Agritourism Fall Fest

Thursday, October 24, 2024 • 10am - 3pm | VSU randolph Farm, 4415 River Road, Petersburg, VA

Join us for an exciting day of learning, fun, and fall festivities at the VSU College of Agriculture’s Agritourism Fall Fest! Hosted at VSU Randolph Farm, this event is designed for both producers and the general public, offering a unique opportunity to explore the growing world of agritourism.

Agritourism Fall Fest Highlights:

• Explore Agritourism Opportunities: Discover how farms can profit by incorporating agritourism activities, such as growing pumpkins and mums for picking, and creating fun farm attractions like the VSU Corn Maze.

• Farmer’s Market: Shop for value-added products from local producers at the VSU Farmer’s Market, showcasing the best in fresh and locally-made goods.

• Pumpkin Painting & Fall Activities: Enjoy family-friendly activities, including pumpkin painting and other fall-themed fun perfect for all ages!

AgriCulinary Tech Chef Challenge:

One of the festival's most anticipated events is the AgriCulinary Tech Chef Challenge. This culinary competition brings together high school teams in a unique challenge that merges culinary creativity with the use of advanced technology and sustainable cooking practices.

• Participating Schools:

  • Gloucester High School

  • Bassett High School – Team 1

  • Bassett High School – Team 2

  • Cumberland High School

  • Bridging Communities Regional Technical Center

  • Marshall Academy

Each team will prepare a three-course meal using ingredients sourced from VSU’s Randolph Farm and local farmers, showcasing the bounty of Virginia agriculture. The challenge is designed to align with the high standards of the ProStart® competition while encouraging innovative culinary techniques and technology.

A panel of expert judges from the fields of culinary arts, agriculture, and technology will evaluate the teams on creativity, technique, and the use of local and sustainable ingredients. The top six teams have been selected, and they will be provided with a list of ingredients grown at Randolph Farm and other local sources. Teams will have the opportunity to bring additional ingredients to complement their dishes.

Community Engagement:

In addition to the exciting activities, we will also be hosting a Canned Goods Drive to support underserved communities. Attendees who bring canned food donations will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a special prize. The raffle winner will be announced during the event, and you must be present to claim your prize!

This is a fun and educational event for the entire community, bringing together agriculture, agritourism, culinary arts, and fall festivities in a unique celebration at Randolph Farm.

Admission: Free
Register Today!

For more information, contact Carrie Bolton at 804-524-5836 or cebolton@vsu.edu; or Jessica Harris at 804-524-5964 or jharris@vsu.edu.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Carrie Bolton at cebolton@vsu.edu or call (804) 524-5836 / TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.