This has been the best experience of my whole life!
Texarkana, Arkansas Project
Lead Mentor: Matthew Bearden
Project location: Hope/Texarkana, Arkansas
Year project founded: 2017
Mentors on this team: 15
Children mentored to date: 41
Children to be mentored in 2025: 12
Local foster care partners: Watersprings Ranch in Texarkana, AR
Local partners and companies that support this project: Enable Midstream and New Liberty Baptist Church (Emmet, AR), Bearden Family, Fant Family
Support The Mayfly Project
Texarkana, Arkansas Project
It’s less about whatever skill level we have as fly fishermen or our ability to teach another person to throw a perfect loop and more about the positive impact we can have on their life. That lasting impact comes from time invested talking, listening, laughing and just hanging out. Being a friend, a good human… it really is that simple. The hard exteriors start softening up and the mentees start to be able to just be a kid again.
Project Mentors
MATT BEARDEN, LEAD MENTOR
Hope, Arkansas
Matt grew up in a small town in southwest Arkansas, and with several lakes and the Ouachita National Forest just a few miles away, he spent a lot of his youth outdoors. He was introduced to fly fishing by his grandfather at a young age, and while he admits he may not recall much about those first instructions, the interest has never gone away. Matt enjoys spending his free time these days fly fishing on the Little Missouri River.
He hopes that through mentoring with TMP he will be able to spark an interest in young people in the same way. Matt is excited to help introduce them to something that will encourage them to get outdoors, explore, and enjoy all that spending time on the water has to offer.
KIM BEARDEN, MENTOR
Hope, Arkansas
Born and raised in Southwest Arkansas, Kim returned to this area after college. Kim’s father enjoyed bass fishing, and she spent lots of time with her father and brother on area lakes, ponds, and rivers while growing up.
She is a dental hygienist in Hope, Arkansas, and she enjoys helping others through different volunteer opportunities associated with her profession. But, when away from work, Kim enjoys being outdoors. She feels that being outside allows her time to clear her mind, refocus, and refuel herself. These reasons are exactly what made her decide to be a Mayfly Project Mentor.
“I want to be able to share the benefits of fly fishing with these kids. Hopefully they will find it as fun and relaxing as I do.” -Kim
AUSTIN MORACE, MENTOR
Texarkana, Arkansas
Austin’s hometown of Trout is seated squarely in rural LaSalle Parish in central Louisiana, far from any actual trout. He was first introduced to fly fishing as a young boy by his father. He quickly became captivated with the sport. Spending many hours creekside and on pond banks he “honed” his skills on bream, white perch and bass. During his time at college he received an internship opportunity in Hope, Arkansas. Here Austin met Matt Bearden, a fellow Mayfly Mentor, who invited him to go fly fishing at the Little Missouri River. After a few not so productive trips, Austin finally caught his first trout in the Summer of 2017. Since then Austin has graduated and moved to Texarkana and is pursuing a career at the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
He now strives to learn everything he can about; trout, trout fishing, fly tying, conservation, and a continued respect for the trout and the beauty of The Natural State. Austin is elated to have the opportunity to introduce other children to the joy that is fly fishing and to be able to positively impact a community that has welcomed him with open arms.
RUSTIN REYNOLDS, MENTOR
De Queen, Arkansas
ZACHARY FANT, MENTOR
Hope, Arkansas
I was born here in Hope, Arkansas and raised pretty much everywhere, but in the teen years of life I grew up here in Hope spending most of my time in the outdoors playing sports hunting and fishing with my adoptive parents. As I become an adult and my high school sports career came to an end. I got into the sport of powerlifting and have reached the elite level in the sport, I own a gym called Chalk Zone Powerlifting, I’m also the youth leader at White Oak Grove missionary Baptist Church in DeAnn Arkansas. I believe in helping others who are less fortunate and giving a lending hand to all of those who need help. I hope my experience growing up and even having to go through the foster care system will allow me to relate with the kids, and even understand what they are going through. If I’m able to have a positive impact on just one child’s life all my efforts will be more than worth it.
“ Good better best never let it rest until you’re good as better and you’re better as best ”
MATTHEW KENDALL, MENTOR
Shreveport, Louisiana
Matt was born and raised in Georgia but recently transplanted to Louisiana, where he has been lucky enough to meet his wife and a great fishing community.
He has been fishing his whole life, the majority of which was on his hometown GA lakes and ponds where he fell in love with being outdoors and fishing largemouth bass, crappie and bream. He was first introduced to fly fishing by his aunt and uncle while in his twenties, and he was bitten instantly by the trout bug and life on the river.
Recently married, he put a strong focus on growing his relationship with his wife Catherine, his Christian faith and fly fishing. While listening to a recent fly fishing podcast and interview they had with MFP founder Jess Westbrook, he was introduced to the MFP and knew he wanted to be a part of such a great cause for foster children.
He was raised by a wonderful set of grandparents, and aunts and uncles that filled in other roles, but believes that if they had not been there, he may have also been a part of the foster system. That is why Matt is excited to share with the kids the experience of being outside and fly fishing so they too can have a lifetime of memories.
JAY SIKES, MENTOR
Shreveport, Louisiana
Jay grew up in west central Georgia where he spent lots of time hunting and fishing with his father and uncle in the foot hills of the Appalachian Mountains and the reservoirs of the Chattahoochee River . In the mid 1990s he and his wife Kathy were fortunate enough to move to Northwest Louisiana. With easy access to Arkansas he really is in the sportsman’s paradise. Since then he spends most of his free time in the Ouachita mountains, fishing and hunting. He enjoys his family, fishing, hunting and outdoor cooking. Throughout his life, he’s had many teachers and a few mentors he really enjoys teaching flyfishing to his children, grandchildren and anyone else who is interested.
JAKE FAULKNER, MENTOR
Stamps, Arkansas
Jake grew up just a few miles south of the Narrows Tail water on the Little Missouri River. He spent his childhood in various outdoor activities, but when he was 14 he found his great-grandfather’s old fly rod while helping him clean out his shop. From then on Jake spent most of his time fly fishing on ponds and creeks around Murfreesboro Arkansas, as well as in the Narrows Tailwater.
It wasn’t long after he was introduced to fly fishing, that Jake began to show interest in fly tying. One of Jake’s uncles was a professional saltwater fly tyer in Florida. One Christmas, he gifted Jake with his own starter kit and began to teach him how to tie.
In 2017, Jake was invited to be a guest fly tyer at the Little Missouri Fly Fishing Festival where he was introduced to Matt Bearden, head mentor of the Texarkana Project. Seeing an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way, Jake joined up with TMP that summer and has been a mentor ever since.
“Fly fishing played a prominent role in my youth, fostering a profound appreciation for our waterways and natural surroundings. Beyond its recreational aspect, it serves as a conduit for conservation and responsible stewardship. Engaging with the mentees at TMP and witnessing their growing regard for rivers, fish, and stream-side habitats through fly fishing is a rewarding experience.”
News & Events
Buy a Fly Fundraiser is Live!!!!!
We're excited to announce our annual Buy a Fly Event is now live! From September 29th to October 31st, purchase a fly/flies and you're entered to win awesome prizes! All proceeds go towards supporting TMP getting more youth in foster care into the healing sport...
Mentor Highlight Nomination, Pamela Allen
Three Cheers for Pamela Allen! We were thrilled to receive a mentor highlight nomination for Pamela because we couldn't agree more with the kind words stated below. Pam has been with TMP for 3 years as a Lead Mentor, leading the Columbus, Ohio Project, and 1 year as a...
In Memory of Addison!
TMP was so honored to be chosen as the recipient again of the Hanf family's Annual Golf Tournament in memory of their beloved son, Addison. Addison is described as someone who loved helping others and truly enjoyed his time outdoors. We are honored to be a part of his...
Support The Mayfly Project
Southwest Arkansas Texarkana Project
Questions or Need to Connect?
Stay in the loop with news, events, and updates from The Mayfly Project