From Athletics To Agriculture; Ben Holland Leaves Mark On Clarksville Through Leadership And Service

By Editor | June 30, 2026 |

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by Janice Penix

For the Clarksville High School class of 2026, Ben Holland was undoubtedly a leader.

Named Mr. CHS during his senior year, Holland was a class standout, holding positions on the Student Council, as a CHS Ambassador, as FFA president and serving as a representative to the Johnson County Junior Fair Board and Arkansas Boys State.

But one of the places his leadership mattered most was on the football field.

“Ben is a phenomenal young man,” Clarksville football coach Mitchell Powers said. “He was involved in numerous activities outside of football, but he always communicated and worked his tail off for us in football as well. He was a player that we never had to worry about if he was doing right or giving effort when nobody was looking at him.”

Becoming A Panther

A lineman who played on both sides of the ball for the Panthers, Holland was part of the Clarksville football program from seventh grade through 12th grade.

“I started playing football because my cousins and I grew up playing in the backyard of wherever we were,” Holland said. “It was always an interest of ours.”

Holland first joined an organized team when he was in seventh grade at Clarksville.

“I loved playing football right off the bat,” he said. “It was amazing being part of a team. At first it was challenging to learn the basics, but after it clicked, it stuck for me.”

He became a versatile player for CHS, rotating from a tackle to a guard on the offensive line, and switching between a three-tech and defensive end when the Panthers were playing defense.

During his senior season, he received the Defensive Lineman of the Year award, alongside teammate and fellow senior Kale Porter.

Holland was fourth on the team in total tackles but led the defensive linemen with 31 total tackles on the year, including 11 solo tackles. He also recorded five sacks, the second-most on the team, and 12 tackles for loss. He finished with a team-high seven hurries and forced one fumble.

He was a part of a Panther football program that has started to rebound from a slump, seeing some progress in the last two seasons. The team snapped a 22-game losing streak his junior year with a win over Dover, and repeated that feat his senior year.

“One of my most cherished memories is the junior year victory over Dover,” Holland said. “The feeling of being the first win in a long time is something I’ll never forget.”

Valuing More than Wins

Holland said being part of the team taught him the value of perseverance and collaboration.

“Playing sports at Clarksville High School taught me some of the most valuable lessons,” he said. “It taught me how to face challenges and keep swinging. It taught me that even the most unassuming person can lead and make a difference. It also taught me the value of brotherhood in sports.”

His ability to be a vocal encourager was his biggest strength as a Panther, he said.

“I think my strongest strength was simply my ability to speak and cheer on my team, and to give my all in everything I do,” Holland said.

In addition to being recognized for his athletic achievements on the football field, Holland was also selected to receive the 2025 Panther Award, selected by Holland’s teammates and coaches, and was the CHS recipient of the Brandon Burlsworth Character Award, given to the player who represents the ideals and values Brandon Burlsworth had: to give 100 percent on the field and to stand as a moral example to his team.

In his award presentation, Powers cited Holland’s involvement in and accolades received through numerous activities, including serving as senior class president, and participation in Johnson County Youth Leadership, Arkansas Youth Bass Hogs, Arkansas Elite Barrel Racing, and as a member of the football, swim, basketball and track teams.

Holland said he enjoyed being a part of so many different teams and organizations.

“I was a swimmer in 11th grade, when my team won the state runner-up title in the 4A-1A boys swim competition, and I joined the basketball team my senior year to be part of the team and experience basketball,” he said.

A Passion For Agriculture

Outside of sports, his involvement with FFA has had a huge impact in his life. He served as the local chapter president but also set his sights on holding a state office, according to Clarksville FFA Adviser Brittany Fales.

“Ben is one of those students who inspires you to become a better educator,” Fales said. “From the moment I first met him, he had a clear goal: to serve as an Arkansas FFA state officer. This is no simple accomplishment, rather one that requires years of preparation, dedication and a rigorous multi-day interview process.

“Ben immersed himself in every opportunity available to prepare for this goal. He exhibited livestock at numerous shows, served our chapter as president, mentored younger FFA members, maintained strong academic performances, and remained committed to multiple athletic teams.”

This year, Holland continued to pursue his goal, and successfully earned a state officer position through a competitive selection process. He is currently serving as the 2026-27 Arkansas FFA Northwest District vice president.

During the summer, Holland has been residing at Camp Couchdale in Hot Springs, the state FFA camp, where he is facilitating multiple summer leadership camps and assisting with additional state officer responsibilities. Next April, his tenure will conclude as he and his fellow state officers will lead and host the 2027 Arkansas State FFA Convention.

“I could not be more proud of the hard work, dedication and work ethic Ben displayed during his time at CHS,” Fales said.

Holland said agriculture has always been important to him.

“I’ve been involved in agriculture my entire life,” he said. “I started showing when I was nine and, after that, my entire life has been with 4-H until I was in ninth grade. Joining FFA was a big step, and I never looked back. I’ve traveled all over, from all around Arkansas to Oklahoma and Indiana.

“Agriculture and FFA mean everything to me. I’ve been a part of them since the beginning, and I intend to continue doing so for the rest of my life. In my opinion, agriculture is the most important industry in the world. Without agriculture, we wouldn’t have any food or clothes on our backs.”

He plans to pursue a career in agriculture as well and will attend the University of Arkansas this fall to major in crop science and agribusiness.

Building Relationships And A Legacy

Managing involvement in multiple activities required discipline as well as the support of his family, teachers and coaches, Holland said. At home, his parents, Ben and Allison Holland, provided the encouragement he needed to succeed, despite obstacles life threw at them, including a house fire the family survived.

“I had many challenges to face, from my house burning down to simply being all over the state with FFA,” Holland said. “But in every moment that I needed it, my team supported me through everything, as well as my coaches.”

He said the personal relationships he formed with his fellow Panthers was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

“I liked being on the football team for the fact that I grew so close with my teammates,” Holland said. “Even though we didn’t have the best record, we were supported by the community, which was truly rewarding.

“I looked up to almost everyone who came before me in all the different programs. Their leadership and dedication to their sport were truly inspiring. My coaches and teammates helped me through everything, no matter how big or small.”

Greyson Warhurst, a former assistant football coach at Clarksville who is currently coaching at Atkins, was one of the coaches Holland connected with the most. The two kept in touch, Holland said, after Warhurst’s departure.

“Ben is one of the most selfless athletes I have had the privilege of coaching,” Warhurst said. “He always put his teammates first, and was a super respectful, hard-working kid. You never once had to question Ben’s effort in anything he did, because you knew he was going to give it his all, and he did it with a great attitude at all times. I know whatever Ben does in the rest of his life, he is going to be great at because of his great attitude and effort in anything he does.”

Holland said he is proud to be a Clarksville Panther.

“It means a lot to me that everything I did represented Clarksville fiercely and proudly,” he said. “Having Clarksville’s reputation on my back encourages me to work hard and be the best I can be. I hope (my legacy is) to kickstart the Panther football team’s turnaround and leave a legacy of being a big brother to all my teammates. I’ll be there for them during challenges and successes, hopefully inspiring them to someday fill my role.”

Powers said he is confident Holland will continue to make his alma mater proud.

“Every sport or activity needs a Ben Holland in their program,” Powers said. “He was not only a great player, but also a great person that built the environment up around him. He will be successful in whatever he chooses to do because his work ethic, attitude and positivity will take him there.”

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Published In This Week’s Edition

This story appears in the July 1, 2026, edition of The Graphic, available online and at businesses throughout Johnson and Franklin counties.

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