City of Keo announces Harvest for Hope concert following Arkansas Pecan Festival

On Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m., coinciding with the Arkansas Pecan Festival in Keo, festival organizers will host the first-ever Harvest for Hope Concert.

This free community event is dedicated to raising awareness of the mental health challenges plaguing Arkansas farmers and the resources available to support them. The concert is open to the public and free to attend, with financial donations collected on-site.

It will also be live-streamed by Arkansas PBS.

“Thanks to the support of a united Arkansas delegation and our corporate partners, we’re able to make this event completely free to the public,” said Seth Summerside, CEO of Keo Fish Farms and an organizer of the concert. “No tickets are required — just come ready to enjoy great music and stand together in support of our farmers.”

The concert will take place in downtown Keo and feature performances by Congressman Rick Crawford’s band, Triple Nickel, along with Arkansas artists Hannah Blaylock and Matt Stell.

“Our nation’s farmers play an integral role in Americans’ daily lives, and they’re responsible for feeding and fueling our world,” said U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro. “However, they are under tremendous pressure as they navigate the farm crisis sweeping our rural communities. I am honored to participate in this event to raise awareness for this pressing crisis and support our farmers by connecting them with critical resources.”

To round out the lineup, the concert will showcase Arkansas-grown talent.

Blaylock, a native of Arkansas and winner of the 2025 Arkansas Country Music Award for Best Female Vocalist, brings a soulful hometown energy to the stage. Stell, who hails from Center Ridge, has earned national recognition with performances on Good Morning America and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Together with Crawford and his band, these artists aim to create an uplifting evening that celebrates the people who feed and sustain rural communities, according to organizers.

Proceeds from event sponsorships will benefit the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Farm State of Mind initiative, which provides mental health resources and support to farmers and ranchers across the U.S. The program combats the stigma surrounding mental health and connects farm families with counseling, crisis hotlines and community-based resources.

With farmer suicide rates reported to be two to five times higher than the national average, organizers hope the event will help spark meaningful conversations and provide real support.

“There are everyday pressures on our farms and ranches, and we have witnessed those challenges increase as the farm economy continues to struggle,” said Jay Robbins, senior director of public affairs and government relations at Arkansas Farm Bureau. “That is why the Farm State of Mind program is so important. It provides help and brings awareness to stress on the farm and how to deal with it. Our farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our state’s economy, with agriculture serving as the largest economic sector in Arkansas. We need to do everything we can to keep the farm economy viable and the men and women of agriculture healthy, including supporting their mental health.”

Keo Mayor Stephanie White said the concert is a meaningful addition to the town’s signature annual celebration.

“Since its founding in 2022, the Arkansas Pecan Festival has been about bringing people together, and the Harvest for Hope Concert takes that spirit even further,” White said. “It’s an opportunity for Keo to stand with our farmers and show what community really means.”