Friends and co-workers of Ira Eldridge are invited to celebrate and share stories about his 50 years working for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, this afternoon, in the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences.

Eldridge worked from 1969 to 1999 as a research specialist for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at the Division of Agriculture's Northeast Research and Extension Center at Keiser before moving to Fayetteville, where he first worked as a research specialist in the Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program. He was promoted to program associate and is now part of the farm crew for the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center, located on Garland Avenue 2 miles north of the University of Arkansas campus.

"Ira is an outstanding manager of field research," said Don Dombek, retired director of the of the Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program. "He can do everything required, including preparing land, trial layout, planting, recording data and harvesting plots. His many years of experience and can-do attitude have made him an excellent asset for the Experiment Station, and it's good to see him recognized for 50 years of service."

The celebration will be held from 2:30-4 p.m. today in Waldrip Hall of the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1371 W. Altheimer Drive, one the west side of Garland Avenue on the Research and Extension Center.

About the Division of Agriculture:The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.