The Student Activities Board (SAB) hosted Day at the Park at the Slayton Family Field for the home game against the University of Central Arkansas. The event was filled with food, prizes and a cornhole tournament. 

Throughout the school year, SAB has hosted Order of the Pack, the spirit contest during football season, Howl on the Hardwood, the spirit contest during basketball season, and now Day at the Park, a fun tailgating event during baseball season. 

SAB’s Director of Athletic Engagement, Hailey Glueck, said planning for each event changes depending on the sport but there’s always a giveaway and competition at the student engagement events.

“Some of the athletic events are more traditional while others have more room to make it whatever we want it to be,” the sophomore marketing major from St. Louis said. 

At the event, students lined up for free hats and jerseys, lemonade, hot dogs and hamburgers. 

Gannon Cronin, first-year exercise science major from Olathe, Kansas, is a committee member of SAB. He said his favorite part of SAB has been being a part of events and his favorite part of this event was the cornhole tournament.

Cronin said people should attend the games because they’re free for students, they can spend time in the sun and it’s good ball weather. 

Cronin said the Day at the Park was impactful within the student community.

“I saw a lot of new faces come to these events, definitely people that I haven’t seen at previous events for sports. So it’s been good to bring recognition to sports around campus because baseball doesn’t get a lot of love that it deserves,” Cronin said. 

Jake Bellou, a sophomore data science and analytics major from Cabot, Arkansas, participated in the cornhole tournament alongside Cronin. Both Bellou and Cronin won the tournament.

“I got invited to be on a cornhole team,” Bellou said. “I wanted to come out and then watch the baseball game.”

Bellou said the Day at the Park was his first time at the stadium for a game.

“It’s already having somewhat of an impact on me, just getting people out and having fun with their friends and enjoying new sports,” He said. 

Bellou said people should attend the baseball games because it provides the players motivation and the games are fun.

“I wouldn’t want to come play for a school that has nobody sitting in the stands. I’d want to come to a school that has a supportive fan base and people around me that actually care about the sport,” Bellou said. 

Day at the Park was not the only event taking place at Slayton Family Field as the Alumni Association also co-hosted their Bark at the Park event with the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

“I think it will be good because it can show the alumni what it is like to be an A-State student right now. They can see who we are and see what has changed,” Glueck said, “I think it will be good for both parties because the students will get to make connections and help them for their future.”

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