UADA personnel honored in 2026 APW contest
June 3, 2026
By the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- 2026 APW contest had 338 entries
- First place winners go to national contest
(274 words)
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CONWAY, Ark. — Three University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture staffers earned honors in the 2026 Arkansas Press Women communications contest.
Arkansas journalists, writers, designers, photographers and communications professionals submitted a combined 338 entries into this year’s contest. Judges from across the country and communications spectrum reviewed APW entries.
Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, program associate at the Division of Agriculture’s Public Policy Center, won first place for the Arkansas Ballot Issue Education Newsletter. Mary Hightower, content creator of the Division of Agriculture, won first place for ONE Division, a monthly employee newsletter.
Higgins also won second place in two categories for infographics in Approved Arkansas Initiatives by Decade and for special programming for radio for “Direct Democracy Minute,” which aired on KABF-FM during the DGold Music Hour hosted by Daniel Gold.
Hightower won third place in obituary writing for “Williams remembered as ‘old school,’ highly knowledgeable in cotton,” and nine honorable mentions.
Torrie Smith, Carroll County extension staff chair, earned an honorable mention for specialty articles in the food category for Back to school: Keeping lunches out of the danger zone.
“We are incredibly proud of all the talented journalists, writers and communications professionals whose exceptional work during 2025 was recognized at this year’s contest, including Dwain Hebda for his remarkable fifth consecutive Sweepstakes Award,” APW President Angie Faller said on Saturday. “These winners represent the very best of storytelling and journalism excellence in Arkansas.”
First-place entrants in the Arkansas contest who are members of the National Federation of Press Women advance to NFPW’s national competition. National winners will be recognized during NFPW’s annual conference Sept. 24-25 at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott, Maryland.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas 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 22 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 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:
Nick Kordsmeier
Nkordsme@uada.edu