Dinner at the Vines raises $77K for Arkansas 4-H Foundation
“The generosity shown at Dinner at the Vines will ripple through every corner of Arkansas. Each dollar raised helps young people discover their potential, build confidence, and become leaders in their communities." — John Thomas
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Oct. 23, 2025
Fast facts
- Dinner at the Vines supports scholarships, activities for 4-H youth
- Event earned second-highest total
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(317 words)
FERNDALE, Ark. — The 2025 edition of Dinner at the Vines raised more than $77,000 for the Arkansas 4-H Foundation — money that will help fund scholarships and activities for the youth development group it supports.
“Dinner at the Vines helps us provide support to expand our reach in Arkansas 4-H and provide more opportunities to grow skills in our Arkansas youth,” said Debbie Nistler, assistant vice president for 4-H and Youth, for the Cooperative Extension Service.
“The generosity shown at Dinner at the Vines will ripple through every corner of Arkansas. Each dollar raised helps young people discover their potential, build confidence, and become leaders in their communities,” said John Thomas, managing director for the Arkansas 4-H Foundation. “That’s what makes this event so special — it’s not just a dinner; it’s an investment in Arkansas’ future.”
This year, the Arkansas 4-H program, with its learn by doing philosophy, awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to its members. The program is operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The 4-H Foundation supports the program through fundraising and operating the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center.
In addition to ticket sales, fund-raising was accomplished through live and online auctions.
All told, live auction items earned $10,575. An online auction drew $12,259.
The live auction was conducted by former state Sen. Bruce Maloch, who also donated $10,000 toward fulfillment of a $25,000 pledge, not part of the event fund-raising.
A Henry Golden Boy 20-gauge shotgun drew the highest bid among the live auction items at $2,000, followed by an oil painting that went for $1,500 and a Mossberg 20-gauge that went for $1,250.
The total raised is the second-highest in the event’s five-year history. The 2024 event earned more than $86,000.
The event was held under the stars at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center, with tables set up beside Lake Laverne amid the rolling Ouachita Mountains.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu