1. Arkansans Really Know How To Celebrate The First Day Of Deer Season
Although deer ain't the only (big) game in town. In Arkansas, you can also hunt elk, bear, wild hog, even gators.
And hunting's not just a sport/obsession/near-religion, either. It's also big business, bringing in about a billion dollars of revenue per year, with fishing netting another half-billion or so.
2. Every Little Arkansan's First Words Are “Go Hogs!”
In fact, Arkansan parents might get a trifle upset if baby comes out with a “ma-ma” or “da-da” before proclaiming allegiance to the almighty Razorbacks.
By the time Arkansan tots hit preschool, they also know to foam at the mouth whenever anyone mentions Tigers or Longhorns (or Aggies, or Gators, or Rebels or Vols...those Hogs are a feisty lot).
3. Folks In Arkansas Are A Bunch Of Moonshiners And Rum Runners
Or if they aren't, grandpappy probably was, and every Arkansan is damn proud of it, too. Chances are, once they get to know you, they may even crack open a jar from the secret stash (everyone's got a connection who's still in the biz, too).
4. Arkansans Sure Do Love Their Chewin’ Tobaccy
While the hillbilly stereotype Arkansan is always pictured with a corncob pipe stuck in his mouth, in reality, it’s more likely to be a plug of chewing tobacco. Arkansas has one of the nation’s highest rates of smokeless tobacco use, and was singled out in a recent CDC report as a state whose cigarette smokers are most likely to double-dip.
Hint to the uninitiated: When visiting Arkansas for the first time, always be absolutely sure that dark brown liquid in the coke bottle’s actually soda.
5. These Rackensackers Are Just Plum Full Of Folksy, Down-Home Sayings
Former president Bill Clinton brought
Arkansas-isms such as "If you don't want to run with the big dogs, stay on the porch" to national attention. He once famously described his attempt to provide economic incentives to the former Soviets-turned-Russians as “You gotta throw the corn where the hogs can get to it.”
Love him or hate him, at least the Man from Hope proved that these colorful idiomatic expressions belong to all Arkansans, no matter how well-educated or successful.
6. The Four Main Arkansan Food Groups Are Beef, Pork, Catfish And Sweet Tea
Yep, Arkansas is a southern state, after all, so they like their meat red (or at least pink) and their tea so sweet you can practically pour it on pancakes. They also like their beer, which they drink on special occasions like suppertime (which is at night), dinnertime (noon) and even breakfast (when and if you roll out of bed in the morning).
7. Arkansans Only Need Four Condiments
Should an Arkansan want something with a little zing to it, he'll most likely have to head for Texas, or maybe Louisiana. The only condiments officially recognized by the state are salt, pepper, ketchup and ranch dressing.
8. Overalls Are For All Occasions (Even Formal Ones) Here
Weddings, funerals, you name it, this one-piece garment is truly all-purpose (if not one-size-fits all). Big Smith or Dickies will do for everyday wear (or Oshkosh, if you're under age four), but if you want to get fancy, then Carhartt's your brand.
9. Everyone In Arkansas Works For Walmart
Ok, so not
everyone does, but it is one of Arkansas' largest employers, right behind the state government itself. Arkansas is also where the giant mega-corporation got its start back in 1962 (or 1945, if you count the original Walton's Five and Dime), and the company still makes its headquarters in Bentonville today.
The Walton family is a major contributor to home state politicians, but it ain't all good – Walmart employees make up the bulk of Arkansas' welfare rolls among the ranks of the working poor, and it's also estimated that due to the “Walmart effect” of shutting down local mom ‘n’ pop stores, Arkansans' large number of Walmarts have cost it nearly 19,000 retail jobs so far.
10. Arkansans Are Tough As Nails Survivors
You don’t get any tougher or more resilient than the folks in Arkansas. While the state may rank among the nation's poorest, its economy is turning around, and Arkansas is home to six Fortune 500 companies (including the world's largest retailer, Walmart). Arkansans also belie the cliché of poor uneducated hicks, as their efforts towards improving public education have earned the state’s school system high praise from national education associations.
Perhaps most telling is the fact that Arkansas migration rates are fairly low, as few residents choose to abandon their home state in search of a better life elsewhere. LIke the old saying goes: You can take an Arkansan out of Arkansas—actually no, you can’t.
Feature Image Source: Flickr user Joe Van
