Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – Sept. 13, 2025 – The Arkansas State University College of Agriculture’s Bill and Alice Nix Farm Day has a new home.
The petting zoo and agricultural activities will now reside at the Judd Hill Farmers’ Market complex.
What started as a simple petting zoo on campus has evolved into a signature event that celebrates Arkansas’s agricultural heritage and the future of food and animal care.
Two years after its inception in 2006, the petting zoo was renamed to honor the Nix family, becoming the Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo. The Nix children felt inspired to support the zoo by creating an endowment.
The endowment helps college students at A-State and creates awareness of where food comes from and expands public engagement.
Fast forward to spring 2023, the event’s name has been updated to Bill and Alice Nix Farm Day. This change provides access to a wider variety of animals in a controlled environment. The event is held twice a year — once in the fall and once in the spring — drawing over 3,000 visitors annually.
Their fall event will begin with activities at 10 a.m. on Nov. 1 at the farmers’ market building.
Attendees can expect a day filled with fun and education, featuring demonstrations led by A-State agriculture students who will share their research and provide hands-on learning opportunities.
Visitors will enjoy interactive exhibits, farm demonstrations, educational activities for youth and opportunities to connect with local producers and community partners. Livestock demonstrations, crop exhibits, tractor and equipment displays, children’s educational stations and opportunities to explore sustainable farming practices.
A-State College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Mickey Latour says the move will allow them to maximize engagement opportunities and implement some new attractions.
“It will expand agriculture demonstrations, and food systems. Children will learn more about where their food comes from, how science and technology improve the way we produce food (plant and animal) for our communities and the world,” said Latour.
The Bill and Alice Nix Farm Day features various animals, including, but not limited to, sheep, miniature donkeys, pigs, bottle-fed calves, cats, dogs, goats and rabbits.
Latour added that the expansion will also benefit potential students exploring veterinary medicine. Agriculture and veterinary medicine are closely intertwined, especially in animal agriculture and Arkansas has a strong animal industry.
The connection will grow deeper with the opening of the new, highly anticipated A-State College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the first public veterinary school in Arkansas.
“Food animal veterinarians specialize in domestic livestock such as cattle, pigs and poultry, by preventing diseases to ensure public health. Through this segment of animal agriculture, we can help children understand animal health, biosecurity, and how veterinarians are essential to a safe and sustainable food supply,” Latour emphasized.
The move to Judd Hill Farmers’ Market reflects a renewed commitment to share the story of agriculture, celebrate the impact of A-State’s CoA, and build connections to future careers in agriculture, veterinary medicine, farming and food production. Thanks to the Nix family’s support, what began as a petting zoo has transformed into a gateway for discovery, potentially influencing many for years to come.
