AGENDA
7:30 AM - Registration Begins
8:30 AM - Welcome and Introductions
Dr. Janine Woods, Associate Extension Administrator
Dr. Robert Corley III, VSU College of Agriculture Interim Dean and 1890 Administrator
Dr. Makola M. Abdullah, 14th President of Virginia State University
Mr. Joseph Guthrie, Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Mr. Matthew Lohr, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
8:50 AM - First Group of Trolleys Load
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Ongoing Field Day Presentations
12:30 PM - Field Day Concludes
Presentation Times:
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Participants can visit any of the sites at any time, including the additional locations, but these will be the formal presentation times.
ON-FARM DEMONSTRATIONS
Hydroponic/Aquaponic Greenhouse
Mr. Chris Mullins, Indoor Ag Extension Specialist
At this stop, participants will learn about small-scale hydroponic and aquaponics techniques. Additionally they will learn about growing crops in controlled environments.
High-Tech High Tunnel
Ms. Grace Summers, Small Farms Outreach Program Assistant
Dr. Theresa Nartea, Marketing & Agribusiness Program Specialist
Mr. Tracy Porter, Small Farms Outreach Program Assistant
Mr. Thomas & Mrs. Anita Roberson, Farmers from Botanical Bites and Provision, LLC
In this tour stop, participants will learn new ideas on how to market cut flowers through agritourism. Participants will take “Sunflower Selfies,” get new display ideas for their cut flowers at the farmers market, and can even try their hand at a “Make and Take bouquet.”
Berries, Berries, & More
Dr. Reza Rafie, Horticulture Professor and Extension Specialist
Dr. Toktam Taghavi, Postharvest & Plant Physiology Ag Researcher
Dr. Zelalem Mersha, Plant & Soils Ag Researcher; IPM Extension Specialist
Dr. Rafat Siddiqui, Food Chemistry Professor & Researcher
Dr. Rafie will be discussing berry crops particularly important to Virginia growers. Participants will learn about production of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in high tunnels and in field production.
Dr. Taghavi will show the developed production practices that reduce the amount of pesticides recommended for production of strawberries.
“We have developed methods to mitigate the impact of soil contaminants on strawberry plants and fruits and used biological control to control pests. During the last two years, we used almost no pesticide for production of the research material that we need for our research.”
Dr. Mersha will showcase outcomes of completed and on-going projects on chickpeas, ginger and hemp during the field day tour.
Dr. Siddiqui will be discussing the anti-obesity properties of baby ginger. Our data indicate that ginger has the highest phenolic contents and superior anti-oxidation activity when harvested early (immature baby ginger). Furthermore, the data indicate that baby ginger inhibits lipid accumulation and triglyceride content in fat cells. Our study concludes that a regular use of ginger can potentially lower incidences of obesity and diabetes.
Tomato Research
Dr. Shuxin Ren, BioTechnology Ag Researcher
Introducing tomato wild-cross project to improve tomato taste; Pomato (grafting of tomato to potato), potential one crop, two harvests in urban agriculture settings.
Small Ruminant Mobile Processing
Dr. Dahlia O'Brien, Small Ruminant Extension Specialist; Ag Researcher
Dr. Stephan Wildeus, Reproductive Physiology Ag Researcher
At this tour stop, Dr. O’Brien will discuss meat goat and hair sheep production at Virginia State University and the development and implementation of Virginias’s first USDA-inspected mobile processing unit in the state. The tour will feature live animals as well as a walk-through of the mobile processing unit.
Cattle Grazing
Mr. Alston Hilliard, Unit Coordinator/On Farm Demonstrations
Mr. Hilliard will be discussing livestock grazing and pasture renovation.
AUXILIARY PRESENTATIONS
Mobile Education Unit
This unit gives an overview of agriculture in the state of VA with interactive sections, including a trivia game and virtual reality goggles.
Food Safety & Microbiology
Dr. Xu will present the research activities in her research lab, including chickpea study for hummus and hemp protein utilization. Dr. Xu will show the audience the chickpea, extracted chickpea protein and hemp protein with different concentrations.
Dr. Kim and his team will explain the importance of food safety and the microbial quality of food products to participants. Foodborne pathogens grown on different bacterial foods will be displayed. Good laboratory practices and research activities conducted in the FSM program will be shown with video clips and photos.
Dr. Chyer Kim, Associate Professor of Food Safety
Dr. Yixiang Xu, Professor of Food Processing and Engineering
Blender Bikes
Come ride the bikes and make art.
VSU College of Agriculture Academic Departments
Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. Students may select a concentration in Agriculture Business and Economics; Agricultural Education; Animal Science; Animal Science/Pre-vet; Environmental Science, and Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science.
Department of Family Consumer Sciences
The programs within the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences are ideal for students who are interested in the Human Sciences; the study of how human beings relate to and interact with their natural and social environments. The curriculum provides students with a comprehensive training in subject matters such as foods and nutrition, dietetics, textiles and clothing, fashion, human development, housing, family, child, community development, teacher education, and resource management.
Please visit our tour stop to learn how to make natural dyes from berries.
Department of Hospitality Management
Farmhouse recipes are an American staple, and many families gather around the table to eat food that brings them comfort and depicts their unique rural experience. Join us as we share heirloom farmhouse recipes from around the country and recipes curated from small fruits and vegetables grown at the Virginia State University Randolph Farm.
Participants in our demonstration will be able to write their favorite recipe down and swap it for a recipe to take home. Information about the Department of Hospitality Management will also be shared.
USDA Programs
Several agency representatives will be available to answer questions about their respective programs for farmers.
VENDORS & PARTNERS
USDA Farm Service Agency
USDA Rural Development
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Services
USDA Food and Nutrition Services
Natural Resource and Conservation Services
Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Virginia Soil Health Coalition
Small Business Association
Old Dominion Electric Cooperative
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia AgrAbility
Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition
Colonial Farm Credit