Wanda Eason and her team of volunteers from Heifer International and the Conway Heifer Community Volunteer Group continue to raise the bar each year. The Hoof it for Heifer 20K continues to grow each year, gaining new sponsors, more runners, and more donations. Race entries have grown from less than 50 to a sell out of 200 spots with many runners on a waiting list, reduced to begging on social media to take a spot from anyone willing or needing to give one up. Since 2012 the race has provided more than $15,000 for Heifer International projects, like Seeds of Change right here in the Arkansas Delta. The 2015 coffers provided more than $5000 and no doubt, 2016 will be a banner year. As Race Director Wanda has said before, “it takes everybody doing their part to make a difference. The running community’s personality as a whole puts them in tune with Heifer International’s emphasis on caring for the earth in Arkansas and around the world…I think our runners would be interested to know that they can get fresh and organically grown Arkansas produce while supporting Arkansas farmers who are trying to get back to their roots.”
The Boy Scout Trail at Petit Jean State Park takes runners on a journey through lush forest, across and under wondrous natural rock formations, skimming smooth trail and bouncing across rock gardens. The scenery alone is worth coming back for time and time again, but it is the mission that remains my incentive for returning year after year to this race. As we left the parking lot after this year’s run, we stopped to say goodbye to Wanda and I had to tell her that I wasn’t sure how many words I had left to write about this race. “I may just write, I LOVE THIS RACE!, and leave it at that” I told her. She said that was fine with her. I love this race. I want you to love it too, so join me in 2017 for the 6th Annual Hoof it for Heifer 20K. More photos on our Facebook Page.
