ARKANSANS INTERVIEWED
Mena - From the Middle East to Middle America
Since the age of 3, Judith Forbis has loved horses. That love soon grew into a way of life. From taking a U.S. government position in Turkey so she could ride the Turkish Calvary horses to owning the Ansata Arabian Stud farm in Mena with her husband, Don, Judith has kept her eye on the prize each step of the way. Almost 50 years after she and Don founded Ansata, the farm has become a testimony to a lifetime of "striving to exceed the ordinary."
Where do you live?
Mena, Arkansas.
Where were you born and raised?
I grew up on Long Island, N.Y. I went to Syracuse University to study art, but the travel bug bit me and I left early, taking courses at other colleges and then going overseas. My husband, Don, went to work for Halliburton, working mostly the Middle East.
What brought you to Arkansas?
After Don and I met and married in Turkey, we studied the Arabian horse breed, eventually deciding we wanted to breed them. Happening through Arkansas after a horse show, we fell in love with the area.
What was your first impression of Arkansas and its people?
My first impression of Arkansas was its overwhelming scenic beauty and raw nature. The people here are so friendly and warm, and every time I travel, I am so glad to get back to the hometown atmosphere and simplicity of the region. I've been to many countries, and to me this is one of the most special places on Earth.
What do you tell people from out of state about Arkansas?
We tell people who have never been to Arkansas that it is home to us, in all its natural beauty and glory. No wonder it's called The Natural State!
West Little Rock - Getting Back to the Basics
Although Bruce Bennett was born and raised in Arkansas, his career goals took him to places as far away from Arkansas's rolling hills as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Years later while vacationing in Hot Springs, Bruce and his wife, Kim, decided that the family-friendly pace of Arkansas was perfect for raising their two young sons, Brock and Chad. Now, six years after Bruce's return to his roots, he and Kim share what their family loves about living here.
Where do you live?
West Little Rock.
Where were you born and raised?
I grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Kim grew up in New Jersey.
What is your current occupation and/or hobby?
We are both attorneys, and we own Brock-Chad Title Co. and Brock-Chad Marketing Inc. Kim is a marathon runner, and I coach youth basketball at the Boys and Girls Club of Little Rock.
What did you find most surprising about the area?
We were surprised to find that there are a number of restaurants here. The food is great, and there is a variety of food to choose from.
What do you enjoy most about the area?
Having both lived in larger cities, my wife and I really like getting around with minimal traffic. Most events and outings are usually within a short driving distance.
What are some of your favorite local festivals and events?
Each year, we look forward to Riverfest. There are just so many fun family events during the day and great music to enjoy at night. We also like the annual Greek Food Festival.
What do you tell people from out of state about Arkansas?
We tell our friends from out of state to please come and visit us in Arkansas. Your perception, largely shaped by mixed media messages, will change immediately.
El Dorado - Artistic Appreciation
As professional artists, Jorge and Maria Villegas carry long lists of accreditations and awards. Since moving to El Dorado over a decade ago, they have painted more than 20 public murals in Arkansas and Louisiana, their most recent being inside the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce boardroom. Although they lead busy lives, Maria Villegas said, "We love what we do! There is something wonderful about discovering the individual talents we all have."
Where were you born and raised?
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
What originally brought you to Arkansas?
We liked the contrast between Buenos Aires - a cosmopolitan city - and a small town in Arkansas.
What are your careers?
Jorge holds an 11-year degree, and he has been working as a professional artist for the past 35 years. I hold a five-year degree, and I've worked as a professional artist for 25 years. As Artists-in-Education, a program sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, we both take art to the schools in El Dorado and other communities in Arkansas.
How does Arkansas lend to your creativity as artists?
We have found a place to quietly meditate and reflect surrounded by nature.
What are some of your favorite local arts events?
El Dorado's Music Fest is one of the most important events of the year, and the South Arkansas Arts Center offers art shows, plays and galas.
What do you tell people from out of state or family from Argentina about Arkansas?
We tell them that Arkansas is a gorgeous place to raise a child, where friendly people still wave to fellows in the streets. Arkansas is not only a place to be in contact with nature but also a state with deep-rooted heritage and a modern appreciation for the arts and culture.
Bentonville - Native Daughter Returns Home
She left Arkansas in 1984 as a mother with a master's degree in criminal justice and returned 19 years later as a grandmother and the president of a college. Becky Paneitz, 54, was born in Arkadelphia and grew up in the tiny Delta town of McGehee. After leaving Arkansas, she moved to Colorado, where she taught at Pueblo Community College while earning a doctorate in vocational education from Colorado State University at Pueblo. In 2003, she left her job as vice president of instruction at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C., to become president of Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville.
What did you miss about the state while you were away?
The people and especially my parents. The state is a pretty one and I missed the familiarity of home.
What do you tell people about Arkansas who don't live here?
That it is a well-kept secret and does not fit many of the stereotypes out of there of Arkansans being backward and uneducated.
What do you enjoy most about the area in which you live?
The vibrant economy, the great quality of life, and more and more amenities that are always being added, such as restaurants, shopping malls, and cultural events like Pops in the Park in Bentonville, the Benton County Civic Symphony Chorus and the planned Crystal Bridges Museum, funded by the Walton family.
What local events or festivals do you attend?
I go to concerts and plays at Walton Arts Center and many performances at NWACC including musicals, plays and lecture series. I also attend chamber of commerce annual dinners and various galas that raise money for local organizations.
What was the best concert that you saw at the Walton Arts Center recently?
Michael McDonald, formerly with the Doobie Brothers, was great!
Hot Springs Village - World Traveler Retires in Arkansas
In his 30-year career working for IBM and other technology companies, Paul Day lived places ranging from the familiar to the exotic - from Amarillo, Texas, to Okinawa, Japan. But when it came time to retire, Hot Springs Village was the only place with everything he and his wife, Patty, were looking for, including autonomy over the construction of their home in a retirement community. Now Paul Day spends his days burning through all those frequent-flyer miles collected over the years, serving on several community development boards and playing golf at least three times a week.
Do you have a favorite golf course?
Yes, we live on the eighth hole at Diamante. And Diamante, we believe, is the best course in the state. This is where we had the Nationwide Golf Tournament. We had it here five years in a row, and the pros that were here said that these were the best greens they putted on all year and that this was probably the third-best course of all the courses they played.
What is your handicap?
Currently my handicap is 14. It had been as low as a 10. But, you know, when you are approaching 70 it isn't quite as good as it used to be.
What do you do when your family members come to town for a visit?
Clearly the guys like to play golf. Magic Springs is nearby for the grandchildren. And we go fishing out on some of the lakes here in Hot Springs Village.
Have you been to any good shows at the Summit Arena in Hot Springs recently?
We went to Dino when he was here last year. He is a performer out of Branson. He is a piano player, and his wife sings. We also went to visit the Triplets at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event last year. They were three all-American basketball players from Arkansas [that is Ron Brewer, Marvin Delph and Sidney Moncrief].
Helena-West Helena - Relocated Reporter Takes Root in Delta
Michele Page, 32, was skeptical about moving to the Arkansas Delta, but she quickly fell in love with the area's unique landscape and culture and was embraced by locals as one of their own. Now she's giving back to those who have given her so much. Working as reporter/photographer for the Helena-West Helena newspaper, The Daily World, she covers all the important issues currently facing the newly consolidated community, including the fight for better public education.
What do you tell people about Arkansas who don't live here?
I tell them they must really ride around, experience the beauty of the land and the personality of its people. I also tell them my story and how I have fared here. I truly believe that I couldn't have prospered as well in some other state.
What sorts of hobbies or recreational activities fill your time?
I mostly work and go to every event in the area. Right now, I am helping with radio debates for the candidates in our district and even have a big one in the works. I love to volunteer for as many things as possible. This area has given me so much, I can't think of enough ways to repay this city and people for all the love they have shown me.
What local events or festivals do you attend?
I attend them all, but the most recent one I covered was the Main Street Helena Art Festival. The upcoming festivals I am going to cover are the Gospel Festival and the Delta Idol Banquet on May 20.
Are you a blues fan?
I am now that I'm more aware about the culture related to the blues and how deeply rooted the music is with the culture here. There is even an exhibit in the Delta Cultural Center that goes into great detail about how the blues actually started right here in Helena. The yearly mecca of blues fans to the former King Biscuit Blues Festival happens in the fall in October. Thousands upon thousands of blues fans come from all around the world to visit the birthplace of the blues.
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