Fall Vegetable and Agritourism Field Day at TSU Farm
Sarah Bellos
Agricultural, Research and Extension Demonstration Farm on Friday, October
17th to hear about innovative ways to market their produce as well as add
value to their crops and extend this year's growing season. TSU will then
welcome youth from Cheatham County and surrounding areas to the farm on
Saturday, October 18th for a day of festive activities.
"The purpose of the field day on Friday is to provide farmers with the
latest information about fall vegetable crop production, innovative
marketing and agritourism," said Chris Robbins, Farm Agent for the TSU
Farm, located at 3101 River Road. We will discuss vegetable varieties, how
to extend the season later into the fall and begin production earlier in
the spring using techniques such as: high tunnel production, plastic
culture, drip irrigation, row covers, hot bed production and variety
selection."
The farmers will have the opportunity to meet and talk with representatives
from various agencies and organizations to include: Annette Wszelaki,
Vegetable Extension Specialist with the University of Tennessee Extension
Service who will discuss fall vegetable varieties and season extension;
Megan Bruch, Marketing Specialist with the Center for Profitable
Agriculture who will talk about profitable agritourism and value added
vegetable marketing; Tiffany Mullins, Assistant Director of Commodities
with Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, who will discuss Tennessee Farm
Fresh, a new program designed to help farmers advertise and disseminate
information about the availability of their products to consumers; and John
Frady with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, who will discuss
producer diversification and funding sources available to small farmers.
Christopher Robbins will discuss the do's and don'ts of marketing products
at farmers markets and road side stands.
Registration for the field day will begin at 8:30a.m. Lunch will be
provided for participants at 11:45a.m. "We have plenty of information for
the farmers," Robbins added, "and we are planning for Saturday to be a big
day for the kids."
Saturday's fun day for the youth will include a four and a half acre corn
maze, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch and other activities geared to get
youth interested in what happens on a farm. It will be the follow-up to a
similar activity for youth that TSU Cooperative Extension hosted at the
farm last fall.
"Last year we just advertised in Cheatham County, and we had 200 people to
come. This year we expect at least that many," said Robbins. He said
there will be plenty of fall vegetables on site, pumpkins until they are
gone, and an inflatable bouncer for all of the youth to enjoy. 4-H groups
will also be at the farm with concessions.
"We are excited about these activities because they involve our present
farmers as well as our potential farmers," Robbins added. "We look forward
to this event growing every year and becoming an annual event because it
has something for just about everyone."Sponsors for the event include the
Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Program, the University of
Tennessee Extension Service, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the
Center for Profitable Agriculture and Tennessee Farm Bureau.
Anyone interested in attending Friday's field day should preregister by
Friday, October 10th. To register for this event, please contact Elisha
Holt at (615)963-5016. For more information, please contact Christopher
Robbins at (615)566-6460.
Karla Kean
UT-TSU/Montgomery County Extension
Horticulture Agent
I.S.A Certified Arborist
1030-A Cumberland Heights Road STE- A
Clarksville, TN 37040
Office: 931-648-5725
FAX: 931-648-5734
kk...@utk.edu
A tree which has lost its head will never recover it again and will survive
only as a monument of ignorance and folly of its tormentor.--George William
Curtis
Tennessee State University, The University of Tennessee, USDA and County
Governments Cooperating. The Agricultural Extension Service offers its
programs to all persons regardless to race, color, national origin, sex,
age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
(See attached file: sendable F&F day article.doc)
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