“Hog”byTim Greenis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Everyone in Arkansas loves Razorback football. Important events are scheduled around game day and the streets of the state turn red for hours around kickoff. An Arkie would rather have the University of Arkansas be number one in football than number one in education any day.
“Elk River Float Trip”byThomas & Dianne Jonesis licensed underCC BY 2.0
There’s this thing in Arkansas called “floating.” It consists of sitting on an inner tube and slowly being carried down a creek for hours without a care in the world with a beer in hand. It’s about as awesome as it sounds.
“Hammered Pig #sandwich, aka Midwestern style #fried #pork #tenderloin from Sides Hardware in #LosOlivos. Simply fantastic. #Tender, #crunchy, with a #tart #mustard and #pickle relish. Delicious. #foodporn #sandwichporn #sandwiches #lunch #instafood #yummy”byL.A. Foodieis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Arkansans love large cuts of meat. This extends to their pork tenderloin sandwiches, which usually stretch several inches past the bun on all sides. The more the better, right?
People from Arkansas can’t really decide what they want to be called. More recent publications seem to use Arkansan, while several famous writers have used Arkansawyer. The residents are split on what they really prefer.
Arkansas is not another Kansas, it’s completely different. In Arkansas, the “sas” is pronounced “SAW.” As in, “Are-Can-Saw.”
Just when an out-of-towner thought gravy couldn’t get any better, they discover that it comes in chocolate form. This sweet chocolaty liquid goes perfectly with biscuits in the morning. It’s even better when it’s mixed with bacon bits. Truly the perfect way to start any day.
If an out-of-towner is asking for directions in Arkansas, they should expect the answer to be in the amount of time it takes to get there. Something will be “about an hour away,” not “60 miles down the road.”
A trip to the PurpleHull Pea Festival will leave an out-of-towner dumbstruck, as they’ll likely see the high level of competition in the rotary tiller racing circuit for the first time. People take it pretty seriously at the event, and everyone knows that winning the world championship in Arkansas is a pretty sweet accomplishment.
Not only is Arkansas home to the world championship of rotary tiller racing, Arkansans also race portable commodes at the annual Beanfest. Let’s just hope they aren’t toilets that have been used before.
In Arkansas, there’s a tradition amongst Razorback fans of “calling the hogs.” It can happen anywhere, starting with a fan shouting a long “Woooooooooooo” at an increasing volume while raising their arms hoping that others join in. After around eight seconds, “Pig!” is shouted followed by “Sooie!” and a fist pump. It will take an out-of-towner a bit to catch on.
The Arkansas area is home to a ton of fishing, meaning there’s always a ton of fish on restaurant menus and at local fish frys. One fish that seems to pop up on a regular basis is the “crappie.” The name comes from “crapet”, which is used to refer to many fish in the sunfish family and despite it’s unfortunate alias, it’s completely safe to chow down on.
In most states, camo is reserved for people out tracking animals in the woods. In Arkansas, camo is a common pattern on everything from T-shirts to accessories to even prom dresses. Just because someone is wearing camo on the streets of Little Rock doesn’t mean they’ll be shooting a gun any time soon.
With concealed carry allowed almost everywhere, including places like church, there are a ton of Arkansawyers that prefer to stay strapped. If a shot rings out midday, someone probably just shot their dinner or they’re doing a little target practice. It’s usually nothing to worry about.
In Arkansas, anything carbonated and filled with sugar gets called “coke.” While some parts of the country prefer “soda” or “pop,” Arkansans always order with the brand name, knowing they’ll have to clarify what type of “coke” they actually want to drink.
Everyone in Arkansas knows it’s important to stay prepared for a big storm almost anytime during the year, always keeping some sort of safety pack nearby. However, when a storm siren sounds, an Arkie’s first reaction is usually to head outside and check it out, often times beer in hand.
Typically, alcohol sales are prohibited in Arkansas on Sundays. That means it’s very important to stock up prior to Super Bowl Sunday. It’s always best to assume you’ll drink more than you will, if you underestimate there aren’t really options for refills with the liquor stores shut down.
A scenic byway that runs through the Ozark National Forest, the Pig Trail is full of steep roads and hairpin turns. Tons of locals use it to get through the state, with high hopes of avoiding the many tourists that flock there for the amazing views.
If traffic is bad in Arkansas, there’s a good chance a tractors driving slowly and blocking cars. With so much farmland, tractors have to use the roads to get from one patch of land to another. Fortunately, they’re usually not on the road for too long.
When driving in Arkansas, it’s important to stay aware on the roadways. Deer are everywhere, causing huge accidents all of the time. Most Arkansawyers have totaled their car by hitting a deer or at least knows a friend that has.
It doesn’t take long to realize that Arkansas is a bit greener than most places in the country. With a thriving natural environment, people in Arkansas love to stay active, hitting the trails and holding pretty much any event they can outdoors.
Every Arkie knows that whatever it is, it probably tastes better after it’s been tossed into the deep fryer. Whether it’s a Twinkie, a chunk of meat, or what used to be a “healthy” veggie, an Arkie will try anything that’s been deep fried at least once.
Something like Bigfoot, the “Fouke Monster” is said to stalk the town of Fouke, Arkansas with reports of the beast popping up as early as the 1950s. It was popularized in a 1970s film titled “The Legend of Boggy Creek,” however people still report sightings today.
What’s assumed by the rest of America to be an elaborate prank pulled on only the most naïve, snipes aren’t imaginary animals—in Arkansas, they’re actually a bird. Their erratic flight behavior makes them very hard to shoot, giving birth to the term “sniper” for a skilled sharpshooter and “snipe hunting” as an impossible task.
Tons of corn is grown in Arkansas, making the phrase “knee high by the Fourth of July” a common saying. If it’s knee high, it means the year will be great for corn, as the stalks are off to a healthy start.
The first day of hunting season might as well be a statewide holiday in Arkansas. Expect tons of people to take off work and whole towns shut down as most people take the day off to grab their guns.
Arkansans, especially the older ones, tend to call their midday meal “dinner,” and their nightly meal “supper.” Eating “dinner” in the afternoon will seem odd to an out-of-towner at first, but after tasting the awesome Arkansas cuisine, they won’t be able to complain.
If an out-of-towner is ordering tea while they’re out in Arkansas, make sure they know it will probably be filled with tons of sugar and ice cold. They only time an Arkie drinks hot tea is if they’re extremely sick, but even that’s a stretch.
Sometimes people joke that the mosquito might as well be the state bird of Arkansas. While the Northern mockingbird safely as that title locked down, the mosquito backers have a great point; during the summer months there are mosquitos everywhere. If an out-of-towner plans on spending much time outside in rural Arkansas, make sure they know to load up on bug spray first.
With tons of trails and roads throughout the area, nothing beats being at one of the highest spots in the state while the sun falls below the horizon. Gorgeous. What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Arkansas? Tell us in the comments below!
