Date:  August 29, 2025  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

As the top rice-producing state in the nation, Arkansas farmers grow almost half of all the rice in the United States. This effort goes a long way toward feeding not only America but the world. According to the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture, every seed of rice planted can produce up to 3,000 edible grains. What’s more, the remnants of locally harvested fields can provide for migratory waterfowl in winter.

With September designated as National Rice Month, it’s the ideal time to celebrate the power of rice and the work of those who take it from field to plate. Fill your fork with the fluffy grains as a side dish with your favorite protein, mix it with vegetables, or try your hand at rolling sushi to enjoy a locally grown staple.

Special thanks to Riceland for providing the rice for this story. The Stuttgart-based, farmer-owned cooperative is the world’s largest miller and marketer of rice with its products being sold nationwide and in more than 75 foreign destinations.