The University of Central Arkansas’ Student Government Association held its food truck festival on Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of the Ronnie Williams Student Center.
“We have had our cultural food truck festival celebration for the past couple of the spring semesters, so we’re kind of trying to make it a recurring event,” junior SGA Vice President Siera Love said.
Love said that the turnout at the festival is the biggest it has ever been.
“We’re just excited and interested in bringing different cultures, different foods that people aren’t accustomed to, especially at the student center just giving people something else to look forward to and something else to taste,” Love said.
The students worked with their advisor Tiffany Turner to put together the festival.
“They wanted to do a diversity event that showcased local food trucks that were Black-owned, women-owned, vegan, the Hispanic, Latino-owned, overarching composition of owners, and so they came to me about doing a food truck, and where they could have it,” Turner said.
Turner said that when food trucks come to campus they are normally set up in Alumni Circle, but they decided to move to the Student Center to be closer to where students hang out.
“During lunchtime and, so that it’s more accessible for more students,” Turner said. “It’s kind of become not necessarily a tradition, but it’s something that we’ve tried to do every year since then.”
This is not the first year for the food truck festival. Turner said that Love and her co-chair wanted to have it once again.
“They came in and talked about what they needed to do, the process, how to reserve the space, food waiver, all of that, and we walked them through it,” Turner said.
The festival had five different trucks spanning from drinks and food to deserts.
“We do have Las Felicias here. They have Hispanic desserts. We have Charleston’s chicken and fish, which is, you know, chicken and fish.” Love said. “Then we have Tacos El Gordo. They have tacos, and I think they have quesadillas too. We have Sips Swiftly, which is kind of like dirty sodas, and then the last truck we have is Sister Blends, and they are a vegan food truck.”
Students had their pick of different options but the longest line was at Tacos El Gordo which could be seen by students wrapping around the amphitheater.
“I love Tacos El Gordo,” Turner said. “They have quesadillas which are so good. I usually get one every time they’re on campus.”
With the high turnout this year, Love said she hopes they can keep improving this event and continue to bring new food trucks.
“The students really love doing this event, and I think the student population really likes when we have something like this because it kind of gives a variety,” Turner said.
“I am really thankful for the food trucks that we have,” Love said, “They were very collaborative with us and it seems like the students are really enjoying it.”
