The 2022 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame finalists were announced this week, and 4 local restaurants are featured. 

• The pool: There were more than 2,000 submissions from all 75 Arkansas counties for 5 categories of the Food Hall of Fame. The five categories are Arkansas Food Hall of Fame (HOF), Proprietor of the Year, Food-Themed Event, Gone But Not Forgotten, and People’s Choice.
• Featured: The Northwest Arkansas finalists are Herman’s Ribhouse in Fayetteville for HOF, Neal’s Cafe in Springdale for HOF, Rob Nelson of Tusk & Trotter in Bentonville for Proprietor of the Year, and James at the Mill in Johnson for Gone But Not Forgotten. The winners will be announced on Feb.7. 

For more details, click HERE. 

Early Bird pricing for two local cycling events is running through January. 

• Hydrate: Kendrick Fincher is a non-profit with a mission to promote proper hydration and is hosting the Tour de Tacos and Tour de BBQ and Youth Run this summer. The non-profit is offering Early Bird prices for those who register before the month is up. 
• Distance: The Tour de BBQ and Youth Run will feature 50,30, and 7-mile bike rides and a 1-mile fun run. The Tour de Tacos will feature 4 rides ranging from 7 to 100 miles. Anyone who signs up for both tours will receive $10 off of the overall registration.

For more information about Tour de Tacos click HERE, and for Tour de BBQ click HERE. 

Walmart recently agreed to invest in an indoor vertical farming company so as to use the platform to deliver fresh produce to Walmart retail stores. 

• Taking steps: The indoor vertical farming company is called Plenty Unlimited Inc., or Plenty. Together Plenty and Walmart plan to create a new market-leading product category. Walmart is the first large retailer in the U.S. to invest so significantly in vertical farming. 
• Innovation: The technology at Plenty delivers pesticide-free produce that tastes like it was picked fresh year-round. By investing in vertical farming, Walmart plans to increase quality food supply in a sustainable way while offering it at “the best prices.” 

Read the full story HERE. 

Weeknights in Northwest Arkansas can be just as fun as the weekend with local weekly free events making room for our community to grow through time spent together.

• Thursdays: In Springdale, people throw down during trivia night at Big Sexy Food and enjoy comedy night at Black Apple Hard Cider with Natural State Comedy. And there is always the opportunity to participate or just listen to open mic entertainment at Moonbroch in Rogers.
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays: Bentonville Brewing hosts a trivia night, and every Wednesday Smitty’s Garage in Rogers hosts one as well. The Taproom in Bentonville hosts open mic night

Click each location for details about their weekly event.

The Arkansas Women’s Track & Field program is ranked no.1 on the USTFCCCA National Track & Field Rating Index. 

• Where it counts: The Arkansas women already have 13 marks ranking them among the top 10 on the indoor collegiate list of 2022. The team is taking those top spots due to a particular pair of national collegiate team leaders in the pole vault and the 800m. 
• This weekend: Arkansas ranks 2nd in the 4x400 and 6th in distance events. This weekend Arkansas is hosting an elite field of teams in a 2-day Razorback Invitational Jan 28-29 and is showing promise against its competitors in the top 25. 

Read the full Razorbacks story HERE.