rice Federation has donated 10 commercial rice cookers to support the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Rice in Schools Program, expanding participating schools’ ability to serve Arkansas-grown rice in cafeterias across the state.
The donated equipment will help schools prepare rice-based meals more efficiently, improving students’ access to nutritious, locally sourced foods while strengthening connections between students and Arkansas agriculture.
“Through Arkansas Rice in Schools, a key part of the Arkansas Plate Initiative, we’re increasing the use of Arkansas-grown rice in school meals while strengthening the connection between students, agriculture, and good nutrition,” said Governor Sanders. “I’m grateful to USA Rice for expanding this effort and investing in both our farmers and the next generation.”
“We are grateful that we have the opportunity to support Governor Sanders’ Rice in Schools Program this year,” said Peter Bachmann, President and CEO of USA Rice. “This first of its kind rice initiative will propel Arkansas from not only the top rice producing state, but to the state with the highest utilization rate in its schools. Additionally, the initiative will foster a better connection for students to where their food comes from and increase their understanding around nutrition.”
“USA Rice’s generous donation of these rice cookers will make a real difference for schools and students across Arkansas,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “With Governor Sanders’ strong support for agriculture and nutrition, partnerships like this allow us to connect our farmers to our classrooms and ensure students have access to healthy, Arkansas-grown food.”
The donated rice cookers will be placed in the following participating schools:
- Atkins Middle School, Atkins
- Batesville High School, Batesville
- Brookland Jr. High School/Brookland High School, Brookland
- Corning Public Schools, Corning
- Dover School District, Dover
- Frank Mitchell Intermediate School, Vilonia
- Harrison School District, Harrison
- Nettleton Jr. High School, Jonesboro
- Siloam Springs High School, Siloam Springs
- Ward Central Elementary School, Cabot
Twenty schools serving more than 11,400 students daily are participating in the Rice in Schools Program during the 2025–2026 school year. Currently, none of the participating schools have dedicated rice cookers, and ten schools identified commercial rice cookers as critical equipment needed to fully integrate rice into their meal programs. The donation from USA Rice directly addresses this need and strengthens schools’ capacity to offer consistent, high-quality rice-based meals.
In addition to the equipment donation, USA Rice has played a key role in supporting the program’s implementation by providing recipes, educational materials, and technical assistance to help introduce students to rice production and the broader agriculture industry.
Launched by Governor Sanders in September 2025, the Rice in Schools Program increases the use of Arkansas-grown rice in school meal programs while strengthening connections between students, agriculture, and nutrition. Participating schools feature locally grown rice in meals, host hands-on cooking demonstrations known as “demo days,” and receive classroom resources focused on agriculture and nutrition education.
The program is a key component of the Arkansas Plate Initiative, a statewide effort to connect Arkansas producers with schools and communities through nutritious, locally sourced foods.
Ward Central Elementary School was the first school to host a Rice in Schools demo day, serving a fried rice recipe featuring Arkansas-grown rice, cabbage and carrots from the school garden, Arkansas-raised chicken and eggs, and soy sauce made with Arkansas soybeans. The event reached 307 kindergarten through fourth-grade students, with 74 percent reporting that they loved the recipe.
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Media Contact: Ayden Duncan, (501) 813-6012
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