Friday, April 19, 2024, will be designated as Bill Baker Day at North Arkansas College. Employees will be encouraged to wear their favorite pair of overalls that day. A campus picnic will be held at 11:30 a.m. for employees and students at the John Paul Hammerschmidt Conference Center. True to Bill Baker form, there is no better way to have a college picnic other than with good barbecue. Bragging rights will be awarded to the cook with the best beef brisket or pork ribs. Contestants will be asked to cook enough barbecue to serve 10-12 people (Money will be allocated to the contestants from the foundation should there not be enough cooks). Sides, dessert, and drinks will be provided by Northark Foundation.
At 12:30 p.m. a formal ceremony will occur where Judge Robert Hathaway will state his proclamation making April 19, 2024, Bill Baker Day in Boone County. Jim Stockton, Julia Howry, and Cindy Massengale Harkey will each provide their perspective of the life and legacy of Bill Baker for them, to the college, and our local communities. Dr. Massengale will close the ceremony highlighting events planned for the 50th Anniversary and concluding the event by recognizing the first artifact from the Bill Baker family that will go into the 50th Anniversary time capsule.