Razorback Regional

[geomapguy]

The Razorback Regional will be a new event in Arkansas this year. Looks like it will field some good teams and hopefully it will carry into future years so we can attend.

But I have some serious concerns:

Where is Walmart and Murphy Oil Corporation. I was looking at the sponsors and I was very disappointed to see neither of them on the list. Walmart is the top corporation in the World and Muprhy is a Fortune 100 Company that serves the Science and Technology Fields. It will be a big dissappointment in my eyes if neither of these corporations provide sponsorship to the Razorback Regional to flourish and continue FIRST in Arkansas.

Just my 2 cents.

[ablatner]

Are those two companies significant in the area? So what if Walmart's one of the biggest companies in the world? Why should they sponsor specifically this regional?

Google sponsors the Silicon Valley Regional because they're in the area, and Boeing sponsors regionals in the Northwest because they're from Seattle.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by ablatner

Are those two companies significant in the area? So what if Walmart's one of the biggest companies in the world? Why should they sponsor specifically this regional?

WalMart is based in Arkansas. Founded, headquartered, all that sort of thing. That would be both significance and a potential reason to sponsor Razorback.

[Jefferson]

We are also very excited to finally have a regional so close to home.

To answer some of the questions: WalMart is headquartered about 30 miles from the regional in Bentonville, AR and Murphy Oil is headquartered in El Dorado, AR. Both have a very strong presence in the state.
I am also disappointed that they have not chosen to sponsor the event. I'm sure they have been approached. Hopefully they will see the virtues of this program in the coming years.

[geomapguy]

I do applaud Baxter Healthcare for pledging $25K per year for the next four years.


If all goes well this year, 3666 will defintely be making a trip to Fayetteville next year.

[Meredith Novak]

Baxter International is a founding sponsor of FIRST and has been a wonderful partner in our efforts to expand FRC in Arkansas. In addition to the generous funding of Team 16 that has allowed them to mentor rookies all over the state, they have provided funding to Arkansas FIRST that has been distributed to every team in Arkansas. So all 17 Arkansas FRC teams this season have received funding from Baxter.

We are attracting plenty of attention in Arkansas after many years of trying. The Bomb Squad World Champion win in conjunction with the addition of the rookies and establishment of an official event seems to have culminted in critical mass. Even if certain Arkansas companies are not initially onboard, there are many forward-thinking Arkansas corporations that are receptive and becoming involved in the program.

Thanks for your interest, Graham.

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