A Celebration of Growth and Community at VSU’s 3rd Annual AgFest
On Tuesday, March 18, Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture (COA) hosted its 3rd annual AgFest to celebrate National Ag Day’s theme of “Together We Grow.” Community members, vendors and VSU students, faculty and staff came together to showcase agriculture’s integrated connections. “AgFest is a powerful reminder of how agriculture connects us all—across generations, communities and industries,” said Erica Shambley, director of marketing and communications for COA. “This year’s turnout truly embodied the spirit of ‘Together We Grow,’ as students, educators, farmers and community members came together to celebrate the important role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.” This year’s celebration was also the largest, with almost 400 visitors who registered in advance including over 100 K-12 students, plus many more who joined the event day-of.
AgFest was an opportunity to display the myriad ways in which agriculture plays a part in our lives. VSU’s Trojan Farmer’s Market hosted over 20 local producers during the event, where attendees could find farm products grown and produced right here in Virginia. Educational and interactive exhibits, farm-to-table food and live entertainment provided a backdrop against which attendees, local farmers and the VSU community could engage with one another. VSU students from different colleges and student organizations not only attended, but volunteered to help make the event a success. For many, it was an eye-opening occasion to deepen their understanding of agriculture, and the people who work across different sections of the industry.
Business management major and senior Cameron Smith volunteered at AgFest for the first time through the Student Liaison Outreach Team (SLOT), and enjoyed learning about how crops are produced locally and seeing how different colleges collaborated to make the event successful. “AgFest is one of the best engaging and informative events on campus!” says Smith. “The best part was seeing how many people from campus and the community could connect over music, food and learning about different aspects of agriculture.” Smith appreciated the opportunity to learn about a different field of study, and make new connections. Fellow SLOT volunteer ZaMya Douglas is a sophomore criminal justice major who shared similar takeaways from volunteering at AgFest. “I wasn’t very familiar with AgFest before volunteering,” says Douglas. “I thought it was for agriculture majors, but AgFest changed my perspective. I learned about research conducted within COA, and the importance of networking in avenues you may not know much about.”
Even students who were familiar with COA found inspiration and a greater understanding of agriculture by attending AgFest. Junior psychology major Miyah Hernandez knows many students within COA, but described AgFest as “eye-opening” because it showcased many disciplines within agriculture, and COA’s capacity to benefit the community. “My key takeaway is that you’re never too young to make a difference,” says Hernandez, who had the opportunity to work with the U.S.’ youngest registered farmer, nine-year-old Kendall Rae Johnson. “We learned so much from her inspiring journey,” she says. “It was a reminder that passion and determination can pave the way for transformative change.”
Senior mechanical engineer and information logistics technology major Nicolas Pollard is a member of VSU’s National Society of Black Engineers, and is completing an agrivoltaics internship with COA. Agrivoltaics is a unique intersection of engineering, logistics and agriculture, and an emerging tech-based niche that goes beyond the traditional view of agriculture as just farming and food production. Pollard took time to check out the mobile units, poster presentations and vendors. “I have a better understanding of the profound impact the men and women of agriculture have in our communities, and the opportunities for others to grow into agriculture!” he says. Pollard also learned about the different workshops and small farm classes COA will offer over the rest of the Spring semester, where he could potentially learn more “about the importance of farming, fundamental concepts and techniques as well as interdisciplinary opportunities in [his] curriculum.”
“I am truly grateful for all the students, admin, staff and volunteers who helped make AgFest a yearly success and a celebration of agriculture across the nation,” Pollard says. Beyond being a celebration of Agriculture, AgFest is an annual reminder of the ways in which VSU’s COA supports the community with research-backed instruction for growers and the public, a commitment to student education and growth and a drive to find solutions for today’s modern problems. This spring, the community will have other ways to connect with the College of Agriculture at the Trojan Farmer’s Market, Farmer Field Day and outreach events where students, local producers and community members can experience agriculture in their lives.
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