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RISON – After a successful run in 2024, the Great South Arkansas Junk Hunt made some changes for 2025.
The Junk Hunt is the merged route of two smaller hunts, the former Historic Hwy. 35 Junk Hunt and the Hwy. 79-63 Junk Hunt Loop, both of which Cleveland County served as the epicenter. The merger created one large route of sales to be held twice a year, spread over four days.
While the spring hunt typically took place in March, organizer Jennifer Via, known as the “Queen of Junk,” and her team of volunteers made the decision to move from March to April.
To explain the changes and provide tips for the upcoming Junk Hunt April 3-6, Via joined the latest episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast to talk with hosts Britt Talent and Douglas Boultinghouse.
Boultinghouse is also one of the volunteers that assists Via with the organization of the event which features over 600 miles of sales.
According to Via, sometimes early March is still too cool, as noticed this year. She opted to push the event to April after last year’s sales which saw many people awakening to frost all over their items for sale outside.
To keep things simple moving forward, plans are for the spring sale to happen the first full weekend of April, and the fall sale to be held the fourth weekend of October.
Boultinghouse noted that they initially tried to move the fall sale to the first full weekend in November to accommodate fall festivals in Rison, Sheridan and El Dorado in October.
“But it turned out it’s too hard for people to hunt junk and deer on the same weekend,” he joked.
There are many towns along the route including Rison, New Edinburg, Kingsland, Woodlawn, Star City, Pine Bluff, El Dorado, Sheridan, Benton, Fordyce, Monticello, Crossett, Magnolia, Strong, Hampton, Warren and more… plus the communities in and around them.
Via also shared some exclusive news during the podcast – One more highway has been added at the request of the junkers. Hwy. 270 from White Hall to Sheridan has been added.
She said that just because a route shows specific roads, that does not mean you cannot set up off the path.
“If you’re ‘off the beaten path,’ just put plenty of signs to direct people to your sale from the main route,” she said.
Via said the proper signage for sales is the key to a successful sale, but you have to be mindful of where signs are placed to avoid removal by the highway departments.
Boultinghouse shared the other key to success is posting photos, lists of your items and an address in The Great South Arkansas Junk Hunt Sales Group on Facebook, which has over 13 thousand members.
There is a search feature that allows people to search for specific items or towns to locate sales and plan their stops.
According to Via, it is important to note full addresses and town names.
“The people coming from out of town, or out of state, may not know where Mt. Elba is if you don’t add Rison,” she said.
As the April Junk Hunt gets closer, a pinned post on the Great South Arkansas Junk Hunt Facebook Page will be updated with vendor hubs.
“If you’ve got a hub where you’re opening up space to set up sales, message us on the Facebook page and we’ll get it added,” Via said.
Via said it is important to note that each vendor hub varies on which days they are open. Some are only doing Thursday-Sunday, and some are only doing Thursday-Saturday. Some may decide to stay open Sunday closer to time. Additionally, some vendor hubs have rental fees, and some offer space for free.
“It is best to contact each hub for more details if you’re interested in selling at those hubs,” she said.
Boultinghouse noted that there is a difference between the Facebook Page and Facebook Group. The page is where Via and other administrators will post public information regarding the hunts. The group is where individuals will post their sales and things along the route.
Via also encourages businesses in the towns to advertise in the group, whether its a restaurant, a lodging opportunity or more.
She said the Junk Hunt has proven over the past 10 years that it increases tax revenue in the towns along the route.
“We have so much to offer in South Arkansas,” she said, referencing her initial reason for starting the original junk hunt in 2015.
The junk hunt has brought people from all over Arkansas and other states into the southern towns, somewhere they may not have been otherwise.
Boultinghouse said he recalled the opportunity to visit with someone from Ohio that planned her vacation around the Junk Hunt so she could explore Arkansas.
Via said her favorite part of the Junk Hunt is the opportunity to visit with people. While new friends are made, it also provides a chance reunion for people who have not seen each other in years.
During the podcast, Via discusses her upbringing in the “junk world” when her mother would go to sales and farmhouses looking for antiques in the 60s. Via also helped her mother run a vendor mall in Watson Chapel with over 50 vendors.
The experience as a buyer and seller is what gives Via a unique perspective on the Junk Hunt event.
According to Via, many people shop the Junk Hunts for items they can resale in their retail businesses.
Talent recalls seeing people with large trailers running the routes looking for items to purchase, and how some sales have brought in thousands of dollars, right here in Cleveland County.
The full episode, including more junk hunting tips, is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ClevelandCountyHerald.com