1. The Razorbacks Have Every Arkansan’s Undying Love
Maybe the amount of Razorback gear that you have in your closet gave it away. But, you live and breathe the Razorbacks, especially if you’re from Northwest Arkansas. You know when to holler, “Woo, pig, sooie,” and how many times, and you’re still weary of Texas after all these years.
2. The Outdoors Are An Arkansan’s Second Home
Arkansas isn’t called the “Natural State” for nothing. In fact, open spaces always seem to be showing off, whether wildflowers are blooming on the side of the road or autumn leaves are falling during a camping trip in the Ozarks.
The amount of activities that you can do will force you outside even when the temperatures dip. If it’s summer, tubing and boating get your vote, and fishing goes without saying. Hiking and mountain biking can be done year-round, like on Albert Pike or the Womble trail, especially while you wait for hunting season—which is pretty much a holiday when it starts.
3. Arkansans Really Know How To Appreciate The Simple Life
Take a breather. When it comes to life in Arkansas, you can expect it to move at a slow pace. Maybe cities like Little Rock, Conway, Fort Smith, and Fayetteville take on a busier day in comparison to the state’s plentiful small towns, but the “rat race” mentality is still in short supply.
There’s still nothing better than sitting on your porch, listening to the sounds of birds and frogs, after a day spent outdoors.
4. Arkansans Have A Festival For Everything
It doesn’t matter if it’s harvest or Christmas, summertime or the first weeks of spring: In Arkansas, you can pretty much find a festival at any time of the year.
Maybe it's because we have great food at our fingertips, and enough of a music catalog to keep a cross-state road trip from going silent.
Or maybe it’s because we like the tradition of a state or tri-county fair, because it means we’ll get to eat the same food and play the same games that we did as a kid. Or the epic four-day Wakarusa Music Festival where new traditions are born
But maybe, just maybe, it’s because we know that you don't need an excuse to have a good time—although it usually helps. Perhaps it’s all of these reasons, and that’s why there are so many events to choose from.
5. Everyone Here Says “Y’all” And “Reckon” And Are Darn Proud Of It
Arkansas locals pull from their own book of catch phrases, and there are those that are easy for outsiders to decipher and others that require further local translation.
Arkansans may describe that crooked fence line as being “catawampus,” or use “over there yonder” to describe location, which are simple enough, but “as angry as a wet hen” may be confusing to those who didn't grow up hearing it.
Words like “y’all” and “reckon” are so often included in daily chats that they feel as natural as punctuation, and that’s just fine. The conversations would sound strange without them.
6. In Arkansas You Make Friends Faster Than You Can Say, “Hello”
Southern hospitality still rings true in Arkansas, and it’s easy to make friends—even if you’re new to the area. It seems that most people want to be of assistance when they can, to lend their two cents of advice if needed, or to simply smile when passing by.
7. People Here Have A Camouflage Outfit For Every Occasion
Weather may be hot one day and cold the next—and it can also shift to either end within hours—but Arkansans can always find a camouflage piece in their wardrobe to suit the climate. Did we mention how big hunting season is?
8. People In Arkansas Appreciate Good Food, And A Lot Of It
Supper in Arkansas means good Southern cooking, whether that means a slab of barbecue or a serving of fresh fish surrounded by homemade sides. And while ketchup and ranch dressing are still as popular as comfort foods, organic produce is also a regular part of the menu.
Nothing is more fun than baiting, catching, and frying your own fish, and then having equally fresh produce as a side in the summer.
9. Arkansans Can Drink Any Out-Of-State Visitor Under The Table
If you can’t make moonshine yourself, you know someone who does. And the amount of alcohol always, always outnumbers the amount of food at any given get together. But thanks in large part to breweries on and similar to those of the Fayetteville Ale Trail, you’re also learning more about differences in beer that you probably weren’t paying much attention to in the past.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to head out to Saddleback Brewery, West Mountain Brewing Company, and Stone’s Throw Brewing to see what the fuss is about.
10. In The Natural State, Tractors Are Usually To Blame For Gridlock
You can usually make use of cruise control on tree-lined, two-lane streets here, but when there is a traffic jam, there’s most likely one thing to blame: a tractor.
At least there are good views to keep you company until it clears.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think is unique about Arkansas in the comments below! 
