Beth’s Arkansas Product & Gift List {2013}

I think local pride is just the coolest thing.  In fact, so much so that I compiled and published my first Arkansas Product List in 2010.  It remains the single most visited post on this site, and I’m pleased to have finally produced an updated list in time for the holiday season.

I have always had particular affection for any opportunity to write about the best of Arkansas – from the 2012 comeback of Arkansas’ own Yarnell’s Ice Cream to the chance to contribute to Arkansas Life magazine – and even, I’ll admit, all those years of writing The Good Life (our local tourism and relocation publication).  Many of the topics and products I’ve been fortunate to write about in the past are featured in this compilation of not-so-run-of-the-mill gifts.  Watch for some other upcoming posts with more detailed ideas for unique gifts coming soon in addition to this general list of Arkansas Products for 2013.  I hope you find it useful!*

Books & Magazines

• A Homemade Year by Jerusalem Jackson Greer
• Subscription to Arkansas Life Magazine
• Subscription to At Home in Arkansas Magazine
• Blacklisted from the PTA or Who Peed On My Yoga Mat? by Lela Davidson.
• A set of books by famous Arkansas authors such as Maya Angelou or John Grisham.
• Edible Ozarkansas Magazine
• Planting Dandelions by Kyran Pittman
• Oxford American Magazine

Culinary Finds

• A subscription for monthly coffees or teas from Airship Coffee (Bentonville).
• Cavender’s Greek Seasoning would round out a cook’s gift basket (Harrison).
• Fresh produce and goodies with a subscription to Farm Box Delivers (Lowell).
• A hefty supply of Fischer’s Honey along with recipes (North Little Rock).
• Premium olive oils and vinegars from Fresh Harvest (Eureka Springs).
• Jams, jellies, preserves, salsas and other goodies from House of Webster (Rogers).
• The iconic and perfect holiday snack: J and M Cheese Straws (Little Rock).
• Ozark hickory-smoked ham, bacon and sausage from Petit Jean Meats (Morrilton).
• Goodies from Two Dumb Dames, Martin Greer’s Candies (Eureka Springs), Juanita’s Candy Kitchen (Arkadelphia).
• Flours, grains, mixes and much more from War Eagle Mill (Rogers).
• An ice cream accessory basket with the last-minute addition of Yarnell’s Ice Cream (Searcy).
• McClard’s BBQ Sauce (https://www.mcclards.com/)
• Mountain Valley Spring Water & Coffee, including gift sets with coffee pots or subscriptions.
• Celebrate Arkansas’ grain: pair a Riceland gift basket with a hunger-defying donation to the Arkansas Rice Depot.

Goods & Wares

• Sharp objects from the renowned A. G. Russell Knives (Lowell).
• Handmade leather and selvedge denim wares from American Native Goods (Fayetteville).
• Gorgeous candles and home fragrance items from Aromatique (Heber Springs).
• The new Arkansas sport headbands from Junk Brands (Bentonville).
• Authentic Southern gifts from Bourbon & Boots (Little Rock).
• Give a gift certificate for shopping unique at small boutiques via Arkansas-based Btiques (Fayetteville).
• The best boots and gorgeous bags from Country Outfitter (Fayetteville-based etailer).
• A Daisy or Red Ryder BB gun, air rifle or slingshot from the Daisy Museum (Rogers).
• Bird and hummingbird feeders from First Nature (Rogers).
• Package your Arkansas gift in a Gibson basket (Farmington).
• A photography session with Hatch & Maas Collective (Fayetteville).
• Rasps, graters or kitchen tool gift sets from Microplane (Russellville).
• Beautiful works by local artisans at Poor Richard’s Art (Rogers) and all over Eureka Springs!
• A native Arkansas novaculite whetstone from Native Whetstone Company (Royal).
• Handcrafted goods and artist supplies from Perrodin Supply Company (Fayetteville).

Libations

• An Ale Trail passport (Fayetteville)
• Samplers of Arkansas craft beers – a complete list of Arkansas breweries here.
• Home brewing supplies (wine and beer) from The Home Brewery (Fayetteville).
• Arkansas Lightning, gin, vodka and other goodies from Rock Town Distillery (Little Rock).
• A day in the tasting rooms or a sampling of Arkansas wines (here’s a recent piece I wrote on Arkansas wineries, page 40).  P.S. Get over yourself if you’re prone to jokes about Arkansas versus Napa (and go watch Bottle Shock while you’re at it) – it’s a blast and you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

• Chateau Aux Arc Winery (Altus)
• Cowie Wine Cellars (Paris)
• Keels Creek Winery (Eureka Springs)
• Mount Bethel Winery (Altus)
• Movie House Winery (Morrilton)
• Neumeier Winery (Altus; 479.209.1224)
• Post Familie Winery (Altus)
• Raimondo Family Winery (Gamaliel)
• Tontitown Winery (Tontitown)
• Wiederkehr Wine Cellars (Altus)

Unique Experiences

• Visit Quigley’s Castle, the strangest dwelling in the Ozark (Eureka Springs).
• A day at the zoo plus a visit to the Statehouse Museum and Museum of Discovery, among others (Little Rock).
• Arkansas State Park gift certificates for inexpensive getaways at 52 parks ranging from a stay in a yurt to the amazingness of Historic Washington State Park or the Ozark Folk Center.
• Membership to the Mid America Science Museum (Hot Springs).
• A glimpse of the wild in northwest Arkansas: Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari (Gentry) and Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (Eureka Springs).
• An arts gift certificate to the Walton Arts Center (Fayetteville), the Rep (Little Rock) or another  Arkansas arts organization.
• A dinner theater experience at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse (Little Rock) or the Rogers Little Theater (Rogers).
• A membership to Garvan Woodland Gardens (Hot Springs) or the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks (Fayetteville).
• Combine a membership and/or special exhibit at Crystal Bridges with a dining experience at Eleven and a gift certificate to the museum store.

Watch & Listen

• Give an Arkansas film basket (300+ movies made here!) and tickets to one of the state’s film festivals – check out the Arkansas Production Alliance for plenty of ideas and nab a copy of The Idle Class – film issue.
• Give an album or tickets to a show with an Arkansas band.  There are plenty to choose from, and this blog post gives a passable list for getting started, but I’m also fond of:
• 3 Penny Acre
• Boom Kinetic
• Brown Soul Shoes
• Damn Arkansan

Other clearinghouses for all things Arkansas:

• Arkansas.com has a wealth of excursions and uniquely Arkansas items that would make perfect experiences-as-gifts!
• Arkansas Artists Registry
• Arkansas Delta Made
• Arkansas Gift Guide from Bourbon & Boots
• Gifts of Arkansas

Philanthropy

Yes, there are literally thousands of nonprofits across the state. These either have broad reach or are near and dear to me.  You might visit the Arkansas Nonprofit Alliance or Arkansas United Ways for local organizations.

• Arkansas Rice Depot (see Riceland above)
• Heifer International has its world headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Visit their site to “give” a hive of bees, a flock, livestock, training and more to families in need.  It’s a selfless gift that doesn’t pile on the material things, AND an Arkansas-based charity!.  Visit https://www.heifer.org/

*Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive – it’s just a compilation of some of my favorite things and places.  What good things from Arkansas would you add?  Please share your comments to make this list even better, and feel free to share links to Arkansas products. A few upcoming posts will have even more specific ideas for unique – typically Arkansan – holiday shopping!