The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Arkansas has recognized Taunya Ernst, a University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture educator, for her work promoting high tunnel agriculture in Arkansas.
The organization awarded Ernst the NRCS State Conservationist's Partnership Award in the individual category. She received the award on March 13 at the 2026 annual meeting of the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
High tunnel production incorporates temporary structures that extend the growing season for horticultural crops, cut flowers and more by providing a more controlled environment than open-air, outdoor farming.
Ernst joined the Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service in 2023 and was the lead author on the division's first guide to high tunnel production, published in 2025. She said the guide was published to address a recurring problem she had noticed across Arkansas: Many first-time high tunnel growers lacked region-specific guidance for how to succeed.
© University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture / Ryan McGeeneyAmanda Mathis, the state conservationist for Arkansas NRCS, left, presents UADA high extension high tunnel educator Taunya Ernst, right, with the State Conservationist's Partnership Award in the individual category at the 2026 Arkansas NRCS Annual Meeting in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
"Early on, a lot of people got excited and put them up," she said. "But then you'd drive around and see a lot of abandoned structures, because people were just frustrated.
"My job was to develop education and outreach materials, so I could go out to growers' sites and help them figure out how to use these structures to be economical and beneficial," she said. "We created a production guide that's tailored to our climate so we could help growers succeed with these structures."
Amanda McWhirt, extension horticulture crop specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said Ernst's knowledge and outreach are essential assets for Arkansas farmers.
"Taunya is the 'go-to' expert for high tunnel producers in Arkansas and surrounding states," McWhirt said. "She does a wonderful job of supporting growers with research-based recommendations, and she has spearheaded an excellent series of training events and resources. Her efforts directly support the needs of growers and have resulted in increased success for high tunnel producers across the state."
Amanda Mathis, the state conservationist for Arkansas NRCS, presented the award to Ernst, noting her efforts to provide high tunnel knowledge and expertise to Arkansas farmers.
"Taunya created the 120-page High Tunnel Production Guide for Arkansas and the Southeast, with more than 600 copies distributed and more than 100 downloads via the High Tunnel Production in Arkansas website," Mathis said.
She went on to note that Ernst united NRCS conservationists with extension agents from the Division of Agriculture and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to "meet farmers where they are — hosting four full-day workshops, six 'tailgate' meetings, and conducting 160-plus on-site farm visits in 33 counties."
Ernst said the guide and other high tunnel resources are putting farmers in a better position to get started.
"People are going in with their eyes open," Ernst said. "It's still early, but I think we're starting to see growers utilize these structures effectively, efficiently and economically."
Source: University of Arkansas
