FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Staff Senate is hosting its 11th annual staff appreciation picnic and vendor fair from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

This year the Staff Senate expects more than 1,000 staff members to attend the picnic, where staff senators, upper-level campus administrators and community leaders volunteer their time to help cook and serve lunch for University of Arkansas staff.  Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Chancellor G. David Gearhart, Provost Sharon Gaber, Honors College Dean Bob McMath,Vice Chancellor Don Pederson, Director of Athletics Jeff Long, men’s track coach Chris Buckman, women’s track coach Lance Harter, women’s basketball coach Tom Collen and representatives from the football and men’s basketball programs are some of the celebrity servers expected to attend this year’s event. In addition to the VIP servers, student athletes will volunteer their time to show appreciation to staff members. Media are invited and encouraged to attend.

Paul Bixby, chair of Staff Senate, said, “Staff Senate looks forward to hosting this event every year. We are excited to have the opportunity to express our gratitude to the university staff members. They work very hard, often behind the scenes, and have earned the respect and honor we are showing them today.”

Each year much of the food for the picnic is donated by businesses throughout the community. Tyson Foods Inc. supplies the hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and chips. First Security Bank brings their Teal Grills. Harp’s provides buns, Catfish Hole No. 3 donates cole slaw, Golden Corral provides potato salad, and Chartwell’s donates baked beans. Little Debbie donates sweet treats, and On the Border catering supplies a taco bar with all the trimmings. Ozark Natural Foods provides vegetarian hot dogs and buns.

Bixby said, “This is a great event that allows local businesses to show their support for the university staff.”

This is the third year for the vendor fair. It has grown from seven vendors to over 25 vendors in that time. The vendors offer door prizes for staff and represent a wide variety of services in the northwest Arkansas area.

The Staff Senate is an employee group on the University of Arkansas campus whose primary function is to work with university administrators to address staff concerns related to the quality of work life on campus. The Staff Senate represents nearly 3,600 employees.