Cathy Baird, Ned Irving, Steve Johnson, Rick Kirkpatrick, Ed Piper, Jerry Rose, Susan Rountree, Jane Shipley, Carol Spears, Sherry Young
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chuck Nickle, President
Will Clark, Vice President LeRoy Duell, Treasurer
Jack Mitchell, Secretary Chuck Culver, Tom Olmstead, Derrik Olsen, David Renfroe, Tim Stults, Beth Vaughan-Wrobel, Dave Williams, Jason Wilson, Marti Woodruff
This year, Butterfield Trail Village celebrates a remarkable milestone: 40 years since our doors were opened wide to the first two residents, Martha Rice and Virginia Wilson. While the number itself is impressive, what is even more meaningful is what it represents – a legacy built by people who believed in great possibilities and worked tirelessly to bring this Village to life.
Visionaries have shaped Butterfield from the very beginning. Since 1986, community volunteers, residents and staff have continuously embraced the notion that retirement living should be rooted in purpose, connection and excellence. The early leaders who laid Butterfield’s groundwork were not content to simply create something good – they pushed for something exceptional, establishing a foundation for what still supports and inspires us today.
One of Butterfield’s defining characteristics, a willingness to look ahead, has remained constant across four decades. We have always been guided by people who understood that a strong community must evolve to remain vibrant. Rather than resting on success, leaders at every point in our history have asked how we can enhance and improve for a better today – while cementing our long-term sustainability for those who will call Butterfield home in the future.
That forward-thinking spirit is alive and well in 2026. We honor our past by building on it, and we do this by embracing thoughtful change, investing in our campus and our people, and staying true to our values. Butterfield’s strength lies in engaged residents, a dedicated staff, and a shared commitment to creating the kind of place that attracts new residents who value our reputation – but choose to invest in our reality.
As we celebrate 40 years, I offer my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey. Butterfield Trail Village is a testament to what can be achieved when vision meets dedication. Our story is still unfolding, and I am honored to be part of this chapter.
Warm regards,
Kevin Spears Chief Executive Officer Butterfield Trail
Village
Opened in 1986, Butterfield Trail Village is a locally governed 501(c)(3) non-profit retirement community. As Northwest Arkansas’ only comprehensive Life Plan Retirement Community, BTV offers active older adults worry-free living that is secure, independent and fulfilling –and the freedom to enjoy plentiful activities both inside and outside the Village.
YEARS OF BUTTERFIELD
From the very beginning, Butterfield Trail Village has been shaped by visionaries – individuals who saw an unmet need for area seniors and rose to the challenge by creating a place so special that multiple generations of retirees would eventually call it home. In 1969, a small group of Fayetteville residents began exploring the bold idea of establishing a locally sponsored retirement community. Their spirit of imagination and initiative laid the foundation and legacy for a Village that would come to lead the way for Northwest Arkansas, defining what a retirement community should be.
and enhancing healthcare services to offer a full continuum of care…to establishing remarkable wellness, event programming and cultural offerings… each milestone reflects leaders along the way who have believed the future is something we build intentionally, and together.
Now, as we kick off a series of celebrations for Butterfield’s 40th anniversary, we honor that spirit of bold beginnings and positive momentum. Across four decades of service, Butterfield has embraced forwardthinking as both an opportunity and a responsibility. From welcoming its first residents, expanding to meet a growing need for additional living spaces
Our refusal to sit still has always been anchored in a clear mission: to provide high-quality senior living services in a sustainable manner. Guided by our enduring values — Excellence, Respect, Trust, Compassion and Integrity — Butterfield has remained steadfast in purpose while striving to meet the needs of each new generation.
As you explore this timeline, celebrate not only the progress we have made, but the people who made it possible. Their vision ensured that Butterfield is not simply a place with history. Butterfield is a community with momentum, vitality and an inspiring future anxious to unfold.
ORIGINAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GROUNDBREAKING
Gov. Bill Clinton led an enthusiastic group at a groundbreaking ceremony.
Butterfield Trail Village Foundation established as a charitable trust created by donors Truman and Sylvia Yancey.
1981
LAND TITLE
The Board of Directors received the title to 15 acres of land owned by Fayetteville educator Virginia Wilson. 1982
FOUNDING
BTV founded by five local churches, Board of Directors formed. Articles of Incorporation filed, tax exempt status gained.
“Original Pioneers” donate $2,500 each.
THE BEGINNING Group of Fayetteville residents began studying the idea of forming a retirement village to operate under local church sponsorship. 1969
THE FIRST RESIDENTS
Martha Rice and Virginia Wilson became the first Village residents.
COTTAGES
Residents began the Village Farmers Market, selling fresh produce from the BTV gardens to residents and staff.
The first cottages were completed.
RECYCLING PROGRAM
BTV began its resident-led recycling program.
THE LODGE
The 2,000 square-foot Lodge at BTV opened, providing a social gathering place with kitchen facilities.
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM
BTV implemented a forwardthinking, money-saving geothermal system to efficiently heat and cool apartments, common areas, and Health Care Center.
HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER
BTV opened its first Health & Wellness Center adjacent to The Lodge.
VILLAGE HOMES
The first Village Homes were built on the southern portion of the BTV property.
VILLAGE TOURS
BTV began hosting its first “Village Tours” excursions to the Caribbean, the Pacific Northwest and more.
HEALTH CARE CENTER EXPANSION
The skilled nursing Health Care Center underwent its first expansion.
SPECIAL CARE CENTER FOR DEMENTIA OPENED
Quickly recognized as one of the region's best memory support facilities.
AQUATIC & WELLNESS CENTER OPENED
Indoor pool with lap lanes, exercise area and therapy pool, alongside a full gym with seniorfocused equipment and space for group classes.
ASSISTED LIVING COTTAGE OPENED
Featuring 12 apartments, a central commons and dining area, completing all aspects needed for a full continuum of care.
HEALTH CARE CENTER RENOVATION
Featuring new family spaces, updated interiors, enhanced fire safety, and remodeled physical/ occupational/speech therapy room.
PARTNERED WITH UAMS
New onsite primary and preventative geriatric care clinic.
NEW COMMONS COMPLETED
FINAL VILLAGE HOMES COMPLETED
Bringing the total number of Village Homes to 54 residences.
ASSISTED LIVING EXPANSION GROUNDBREAKING AND COMMONS RENOVATIONS PLANNED
New building to feature 38 assisted living apartments and unique amenities available to
17,000 square-foot expansion unveiled with new Performance Hall and Bistro cafe, a new lobby and central living room, meeting spaces, offices and more.
SENSORY GARDEN OPENED
Resident-led courtyard garden established to offer a natural space for residents with decreased mobility and other medical needs.
PARKING EXPANSION
A new 120-space east campus parking lot completed to better accommodate events and a growing staff.
Jeff & Sara Koenig Anniversaries
March Anniversaries
Allen Carney and Susan Mayes 1st
David and Janee Crotts 7th
Mike Wavering and Kathy Malstrom 16th
Bob and Linda O’Connell 16th
Tommy and Paula Bemberg 28th
April Anniversaries
Nick and Jerilyn Nicholson 2nd
Bill and Judy Schwab 23rd
Michael Hollomon and Eric Wailes 27th
When did you move to Butterfield?
Mid-September 2025.
Where are you from?
Jeff spent his early childhood in McPherson, Kansas, and moved to Gaston’s Resort outside Mountain Home, Ark. in the 7th grade. He spent his teenage years living and working on the trout-fishing resort and is an excellent camp cook. Sara was born in Little Rock and moved to Fayetteville in time to start first grade at Leverett Elementary. She attended Fayetteville High before going away to college.
New Neighbors
Greg & Letecia Yarbrough
Susan Lancaster
Jim & June Hays
Paul & Maxine LeBlanc
What did you do before retirement?
Jeff is a University of Arkansas alum and electrical engineer. He worked for a consulting firm before returning to Fayetteville to work at Upchurch Electrical Supply. Eventually becoming a partner in the firm, he left after several years as CEO. Sara was a caseworker and group home housemother before briefly returning to work at Washington Regional as Director of Outpatient Business. She spent many years as a mother and community volunteer.
Do you have children and grandchildren?
Jeff and Sara have three married children, Amy, David and Carol, all of whom live on the West Coast. Their daughters each have two children, and David and his wife Crystal are expecting their first child in March.
How did your family history influence your decision to move to Butterfield?
Sara has memories of adults talking about building a place like Butterfield when she was a teenager. Her mother was very excited about having the senior community in Fayetteville and moved to BTV in 1992. Since then, Jeff and Sara have known many Fayetteville friends who made the decision to live here. Living at BTV has always been part of their life plan, and where they hope to spend many active and carefree years with all their friends, new and old.
Featured Village Events
COMING IN MARCH
Launch of 2026 Luminary Series: Lighting the Way for Butterfield’s 40th Anniversary
TUESDAY, MARCH 10 | 6:30 PM PERFORMANCE HALL
Reaching the Summit: A Historical Account of Butterfield Trail Village
Forty exciting years have passed since the first residents moved into Butterfield Trail Village! The founders' vision and dreams posed many challenges, but our community has continued to evolve and thrive despite various obstacles. Hear featured staff and resident speakers, and enjoy a historic photo presentation as we celebrate how it all began. This evening kicks off our 2026 Luminary Series of events honoring all who first lit our path and those who continue to guide our journey. We will recognize and celebrate what makes Butterfield Trail Village unique as we bring together residents, their families, the board of directors and Village leaders to mark this impressive milestone!
Additional 2026 Luminary Series Events:
JUNE 11 Midsummer Night’s Glow: A Social Event for Residents and Their Families
SEPTEMBER 10 Lighting the Way Gala: Dinner, Entertainment and Documentary Premiere
COMING IN APRIL
THURSDAY, APRIL 30 | DEPARTURE 10 AM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
COCKTAIL SOCIAL 6 PM | CONCERT 7 PM PERFORMANCE HALL
The Fort Smith Symphony String Quartet Performs the Music of Hans Zimmer
The BTV Foundation Stage Series proudly presents the return of the Fort Smith Symphony String Quartet, performing music by German composer and producer Hans Florian Zimmer – known for his iconic film scores. Zimmer has composed and produced over 100 soundtracks, including The Lion King, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Gladiator, and Pirates of the Caribbean. His works have earned two Academy Awards, five Grammys and three Golden Globes. Violinist Jonathan Chern, violists Arthur Busby and Ethan Rouse, and cellist Tess Kent will perform. We will also recognize Fort Smith Symphony Music Director John Jeter, nominated with pianist Han Chen for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards’ Best Classical Instrumental Solo for their recording of Arkansas native Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement.
Be Inspired by NWA! Tour of Blake Street House
Arts and entertainment, history and heritage, natural wonders and culinary delights…there’s no place better to inspire than “Naturally Fun” Northwest Arkansas! This spring and summer, we’ll daytrip to multiple inspirational destinations – including historic War Eagle Mill, premier big cat sanctuary Turpentine Creek, Bella Vista’s Veterans Wall of Honor and the long-awaited expansion and opening at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Our first trip will be to Blake Street House, a private members-only Bentonville social and wellness club housed in a restored and expanded 1880s estate owned by Thomas Taylor Blake and wife, Bertha. This community hub offers dining, fitness, coworking and cultural events – and features more than 100 art pieces curated by OZ Art NWA. Lunch at Wright’s BBQ will follow our tour.
Hearty Bowls & Cozy Souls Soup Supper
Dancing Hearts & Decadent Desserts
BTV Foundation Presents Soprano Bárbara Padilla
Butterfield’s Next Chapter: Designed for Connection
Inspired by our Ozarks home and created with care, Butterfield’s new Assisted Living expansion will bring refined design, welcoming gathering spaces and outstanding support to our campus community.
This sneak peek into this highly anticipated project’s interior marks the next exciting step in Butterfield Trail Village’s continued evolution – a thoughtfully designed Assisted Living addition created to strengthen our continuum of care while better serving residents today and in the years ahead. As our community evolves, so does our commitment to providing exceptional support while preserving the warmth, connection and sense of belonging that define life at Butterfield.
The 38-apartment expansion is carefully planned to encourage shared experiences between assisted living residents and their neighboring independent living friends.
Inspired by the rich tones and layered textures of the Ozarks, Butterfield Trail Village’s new Assisted Living complex will blend regional character with refined residential design – bringing the outdoors inside through use of colors and materials evocative of the nearby Boston Mountains.
Generous dining areas, a flexible theater and event space, a cozy and welcoming library, beautifully designed outdoor environments and more will create natural opportunities for connection.
From tasteful accent lighting and richly textured fabrics to natural stone surfaces and timeless wood millwork, every detail reflects a commitment to creating a warm, inviting community where all Butterfield residents feel engaged, supported and at home.
Rendering of the Assisted Living courtyard
An in-progress rendering of the new Assisted Living expansion
Lobby & Reception Area
Upon arrival — beneath a large porte-cochere offering protection from the elements — residents and guests will step into a welcoming lobby defined by beautiful wood paneling, bronze accents and natural stone surfaces. Cheerful lighting and thoughtfully layered finishes will create a strong first impression and a warm welcome home.
Library
The intimate library and seating area is designed as a quiet retreat – a place for reading, meaningful conversation or peaceful reflection. Neutral, calming tones will provide the perfect backdrop for discovering the next great novel.
Dining Room
At the heart of the expansion, the main dining space will feature rich wood ceiling details, upholstered banquettes and layered lighting designed to encourage gathering and interaction. Special attention will be given to acoustic elements that help manage sound, ensuring group conversations remain comfortable and enjoyable.
Theater / Multi-Purpose Room
A new amenity for the Butterfield campus, the theater will be designed with flexible yet comfortable furnishings that allow the space to transition easily from small movie screenings to presentations and community events – supporting both entertainment and hospitality.
Marketing & Business Offices
The expansion will also house the marketing department and business office staff, providing convenient access and streamlined support for both current and prospective residents and their families. These spaces will balance functionality with privacy, while maintaining the same polished, welcoming aesthetic found throughout the building.
Residence Unit Kitchenette
Inside each apartment, beautifully designed kitchenettes will combine functionality with refined style. Durable quartz countertops, oil-rubbed bronze fixtures and hardware, and bright white shaker-style cabinetry will create a clean, welcoming aesthetic. Each kitchenette will be equipped with a stainless sink, refrigerator/ freezer and countertop microwave for added convenience.
Residence Unit Bathroom
Bathrooms are designed with accessibility at the forefront, offering ample space for mobility devices, integrated grab bars and attractive fixtures that seamlessly combine safety with elegance.
Together, these thoughtfully planned spaces represent more than just an expansion – they reflect Butterfield’s enduring promise to provide exceptional care, meaningful connection and a timeless place residents are proud to call home at every stage of life.
Butterfield Trail Village is proud to partner with the Chancey Architecture & Interior Design team, whose extensive experience in senior living communities brings exceptional value to this project.
Café
For a more casual experience, a light-filled café will introduce a fresh and flexible dining option available to all campus residents. Natural finishes, subtle tile accents and bronze light fixtures will give the space a tasteful, contemporary character while maintaining Butterfield’s signature warmth.
Residential Corridors
Throughout the residential corridors, soft lighting, curated artwork and subtle flooring patterns will establish a gracious, homelike feel. Each apartment entry will feature a small alcove, thoughtfully designed to create a visual transition from public to private space while also providing a slight sound buffer from hallway activity.
Living Room
Debbie Reed
Care as a Calling: A Quiet Legacy of Compassion
When Debbie Reed first walked through Butterfield's doors in 1987, she was 22 years old. Fresh from a difficult experience at another facility, she was uncertain about what her future held. Hired practically on the spot and fast-forwarding almost four decades later, Debbie is an integral part of Butterfield's story – a living bridge between the community's earliest days and the evolved campus it is today.
Debbie's arrival at Butterfield came just days before losing her father, making that first year one of major personal adjustment. She began as a healthcare aide when the building looked dramatically different. “Where this office is now wasn't built, and that stone wall was outside,” Debbie remembers, gesturing to the east interior wall of the Resident Care suite where she now works. “The hallway in the Health Care Center toward Special Care? It ended where the kitchen and Special Care are now. Special Care didn’t even exist.”
In its earliest days, Butterfield operated differently from today’s Life Plan model, for a time accepting direct admissions from the public into healthcare beds. Debbie recalled, “The independent living side was filling up so fast that one resident was worried she wouldn't have a healthcare bed if she ever needed one. She moved over to the healthcare wing even though she got around just as good as me and you!”
As Butterfield evolved, Debbie grew right alongside it. Staff training and certification requirements were less stringent then, but eventually Butterfield’s own registered nurses began providing Certified Nursing Assistant training onsite. Debbie became one of the first to earn her certification through classes taught right after her work shifts ended.
Now, Debbie serves as a CNA in the Resident Care office, a role requiring versatility and occasional problem-solving. On any given day, she might trim toenails and fingernails, clean hearing aids and change their tiny batteries, assist with earwax removal, check vital signs or even patch up minor wounds. She takes her role very seriously, engaging with people on a personal level. “I just love the residents,” she says. “Their stories are awesome. We laugh, we cry and everything in between.” Residents
“I just love the residents. Their stories are awesome. We laugh, we cry and everything in between.”
–Debbie Reed
pop into her office not just for medical needs, but to visit, to ask for help with opening a stubborn jar – or simply to connect with someone who cares. She has become a master of “reading the room,” knowing instinctively which residents appreciate a lighthearted joke and who requires a more serious, compassionate approach.
But if an emergency call comes through on her pager, showing a resident's exact location and contact information, everything stops. In roughly three minutes or less, Debbie, a nurse and a security team member converge on the scene, wherever on campus a resident has sounded an alert. “Sometimes I stay here and call the resident while the nurse and security are already on their way,” Debbie says. “If the resident needs to go to the hospital, I get a radio call to print the necessary paperwork and take it up there.” The response time is impressive, made possible by golf carts and a well-coordinated team.
Debbie’s dedication to care is rooted in her West Fork upbringing, where she was raised on her family’s 180-acre homestead near Devil’s Den. She learned young to appreciate the value of community by caring for her grandmother, a prolific quilter until the age of 96. Debbie and her devoted Yorkie, Princess still live on ten of those family acres, surrounded by the homes of multiple close relatives. Growing from a nervous 22-year-old into a trusted caregiver who has trained nearly every nurse in the Resident Care office, Debbie's professional journey mirrors Butterfield's own remarkable evolution in so many ways.
Crystal Bridges Marks
250 Years of American Storytelling
New Exhibition Invites Reflection, Memory and Participation
This year, the United States will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence – a milestone that invites both celebration and reflection. From March 14 through July 27, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art explores that moment — and the many that followed — in its new exhibition, America 250: Common Threads
Rather than telling a single, sweeping story of the nation, this exhibition asks a more layered question: How have artists, makers, and everyday Americans documented the country’s history – and how have they shaped the symbols that define it?
An early engraving of the Declaration of Independence anchors the show, surrounded by historic objects spanning 1776 to 1876 – quilts, samplers, prints, paintings, and even souvenirs collected during the U.S. Centennial in 1876. These objects reveal how Americans have long marked moments of national importance not only through speeches and proclamations, but through keepsakes, craft and commemoration.
The exhibition also highlights how personal memory intersects with national history. A display of hundreds of 20th-century patriotic snapshots — ordinary Americans posing with flags, at parades, or beside hometown monuments — offers a poignant reminder that the American story unfolds as much in family albums as it does in formal archives.
Throughout the galleries, familiar symbols appear again and again: George Washington’s many artistic faces, eagles stitched into baskets and coverlets, flags reimagined as quilts or captured in photographs from the moon landing. Together, these works suggest that national identity is something both shared and continually reinterpreted.
Contemporary artists extend that conversation. Works by Robert Colescott, Kay WalkingStick, and Howard Finster revisit familiar imagery with fresh perspective – sometimes celebratory, sometimes questioning, always deeply personal. Their pieces remind viewers that the American narrative has never been fixed; it is revised and reshaped with each generation.
A Living Exhibition
What sets America 250: Common Threads apart is that it is not simply about looking at history – it is about participating in it.
Throughout much of the exhibition’s run (on select days), volunteer quilters from regional guilds — including Bella Vista Calico Cut-Ups, Q.U.I.L.T. Guild of Northwest Arkansas, Dogwood Quilters Guild, Pieces N Patches Quilt Club, and Northwest Arkansas Modern Quilt Guild — will serve as “Quilters-inResidence” within the galleries. Visitors can observe as they stitch together some of the 60,000 quilt squares created by K-12 students across Arkansas through an art kit designed by artist Basil Kincaid.
The result becomes a powerful visual metaphor: thousands of individual squares forming a single work – distinct voices bound together in shared purpose. In a region where craft traditions remain strong and multigenerational, this element may feel especially resonant.
Opening day on Saturday, March 14, brings the exhibition to life with a full slate of activities and performances, from flag-making and tin-tooling to live papermaking demonstrations and theatrical works by TheatreSquared artistsin-residence. Additional programs throughout the spring and summer include gallery talks, readings, performances, cocktail tours, and free drop-in tours.
Organized by Crystal Bridges in partnership with the American Folk Art Museum, the exhibition is also part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide initiative highlighting the enduring role of craft in American culture.
An Invitation to Reflect
For many Butterfield residents, who have lived through decades of national milestones and personal chapters alike, this exhibition may resonate in many ways. It invites viewers not only to look backward, but also to consider their own place within the larger fabric of American history.
As the nation approaches its 250th year, America 250: Common Threads offers something both timely and enduring: an opportunity to gather, reflect and consider the stories we inherit – and the ones we leave behind.
Tickets are $15, or free for Crystal Bridges members, veterans and all visitors 18 and under. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org.
Witness A Capella Sensation at Arkansas’ Favorite A Cappella Festival
By Kaydith Maddox
Calling all lovers of live music and local talent! The annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival returns this year for its 10th anniversary at Walton Arts Center. Jam to headliner Voctave on Friday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. and cheer on your favorite group at the VoiceJam Competition on Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. Don’t miss this weekend honoring all things a cappella.
More Upcoming Shows at WAC
BODYTRAFFIC
Kicking off the aca-amazing festival is Voctave. With over 160 million social media views of their videos, and their albums frequently debuting in the top 10 on Billboard charts, this group is sure to inspire joy in every audience. They are taking a cappella to the next level, and you won’t want to miss their exciting performance. Tickets to this show are only $10!
March 5, 7pm | $10
The Comedy Zone: Brad Upton
March 5, 7:30pm
Sunny Sweeney
March 6, 7:30pm
SoNA’s Behind the Mask: Romeo and Juliet
March 7, 7:30pm
Cahoots NI’s Secrets of Space
March 10, 6pm
African Rhythms Alumni Quintet
March 13, 7:30pm
Some Like it Hot March 17-22, 7pm
John Crist Live!
March 28, 4 & 7pm
Billy Goats Gruff and Other Tales
March 31, 6pm
Formed in 2015 by producer and arranger Jamey Ray, the voices that bring Voctave arrangements to life represent a wealth of diverse backgrounds and musical experiences. The 11 members have performed across the globe, appeared on countless recordings and have performed with Grammy®, Dove and American Music Award recipients including Sandi Patty, Pentatonix’s Kirstin Maldonado, Mark Lowry, David Phelps and Jody McBrayer.
Open to the public, singers of all skill levels are also invited to free
a cappella workshops throughout the day on Saturday, April 11. These sessions will feature a variety of topics at different skill levels such as a cappella arranging, vocal percussion, body percussion, rehearsal technique, solo singing and more. Seasoned performers and beginners alike will discover fresh inspiration and walk away ready to make more music. Leading this year's workshops and judging the VoiceJam Competition are four a cappella experts. Returning this year is an award-winning singer, vocal percussionist, arranger and educator, Rob Dietz. Voctave’s producer and arranger, Jamey Ray; acclaimed singer, vocal coach and creator of viral sensation, Breaking Down the Riffs®, Natalie Weiss; and Drew Ochoa, an awardwinning a cappella singer in the barbershop style with his quartet, After Hours.
Next up is the main event, the Saturday night VoiceJam Competition, featuring thrilling beats, dynamic choreography and mind-blowing harmonies. The top high school, collegiate and community vocal bands from around the country come together in Northwest Arkansas to battle it out live on-stage. See which group is crowned VoiceJam Champion and cast your vote for Aca-Fan Favorite. Tickets are $31. Want to see both the Voctave show and the competition? Get a combo ticket for only $32!
Reserve your spot now and purchase tickets at waltonartscenter.org, by calling (479) 443-5600 weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or in-person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. Local singers are also invited to come back to Walton Arts Center on Sunday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to noon for a free, no-audition community event called One-Day Choir. Intended to be fun and no-pressure, a local conductor will help singers learn and put together a song by the end of the event. Register online to receive sheet music in advance and come ready to join a choir for one day only!
Voctave
Willie Nelson Kicks Off 1986 Tour in Fayetteville
By Sandra Cox Birchfield, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
“Whiskey River, take my mind . . . ,” sang Willie Nelson as he opened his concert in Fayetteville on April 11, 1986. About 3,000 audience members gathered at the University of Arkansas’ Barnhill Arena for the kickoff of the Willie Nelson and Family tour, which included Nelson’s sister, Bobbie.
Nelson, who turned 53 only two weeks later, was hitting his stride. A year earlier, he cofounded Farm Aid, an annual music festival to benefit struggling farmers, and his buddy Don Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale, arranged free catering for the musicians and staff. Nelson rode through the 1980s with hits like “On the Road Again,” “Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground” and “Always on My Mind.” His side project, The Highwaymen, which featured Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, had a recent hit, aptly titled “The Highwayman.”
Tickets for the Fayetteville concert cost $13.50 (about $40 today) and were sold at the UA Student Union, Hastings at the Northwest Arkansas Mall, Stereo Buff and Sound Warehouse, all in Fayetteville, and the Funky Candle in Fort Smith. Some of these stores also sold his music on a new medium: the compact disc.
In the spirit of Farm Aid, 13 Arkansas and Oklahoma farm families, whose dairy herds were quarantined because of contamination, received tickets to the show with hopes of raising awareness of their plight to Nelson and Farm Aid organizers. It’s not clear whether they successfully delivered their message.
But with his signature braided hair and beard, Nelson cast the audience under his spell as he strummed and plucked his beat-up guitar named “Trigger” while singing “Georgia,” “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,”
“Crazy,” “Nightlife,” “City of New Orleans” and others. Though he’s known as “The Red-Headed Stranger,” he was no stranger to Barnhill. He had performed there at least twice before, including a 1979 concert with Leon Russell.
Three songs in, a writer with the university’s newspaper, The Arkansas Traveler, overheard a stage crew member say, “Man, did you feel the vibes from the crowd? It was so intense. It was like, when this guy finally walked out there, you knew he was a legend.”
Audience members apparently felt the same way. They jumped out of their seats when Nelson closed the show by reprising the opening song.
“Whiskey River, take my mind . . . .”
Willie Nelson sings while playing his guitar he named “Trigger” to an audience at Barnhill Arena at the University of Arkansas campus on April 11, 1986. Photo from the 1986 Razorback yearbook, p. 54.
40 Years of Fitness and Wellness Evolution at BTV Strong Seniors
When Butterfield first opened its doors, the idea of “senior fitness” looked very different from what it does today. That mindset has shifted dramatically over four decades, and Butterfield has more than kept pace with that evolution.
In the mid-1980s, exercise for older adults was often cautious and limited. Programs focused on light stretching, gentle calisthenics and short walks. The goal was maintenance – slowing decline rather than building strength. Few imagined seniors lifting weights, training for balance, or viewing wellness as a dynamic, lifelong pursuit.
Even 15 years ago, Butterfield’s wellness program looked very different. Fitness was not yet a department of its own. It fell under Programs, and the “office” was a small third-floor closet. The gym — roughly the size of a typical office today — held just five pieces of strength equipment. An indoor hot tub kept the space humid and chlorine-scented, while the glassenclosed pool allowed nearby diners to watch the swimmers.
Yet, purposeful direction began to emerge. Water aerobics, chair aerobics and a stretch class formed the core offerings.
In the pool, residents began building strength, friendships and confidence – exercising and making memories beneath the clear roof while they watched squirrels scamper overhead and snow fall in winter. Offerings were still modest, but something larger was taking root.
As leadership transitioned and the wellness program began to grow, expansion happened by listening to residents and embracing a willingness to try something new. The hiking program, which began as a simple lunch outing with a spontaneous pre-meal hike, turned into one of Butterfield’s most beloved traditions.
Residents began exploring trails across the region, and partnerships formed with organizations like the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy. Instructions for proper use of walking sticks improved confidence and stability, and social relationships flourished. Now, around 22 hikes are offered each year, and the program has even expanded internationally.
Growth continued through collaboration. Interns from the University of Arkansas Kinesiology Department brought fresh energy and helped
administer the Senior Fitness Test, allowing residents to track measurable gains in strength, balance, endurance and mobility. And, a lasting partnership with Stein Physical Therapy has helped create a bridge from rehabilitation to lifelong wellness.
Class offerings now include tai chi, yoga, Pilates, Rosen Movement, strength training, balance classes, aquatic programming and functional fitness – alongside educational lectures on fall prevention, brain health, nutrition and healthy aging. This transformation mirrors a national trend, driven largely by the Baby Boomer generation. Seniors are informed and engaged, determined to age actively.
Perhaps the most important change in 40 years is this: aging is no longer defined by limitation. It is defined by possibility. From a closet office and a humid gym to a vibrant, whole-person wellness department, Butterfield’s journey reflects how its program — and the people it serves — have grown stronger together. If the past four decades have shown us anything, it’s that expectations for active aging will continue to rise. Butterfield is ready to rise with them – one strong, purposeful step at a time.
The Butterfield Trail Village Foundation is grateful for the gifts received between December 10, 2025 and February 12, 2026, from the following donors:
Unrestricted Fund
Faye Head in memory of Richard Wharry
Gene Tweraser in memory of Don Hayes
Jane Shipley in memory of Don Hayes
Billie & Skip Rutherford in memory of Dixie Cole
Penny & Ray Culver In memory of Richard Wharry
Kay Brewer in memory Richard Kuehl
Carolyn Hierholzer in memory of Steve Sego
Diane Modisette in memory of Don Hayes
Jerre R. Jouett in memory of Curtis Shipley, Richard Wharry, Don Hayes and Jim Blair
Susan Rieff in memory of Dixie Cole
Susan Kortfelt in memory of Dixie Cole
Anne & Dick Booth in memory of Don Hayes
Andrea & Jim Romine in memory of Don Hayes
Ann Marie Ziegler in honor of Don Hayes
Ann Marie Ziegler in memory of Janet Berrey
Roy Clinton in memory of Jim Blair, Curtis Shipley, Don Hayes, Connie Nunnally and Richard Wharry
Anonymous in memory of Ann Roberts
Tom & Jill King in memory of Larry Masters
Shirley & Perry Franklin in memory of Shirley's mother Linda Duncan
Donald Wharry in memory of Richard Wharry
Ann Henry in memory of Curtis Shipley, Jim Blair, Richard Jones, Jim Young and Don Hayes
Give Clear Foundation - Richard & Anne Booth
Anonymous
Plant a Tree Fund
James Burton Blair Family Foundation in memory of Jim Blair
Linda Hayes in memory of Don Hayes
Garden Fund
Nancy Shelor in memory of Richard Wharry and Frank Price
Butterfly Garden Fund
Shirley & Perry Franklin in memory of Shirley's mother, Linda Duncan
Health Care Fund
Gaye Cypert in memory of Curtis Shipley and Don Hayes
Marie Breuer in memory of Curtis Shipley and Don Hayes
Kay Brewer in memory of Jim Blair and Dixie Cole
Mark Cory & Judith Ricker in memory of Kurt Tweraser
James Wharry & Family in memory of Richard Wharry
Library Fund
Ron & Polly Hanson in memory of Richard Wharry and Don Hayes
Employee Care Fund
Vanessa Hannant in memory of Don Hayes
Music and Performance Fund
Gaye Cypert in memory of Curtis Shipley and Don Hayes
Paula Furlough
Helen McElree
Tom & Jill King
HEATING UP
Upcoming Events
MARCH
African Rhythms Alumni Quintet: A Tribute to Randy Weston
March 13
Some Like It Hot
March 17-22 | 8 shows!
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia: Billy Goats Gruff and Other Tales
