Arkansas Receives “Best of Show” Award for Farnborough Airshow Booth

Arkansas was awarded “Best of Show” at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow for the design of its exhibition booth. The Team Arkansas booth received the award, presented by Kallman Worldwide Inc., in the category of booths under 50-square-meters.

“We are excited to receive this Best of Show award for our Team Arkansas booth,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “The aerospace and defense industry is a critical sector in Arkansas, and we prioritize attending the Farnborough International Airshow to promote this sector, supporting our existing industry and working to grow it. The Team Arkansas booth was made possible by our in-state partners and by the hard work of the AEDC team. Congratulations to Team Arkansas on this great win.”

Led by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas delegation attended the 2024 Farnborough Airshow to spotlight the state’s aerospace and defense industry. Team Arkansas is made up of economic development organizations, including AEDC, and Arkansas-based aerospace and defense companies.

The booth served as the hub for Team Arkansas participants at the Farnborough Airshow. During the airshow, Arkansas aerospace and defense companies used the booth to take meetings with other firms, providing them with the opportunity to promote their goods and services.

AEDC and local economic development partners also used the booth, taking meetings with companies to highlight the advantages of doing business in Arkansas. AEDC engaged with multiple companies during the Farnborough Airshow, and these meetings will lead to future meetings – with the aim of bringing new investment and jobs to Arkansas.

Arkansas celebrated an economic development win during the Farnborough Airshow. Taber Extrusions announced it will be expanding its facility in Russellville, introducing the largest direct extrusion press in North America. The expansion represents an investment of over $60 million and will create 70 new jobs in the River Valley region.

The booth featured a front table and multiple kiosks for Team Arkansas companies to take meetings with potential business partners. The space spotlighted the Arkansas aerospace and defense industry with a map displaying logos of companies operating in the state, as well as images of F-35 planes and C-130 planes to highlight Arkansas’ military bases, such as the Little Rock Air Force Base and Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

For the awards, booths were judged on a five-point criteria. The five points included creativity, use of space, technology, product placement, and overall design.