A generous gift from Bank of Cave City will support agricultural education and future students at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB). In recognition of the gift, the college’s FARM program will be named the Bank of Cave City Farm and Ranch Management Program, effective October 1, 2026.
The gift establishes the Bank of Cave City Farm and Ranch Management Endowment through the UACCB Foundation, creating a source of long-term support for the program and students pursuing careers in agriculture. The endowment can help fund program operations, equipment, maintenance and expansion, as well as scholarships and assistance with students’ education-related expenses.
“We are grateful to Bank of Cave City for investing in our students and the future of agriculture in our region,” said Dr. Brian Shonk, UACCB chancellor. “The FARM program gives students the opportunity to learn by working with crops, livestock and the everyday decisions involved in running a farm or ranch. This gift will help us continue building those opportunities and support future generations of students as they prepare to contribute to our agricultural communities.”
The FARM program combines hands-on training in crop and livestock production with the business and management skills needed to operate a farm or ranch. Students learn through practical work with agricultural equipment, animal care and crop production, while also exploring precision agriculture tools such as drones, GPS and data used to guide farming decisions. The program offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Farm and Ranch Management, along with technical certificate and certificate of proficiency options.
“We are thrilled to support UACCB and this innovative FARM program. Agricultural production is a vital part of community and economic development, and this curriculum will empower the next generation of farmers to succeed as food producers, entrepreneurs, and citizens,” said John Beller, President & CEO of Bank of Cave City.
The new endowment adds ongoing financial support helping the college sustain and develop the program while making agricultural education more accessible to future students. For the region’s farms and ranches, that means opportunities for more people to gain the practical knowledge needed to manage operations and carry local agriculture forward.
For more information about the Bank of Cave City Farm and Ranch Management Program, visit www.uaccb.edu/farm.
